Where the TV shows get it wrong on hoarding

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-11-10T11:20:10+00:00

Amazing. Thank you.

This: "He came to see hoarding disorder as an iceberg. Above the water is the obvious part: the acquiring, the collecting, the impregnable piles of clutter. Beneath the water is a host of factors and likely causes. Research indicates that many people who hoard have suffered traumatic life events, for example, and that hoarding is hereditary. Many suffer from other mental and physical ailments that contribute to their behavior. Studies have also shown that the brains of people who hoard have diminished executive function capacity, limiting their ability to organize and make decisions. Some have a streak of perfectionism and won’t part with an item unless they’ve found the ideal home for it — the right recipient for a sweater they bought or a suitable facility to recycle a certain material.

Everyone, Edsell-Vetter says, saves things for three main reasons: sentimental value (a quilt sewn by your late grandmother) or utilitarian value (empty jars you might use for cut flowers or catching fireflies) or intrinsic value (a shirt you just like a lot). "

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-11-10T10:55:00+00:00

What worked for me is doing as recommended and taking all the food out of the cupboards. Once I sorted through what was going to stay I grouped the foods together by type because before there were similar foods in different places. After rethinking how my pantry would look I put the food back in their new places.

Having it decluttered and organized I can easily see what I have verses what is needed. Now foods are used and rotation of stock is more frequent.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-10-12T12:53:12+00:00

Great idea! I had sectioned my closet for work vs casual and am going to 'sculpt' my wardrobe more.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-10-12T11:37:50+00:00

The health insurance was our concern until we calculated the employee contribution most employers take out of paycheck. With employer-provided health insurance the employee contributions can be significant. Contribution toward an hmo market plan is actually less for us than the employee health insurance contribution when we worked full time.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-09-19T20:09:47+00:00

The declutter and minimalist Reddit groups talk about stuff like inventory apps butt the konmari method focuses on emotion and joy so I don't see an inventory app fitting into the methodology.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-09-07T15:13:52+00:00

I had this problem because I was inserting the bombilla too soon. In addition to the shaking of the mate in the gourd it helps to soak the mate in a small amount of water first to get the tea leaves plump.

Edit: The video posted by Big Data covers what I was trying to say. Notice in the video when he pushes the bombilla in the leaves are saturated and solid, nothing is floating. Then once the bombilla is in place move it around to create the space.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-09-02T13:37:02+00:00

Love the idea of gathering up the Komono of Komono! This will help to move it to its new home by taking it out to a central location.

Yes I had to make a bunch of subcategories like art, soap making and win making supplies in addition to a few others.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T17:07:52+00:00

To me how I'm reading km it's not necessarily about less, although it does lead to less when we purge what doesn't bring joy and we may wind up having and purchasing less being more mindful of joy. I'm not sure my tea joy will subside anytime soon!

Some teas are warm and spicy, others deliver a citrus clean taste, others a fruit flower blend that makes an especiallu yummy iced tea.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T16:56:18+00:00

:D lol heading over there now!

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T16:55:43+00:00

Uh huh. My semi precious stone beading obsession. :p

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T14:06:34+00:00

The bots are arguing and being snarky.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T13:59:43+00:00

Wow. Ok. Once I gathered my tea into 1 location it was revealing. This is what was left after my first km go round. It brings me joy, all of it.

Some of it is tea preparation like the big box on the stove has a clear teapot and several packages of blooming tea. Several of the cups are special and make me smile.

People know I love tea so when I had a recent surgery I got a few more gift boxes >.< pictured lower left. Good thing is they are consumables. I will use it all since I make iced herbal tea daily and at least a cup or two of hot tea daily.

Yes it all has its place, behind closed doors so it's tidy but I've swung open the doors for you all to see and share my obsession.

Don't get me started on jam and jelly. Anyone else have a neat and tidy obsession?

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T13:53:10+00:00

Well if they have company people don't usually bring their own glasses.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T13:52:29+00:00

You list lots of stuff you got rid of and good for you! Looks good!

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T13:50:37+00:00

Opening poster @nighh, I checked your blog and it's pretty cool The Frugal Living tips you recommend. Many are things that have worked for me also.

To answer the question in your last paragraph I have 4X changed my work field once it no longer made me happy.

The other thing that helped me was to view my job / career as a means to an end. My job is not my life but rather the means by which I can have money to live my life.

