HELP. I Replaced My Kids With Lots Of "Stuff"

Reminds me of George Carlin and his "stuff" schtick.

When my sons moved out and my mom and brother went to Phoenix, i started replacing them with a lot of "stuff" i dont need.

My house is clean, and you can walk everywhere, i dont have stuff on the floors like the Hoarders you see on TV. But i could soon get there.

I just got another coffee table, Shabby Sheek (sp) and i didnt need it. Got it today.
My house looks like a 60's shrine, really. I am stuck in time it seems, and i cant move out of the 60's stuff. But thats not the problem.

I am overwhelmed lately because i have so much. I have pretty things, i like to be surrounded by nice things, but i now look around and this looks like a store where you would go an say i'll take one of these, three of those.....

I think i need help. I wont have a yard sale. Its not worth being out there all day and i'd rather give it away, but i really cant...and thats the problem.:shk:

Am i sick?

Oh DG, hold my hand and we can go through this together.....:shk:

I'm trying to unload a whole bunch of crap right now, but it's not crap. I've collected stuff for years and it all has value. Financial value, sentimental value, and items that tie me to my family that I value the most.

Garbage day was Hell for me this week, but a bunch of it went to the curb and is out of my life forever.

Pick something and throw it away, and then select something else and toss it out.
It can be very hard at first, but chuck it out and feel free.

My home is spotless because I keep a Phil (my husband), but I have a dining room again that the door can remain open and I'm not embarrassed.

The more you get rid of, the better you'll feel.
Trust me on this.

Why not make a list of absolutely everyone you know, even if not that well.

Make big pile of the "stuff".

Organise a "givaway" party and invite all those people, make fun invites and send/hand out.

Bake big cake....have fun.

When people arrive, offer them an ticket for any items of their choice from the pile. Have a FREE DRAW for each item.

People will be more likely to turn up and feel like staying longer than other parties so FUN is on the cards.

You'll never believe how many friends you have or how much fun it will be getting rid of all that "Stuff" and you'll be content to know it all went to good homes and that it was not just chucked out.

ps... don't get carried away and end up with nothing and don't you dare get rid of that nice big red claw footed armchair.

[edit on 3/6/2010 by nerbot]

Hey Sweetie.
No, you are not sick.
You are just trying to fill an emptiness, or as you put it, an "empty nest".
Thing is hon, you are using the wrong thing to fill it with.
I'll wager you get a short term feeling of abundance or happiness when you get something new, that dwindles very quickly, and you have the urge/ desire to buy again, just to feel that again.
Recognize it for what it is, a band aid fix.
You need to fill up that void with something better for you.
Perhaps spending more time with other people.
I know how you feel about most of the people immediately around you, and i can definitely sympathize with you there.
What about devoting time to volunteering, or taking up a new hobby?
Something that occupies your mind.
As for the things you already have, quite honestly, if it has the usefulness of a paperweight than it's not a necessity. Sentimental items are an exception.
I found after moving around a lot, that it became very easy to only keep what I needed, and to not accumulate more knick- knacks than I really needed to satisfy myself. Clutter in my home started to make me "anxious" for lack of a better word.
Most people would say my home is quite barren,but I like it that way. It's simple, and doesn't cause chaos in my brain.
Good luck to you my dear.
*hugs

Trust me, you want to nip this in the bud.

I am the adult child of a hoarder and dealing with this has been hell on earth.

One can possess a 'clean hoard' -- a neatly 'managed' excess of stuff in a non-squalorous environment. A hoard by any other name is still a hoard.

While my mother has hoarded as long as I can recall, her problem escalated exponentially when my father passed away and she found herself all alone in a too-big home. Empty spaces within the house only accentuate her loneliness and isolation and she fills this, relatively neatly, with all manner of "stuff" -- furniture, boxes and crates of archived paperwork, stacks of dated magazines and newspapers. Items are deliberately placed on counters and tabletops so that every square inch is covered. Anything that fills space soothes her anxiety, loneliness and unhappiness.

The problem that you want to nip in the bud is what lies ahead. Who will deal with the care/disposal of all of this 'stuff' if and when you can't? You may want/need to move into a smaller dwelling some day. Will you be able to physically and emotionally part with the 'stuff' that you have accumulated, and on short notice if necessary? I guarantee you that your family members will NOT want to be burdened with this task. My mother is unable to part with any of her hoard and fully expects me to become the steward of it when she can't actively 'manage' it. Her inability to look in the mirror and say, "I have too much stuff and it will be an unfair burden to my family some day." has cost her our relationship. I walked out of her life this past fall over this very issue. Her 'stuff' is an impenetrable wall between us and happy interaction.

Don't go there. Find other ways to fill the void and make certain whatever you choose to do won't create burdens for others.



[edit on 3-6-2010 by GoneGrey]

reply to post by GoneGrey
Thank you. Yes, i heard something triggers this.

Thank guys, i will go room by room and see what i can do. I feel i need help, maybe i will get a friend to help me.

I also like the idea of the party LOL.

Lately, its blankets i'm into. Now i dont have much money at all. i go to second hand shops for my luxuries lately. I see a pretty blanket and i wash it of course and put it away somewhere.

Also food is a main thing. Electronics ++++++++++

I have 7 cell phones i dont use. I just use the 8th one because i have no choice. it works.

Well you guys get the idea.

I will report back and take some pictures just to prove to myself i can do it.

I seriously hope.

GARAGE SALE!

WOOT!

Listen, I know what you are going through, I replaced my wife with porn, now it's everywhere, clogging up my hard drive, magazines under the bed, it's the same thing, you however can show your neighbors.

Originally posted by whatukno
GARAGE SALE!

WOOT!

Listen, I know what you are going through, I replaced my wife with porn, now it's everywhere, clogging up my hard drive, magazines under the bed, it's the same thing, you however can show your neighbors.

ROFL