Is there a 12-step program for pack rats?

[escape]

And I'm not talking about the furry kind.

DH and I bought a new house and I'm determined not to move a lot of unnecessary stuff to the new house. I want to get rid of some of the junk (for lack of a better word at the moment) that I've accumulated over the years. What I can't believe is all that I have accumulated. It seems to have multiplied while I wasn't looking. Where did this all come from? What was I thinking when I bought some of this stuff? More importantly, why have I kept all of this stuff that has never been worn, used very much, etc.?

My DH has a bad habit of not discarding things and I always got on to him about this but truth be told, I think I'm just as bad....if not worse.

Is there any hope for me? Are there any other DISers like me?

 

[caitycaity]

we're in the same boat (moving). i've managed to sell, donate, or toss most of our stuff and let me tell you it is a good feeling! we still have a lot, but it is stuff i know we will use.

 

[SC Minnie]

I used to be like that. In our old house we had a huge attic and everything ended up there. When we moved 8 yrs ago I was determined that nothing was coming in the new house that was not used and I stuck to my guns since the new house doesn't have as much storage. We had 4 huge yard sales and I was brutal as to deciding what was going. If I had not used it in the past year then I didn't need it. If it was sentimental then I had better have a place to display or properly store it.

Even now, our church has an annual yard sale so I keep a box/space in our spare room and through out the year things that I don't want/need anymore get put in the box for the church.

 

[Snowysmom]

We moved 4 years ago and DH still has boxes downstairs that need to be unpacked and the contents probably thrown out. He had them in storage for a long time until I got tired of paying the bill to store "stuff" so now they sit downstairs. He is a complete pack rat and admits it. If a 12 step program opens up, let me know. I have a candidate.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Try giving some stuff away through www.freecycle.org .

Also, if you really want a 12 step program, I found one online!

http://www.clutterersanonymous.net/

 

[barkley]

become adept at using the freecycle site. you would not believe the junk people clamored to come to our house and take away from us. it's also a great place to get rid of large, bulky items on (we got rid of an OLD above ground pool and a not so great swing set, but if someone else can use it-great).

there's also a vietnam vet's group (national) that will come and pick up any usable household goods. moving is a great time to start a pile that they can arrange a convenient pickup time for.

we just went thru this nightmare (my 3 car garage is going to take months to go thru)-and i went on a tirade that from now on if anyone brings anything into the house it will be marked on the bottom with a dot of color which indicates who will be responsible to pack it for the next move (and it won't be me)

 

[NAB]

We are guilty too. I have wedding presents still in boxes and have been married 12 years. I have garage sales and donate to but still we have alot of stuff.

 

[PaulaSue]

Flylady

It really helps you take babysteps to declutter and clean by workinig on one section a week-few days.

 

[escape]

Thanks MaryAnn and barkley for the info on freecycle.org. I'll check into that a little more!

I know, I know....babysteps, babysteps. That's what I'm doing now. I'm tackling one room at a time. What a job!

If I find that I relapse and start saving again, I'll be checking out that clutterersanonymous for sure.