No, I mean it. I really must. I rarely throw anything away, and Mr. Piglet is even worse. The last time we cleared out the garage several years ago, I discovered five broken kettles that he’d been keeping ‘just in case‘. Just in case of what? I muttered. Got the look, especially as I rescue and hoard anything that can creatively be upcycled or repurposed. Who was the pot to call the kettle black?
For example, this table was discarded at the local rubbish bins. I rescued it and it went in the garage. The week before, I’d found some swimming pool tiles that a builder had dumped. Which ended up as …
There are still boxes of tiles stored in the garage awaiting another project. I also have old trays, pots, jars and beads. Picture frames, glass, broken mirrors and goodness knows what treasures Mr. P has squirreled away.
The cupboards and drawers in the house are the same. We have a small house with limited storage. I have already decluttered my desk drawers and I am left with numerous wires to charge things. What, things I don’t know. ‘Just in case‘? I can guarantee the moment I throw some away, I will need one.
Clothes. Why am I holding onto stuff that is two sizes too small and thirty years old? I’ve been losing weight for years, but even if I lost weight, I am no longer the same body shape. And socks. How did I end up with thirty pairs of odd socks? And, of course, I can’t throw them away as they can be cut into strips and repurposed as plant ties. So where do they end up? We don’t have an attic, so in the garage.
And then there are numerous ornaments stuffed in cupboards, a tea set that I’ve not used in twenty years, and LPs—we don’t even have a record player. And … and …
In the past, I’ve given so much to charity, but this time, I think I’ll have a garage sale to raise money to feed my plant addiction. We will see.
Are you a hoarder?
Piglet in Portugal 
And i love the table!
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Thank you!
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I regularly go thru drawers and closets and cupboards. I can’t stand clutter. But The Engineer can find a new use for just about everything so he doesn’t like to throw anything out!
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The engineer sounds like a man after my own heart. But seriously, does the engineer keep old kettles?
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Oh sure. We have 3 French press mechanisms because the glass broke and so if the insides break on this steel French press he’s all set!!!
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I’m like you with regards to holding things for future projects and I also keep clothes just in case I can fit into them again. Sometimes, I hold onto things because I think it still looks great and it’s a shame to throw them out. But I don’t think I’m a hoarder. 😁
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Hi capntalc,you are right. We are not hoarders we have an overactive imagination 🙂
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Oh my, I relate to the accumulation of household items. I keep threatening to clean my home office. The piles of paper are hiding several key documents. Maybe we can have an online decluttering session centered around a book or organizing guru’s method?
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Hi Rebecca, I was beginning to think I was the only hoarder 🙂 I don’t about an organizing guru I think I just need to weaqr blinkers. Just this afternoon I saw a table abandoned on a roundabout and I had an aha moment … got out the car to check it but unfortunately or fortunately it was too low so no good to replace the garden table which is rusting away … ho hum. IT is a good solid table and deserves a good home. Goodness knows why it was planted on the roundabout in the middle of nowhere.
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Dear Piglet, I am the same way. I cannot abide good furniture going to waste. Every year in Madison on August 15th the majority of the apartment dwellers change residence and the amount of waste is astonishing. We call it “Hippie Christmas” because of how many good pieces you can find. I have an extremely sturdy card table I scored a couple of years ago that works as a table extension for Thanksgiving every year.
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I love the name Hippie Christmas. I am not a hippie per se, just a Womble. When I do discard something I usually put it on top of the rubish bin so someone can benefit from it. I think it is a good system.
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Thanks for the introduction to that term: womble. Yes, Evan and I found a functioning hair dryer, a throw rug and needed fireplace tools that way!
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I am the total opposite, no clutter about at all in the home (garage for husband is another matter!) BUT if I were a creative person like you I would certainly collect and hold onto things for projects. The table you made with the pool tiles is so beautiful!
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Aw, thanks, Lana. I love making the table as my only cost was the glue! 🙂 The garage seems to be the equivent of a man cave.
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I am not a hoarder. If you want to sell small pots for my polytunnel I would love to release you from their weight 🙂 Regarding clothes is one in – one out principal. But I forgot that the last time, so it´s time to open the drawers and clear out some. It is a very nice feeling!
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Hi Anna, it sounds like you are extremely diciplined. And yes, I will be be goting through ALL our plant pots I have been hoarding for years LoL
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Hello, My name is Lisa and i am a hoarder and I have a lot of old things that I am sure I could repair and sell but where do I start? Help please because my mom’s been battling Parkinsons disease and had a back surgery that went very wrong, and it left her with monoplegia. Also, I am a single mom of 3 and depression is bad because we are hurting big time and I have so many responsibilities I am drowning and I need to help with more money for her medicine. Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Thank you and have a wonderful day. Regards,Lisa Mazzo
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Hi Lisa, sorry to hear about your Mum, it must be tough.
Gather everything that is repairable and manage the project one peice at a time. A bit like you eat the elephant.
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You could try Facebook Market Place where people come to your home to buy stuff from you or you could sell via Ebay. Maybe declutter/sell 3 things a week, start slow and build up to more as and when you can. All the very best to you and your family.
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Sounds like an excellent plan, Lana.
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I’m not a hoarder, per se, Carole. I do have a few items of clothing on hand for when I lose the weight I gained when I quit smoking. I keep them as motivation. At one time in my life, I had lots of “just in case” stuff, but hubs is a dedicated tosser, so, over the years, I’ve come to adopt his ways. I love your upcycled table! Beautiful job on that!
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Hi Terry, you are lucky to have one dedicated tosser in the family. Mr. P and I are both hopeless. I know even if/when we clear and tidy the garage/cupboards and drawers it want be long before we are back to square one.
Keeping some clothes is good motivation … and if I ever get back into them, it will save a lot of money!
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