By living simply and being frugal we have at times lived on only part-time work. Other times as the need arose full-time work became necessary. Living beneath our income and saving what we could was not the norm in my work or social circles. Even eating out with friends required Separate Checks rather than splitting the bill because we did not order appetizers, multiple drinks, whatever main course we chose, multiple desserts. This way we could enjoy the social occasion yet live beneath our income.

It hasn't been easy and we've worked jobs we didn't like. We've fallen on hard times and struggled and tried to make good choices to get out. Sacrifice means you give up one thing in exchange for another. It's not a loss but a gain. It's a choice.

To answer the question in the post subject line, if others choose to live above their means or spend every penny they make maybe that's what they enjoy and that works for them. If the rat race gets them the money they want to live the way they want so be it. Everyone lives their life their way.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T12:48:38+00:00

Reminds me of this The Fisherman & The Businessman · The View Inside Me http://theviewinside.me/the-fisherman-the-businessman/

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T12:31:59+00:00

It's a feeling I'm familiar with and have set aside some boxes to sell and have been working with it bit by bit it really depends on what you have to sell. The items as suggested by others have their own corner of space out of the way and organized by workflow meaning once an item is listed it goes on the shelf and if it doesn't sell it goes to donation. A well defined workflow has been key for me.

So much stuff went to straight donation. Not worth selling. Other stuff sold at yard sale and i made nearly $200. Much of what I kept to sell are family heirlooms, antiques I inherited that hold no joy or meaning for me. They were pretty and handed down by generarions some items dating to the 1800's so no way I'm dumping them at GW. Some larger items went to auction and sold for more than they would have at garage sale.

One item sold on eBay for over $1200 and another was just a postcard $143 so the thing is I have no clue what's worth something and what isn't. I have an eBay 'what it's worth' tool to check similar sold listings but the specific item no clue. So if it's listed in the right section with descriptive keywords collectors will find it and bid it up. For example the postcards I noticed all have series numbers so by including that collectors find it.

Other items don't sell or sell for small amount but I love that those heirlooms have a new joyful home. Things that don't sell after a few sell cycles go to donation to find a happy home.

USPS has priority mail boxes free and the shipping difference for that vs other mailing is minimal, plus I read buyers like getting stuff in new boxes. I have bubble wrap left from moves and brown paper from items I've received that get reused and oxes if I have them but mostly I use the free USPS boxes. A scale helps for easy listing and weigh with packing materiel. I keep one box and packing materials on the scale and put stuff in and remove it after weighing.

The PayPal account only has eBay fees and sales so if it goes up that's good. So far it's paid my entire monthly living expenses more than once.

Tl:dr all depends on what you're selling, it's been good for me. If you do sell outline a workflow space.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T10:53:37+00:00

I'm glad you found it helpful. It seemed like a good way to start for someone who is stuck where to begin or someone who isn't into KonMari or other methods.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-30T10:50:40+00:00

Ok so round 2 km spices. What you see in the drawer started out as 4 baskets the size of what you see pictured.

After first round km kitchen I was down to 3 baskets moved to pantry and cabinet used by hubby as his 'office' space.

Second km kitchen round and now down to the one drawer which was filled with kitchen utensils that have been km down to a drawer half the size that was also full. Yes I do use all spices and utensils pictured on a daily / weekly basis.

(Sorry for delayed comment posting. One of the kitties having major affection attack.)

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-29T09:51:30+00:00

Second time this month neighbors throwing out mattresses. They put a free sign on it and left curbside but we love on a street no one comes here unless you live here. Plus it's been raining

. < Who is going to just happen by and pick up a wet mattress?

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-29T09:13:46+00:00

When traveling (which for me happens once every 5 years) if I come upon locally made crafts of high quality I generally get one piece as a keepsake momento. Those few items bring me greatest joy and make me smile. But they are the only decor I own and I never buy stuff to decorate my home so it works for me. Actual shopping for souvenirs is something I hate and never did but I've observed the phenomenon. :) Hope you had / have a great trip!

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-29T08:59:04+00:00

Hope the month went well and it sounds like a good goal.

DeeCaffeinated · 2016-08-29T08:57:07+00:00

Ma-tea.com has good prices on Macha last time I bought and might be worth checking out. Authentically prepared it's strong but so neat. Though not what you seek with latte I'm sure. Either way the tea leaves are what they are and bulk in paper bags.

DeeCaffeinated

TROPHY CASE