What do you hoard in your home?

[Julie-Ann]

Are there some things you just can't throw away? Are you a hoarder secretly or out in the open?

When I was making lunch for Mr 16 this morning I opened my kitchen drawer- you know the one full of clutter:eek:, and I wondered how many lacky bands do we really need? But I bet I'm not the only one.

I also recently cleaned up the linen cupboard because I couldn't fit the linen in there. Thinking as I got started that it must be because my darling husband stuffs so much other stuff in there, does he not understand that this is a Linen cupboard! Ooops! A few hours later I discovered I hoard cushions and throw rugs:eek:. I kept 1/3 of them and took the rest to the Salvos but it was a whole large boot load. I had to apologise to my husband for even thinking it was his mess causing the problem. Who knew there were about 25-30 cushions stuffed in there.

Let us know what it is you just can't give away.

[anastasiaC]

i think its human nature to hoard and collect but yeah if its too much and tends to take over your life then you know you have a problem...i collect vintage childrens books and retro swap cards....
i try not to let them get out of hand and my books are lovingly stored neatly on the bookshelves...i used to hate throwing out mags but it was getting crazy so I read them and then donate or giveaway - sometimes if Im bothered I'll list on ebay starting everything at 0.99 so I know they'll go!
its good to spring clean and declutter at the start of each season...

[Sunnygal]

I hoard (collect) many things but the worst would be fabrics I have used in sewing or craft projects. I can't stand to throw them away, some of them are so beautiful.

[EPtreasures]

In the space of 3 years we have managed to fill 3 large skips, phoned for 3 council curbside collections, had 3 pick ups for metal & have made numerous trips to the op shops (to offload)..... and we still have more. Most of the things thrown away belonged to my father who kept anything & everything he came across. But can't blame him for it all - we all contributed to the hoard. He couldn't get rid of anything & remembered everything he had.

The clean up has taken a long time as there's only so much that 2 women & ! boy can do, but we're almost there.

It felt so good each time more was cleared out..... just wonder if we'll ever learn our lessons though.

Elena

[Fiona]

The thing I can't seem to let go of is baby clothing that Airlie used. She is only 4 and even when I wasn't sure if we would have another baby after she was born at 27 weeks gestation I still couldn't part with it.
We are now expecting a baby in July and it is a baby boy but I still can't let the items go ... who knows maybe we might have another or maybe one day I will just wake up and find I can part with it??? Airlie weigh only 1lb 14ozs and those special outfits that were used in the early days won't ever be parted with, but I have clothing up to size 0 that I can't part with either.

Nearly everything else I don't have a problem with and my Mother is forever asking me where things are only to find I have gotten rid of it.

Im in the middle of nesting and am decluttering lots and lots :D

[daphadills]

ME:
Photos!
Cards/letters of meaning.
Children & their friends :p
Various Home mags.
Shells

HUSBAND: PAPERS on everything :mad: grrrrrrrrrrr

CHILDREN: Rubbers, footy cards, and stupid McD's toys!

[TikTok]

Hey Fiona!! Nice seeing you here :D

I hoard my twins' baby stuff. Its so little and cute lol!

[giggle_smile]

I am bad with my paperwork and I keep it just incase I need it one day or need to refer to it because I know as soon as I do a clear out I will throw something out important :)

My husband also starts to collate work bits and pieces on the kitchen bench, padlocks, cable ties, drill bits, notebooks. Drives me crazy :cool:

[Fiona]

Glad its not only me then TikTok!

[TikTok]

Mine was 00000 (and it was baggy) but nothing like Miss A's stuff obviously. :)

[Fabric Fusion]

I just outed myself over in the Intro threads. I am a fabric hoarder. But I have a market stall for my fabrics & haby, so I have parcelled up some of my own stash and am letting it go to other good fabric-loving homes. Then I will have room for more fabric!

[hbfotografic]

I hoard nothing. I've always lived in small homes, and even now when I have a large home, it is pre-reno 1940's with NO storage, and I can't abide clutter .. so .. no hoarding here.

We've also moved a lot, and I come from a dysfunctional family ( divorce etc ) so no family home, no 'extra place' to stuff stuff and forget - everything i've had to travel with, so I always cull, cull, cull, and travel light.

Kids have been hard on me - all those toys! all those birthdays! all that stuff! And now I own PLASTIC! I hate plastic with a passion - Tupperware, lunchboxes - UGH!

Hubby and I have learned to live light, and I think we do ok, although we still own more than we should/are happy to own . especially with the kids. I am happiest knowing my family is complete though, and ridding myself of anything baby as soon as my youngest grows out of it is such a relief !

If the house was on fire, what would you save? What is important ?
Are you clinging to things that you don't use that could benefit another person?

My maxim is: if you haven't used it in a year, get rid of it .. my exception ATM is my wardrobe .. work clothes in teeny sizes, two pregnancies etc, i've got about 5 sizes in there, and i'm still not sure what size I am now .. so it's a slower cull as I go :)

[Julie-Ann]

But doesn't that mean hbfotografic that you are currently hoarding skiiny clothes??? Your secret has been revealed lol.:D
Good question about if there was a fire. I think that will make a great topic:).

[hbfotografic]

I'm not toooo much fatter than I was pre-kids .. it's more the Melrose-Place mini-skirts i've been weaning each year and thinking "oh my!" and Salvo'ing ;) ..it's just the jackets/blazers as i'm a sucker for that look and wear it well .. my books are bigger, but I just don't do them up anymore :)

[rachel]

Um..computers. I think we have 6 or so in the house at the moment. That includes 2 in the garage I need to fix up!

[Julie-Ann]

Thanks to Elements inspiring me to tidy my very messy office I have discovered another thing I hoard. I had to put away an antique jug and basin with silk magnolia flowers. It was sitting in the entry before its latest renovation. When looking for a place to store these I discovered I hoard silk flowers. I have quite a collection going:D. So it appears that I hoard cushions, throws, decorating magazines and silk flowers. Not bad for someone who claimed she hoarded nothing.