Why Do Humans Hoard

[nailit]

A sort of follow on post from AOGs post below re: lofts.
Just why do we feel the need to hoard 'stuff'? Clutter really gets on my nerves and I'm something of a minimalist where possessions are concerned but I still tend to buy more than I need at anyone time, mainly things like toothpaste, razors and other toiletries.
WHY?
Is it a fear of lack or something more? I get on my own nerves at times with buying (and storing) more than I need.

[Tilly2]

I hoard stuff because I think it might come in handy one day. I am slowly managing to get rid of lots of stuff now because that 'one day' has never actually arrived.

[ducksie]

I don't know why we hoard, but I have to remind myself, you never see a removals van behind a hearse, so non baggage for me - that said, I'm off to dump a few bits

[cassa333]

Mainly because we have paid or sometimes made things and don't want to waste the money by throwing it out.

That and a lot of our stuff is of sentimental value and hold memories that we fear might be lost if we don't have the object.

[Tilly2]

.and...some people like to have familiar things around them. It gives a sense of security and stability.

[maggiebee]

Speaking personally, I had nothing growing up. I had a happy but very poor childhood where material possessions just didn't figure. Over the years I have bought (and hoarded) many things. It's a bit like a Linus blanket but really need to start clearing out.

[ummmm]

I don't hoard but my partner has a tendency to.

[ummmm]

When I say my partner hoards...it's things like nails and screws, even if they are rusty!

[nailit]

Since posting this (and out of curiosity) Ive just seen exactly what I have in toiletries. I have 73 bars of soap, 103 disposable razors, 8 tubes of toothpaste, 4 cans of shaving gel, 9 cans of deodorant, 2 roll on deoderants and 12 bottles of aftershave (all gifts).

[nailit]

//When I say my partner hoards...it's things like nails and screws, even if they are rusty!//

That's just a man thing ummmm :-)

[ummmm]

It's annoying :-)

[Islay]

Nailit I think your hoarding is not the normal hoarding but more to do with your OCD? I am not 'getting' at you but you have mentioned before that you hate bodily hair of anykind and constantly wash.

I am a hoarder of pets!!!

[nailit]

I really don't understand the hoarding of 'sentimental' stuff.
My friend (who was my classmate all through school) died 6 years ago. His parents gave me quiet a few of his possessions as keep sakes. To his parents they were obviously precious, but to me they were unnecasary clutter. I don't need keepsakes while I have my memories. My mum hasn't got to long left on this earth but there honestly isn't anything that I would want from her possessions to 'remember' her by. Things are just that...things.

[ummmm]

When my grandparents went into care homes we got to chose what we wanted from the house. I picked and ashtray (it's really nice, sofa height and carved from wood) and a peeler :-)

The ashtray is used for keys/change.

[agchristie]

> I have 73 bars of soap....

That won't wash with me ;o)

[nailit]

//Nailit I think your hoarding is not the normal hoarding but more to do with your OCD? I am not 'getting' at you but you have mentioned before that you hate bodily hair of anykind and constantly wash//

Islay, ive not ever been diagnosed as having OCD but I am a bit particular about bodily hygiene so maybe there is something in what you say. There have been times in the past when ive been a bit skint when ive bought toiletries rather than food. Rather shave my plums than eat them lol ;-)

[nailit]

//> I have 73 bars of soap....
That won't wash with me ;o)//

groan... :-)

[MallyJ]

It's odd....I feel really twitchy if there are not at least 20 spare lavatory rolls. I reckon I must have run out years ago...or maybe it's a fear of squares of newspaper hanging from a string on the back of the door.... as were to be found in the outside loo when I was growing up. The only thing I hoard is lavatory paper.....and what did happen to the pretty coloured rolls?

[nailit]

Now the peeler I can understand ummmm........

[Eleena]

I don't know. I don't, my partner would, does in fact. I know I would feel out of control if I didn't keep an eye on things. Still we have drawers full of 'bits and Bob's ... I'd throw the lot. I think they're might be something of the 'comforting' in hoarding, why I don't know. I've watched programmes about hoarders where they can hardly move/ function it's got that bad, at that point there's something of a problem going on emotionally, psychologically. I used to clean a man's office that was left in limbo, very untidy. He told me he had ocd. I used to have a battle to actually get in at any point. What I ended up doing was, if I saw him out on the floor, I'd seize the moment to be in and out as fast as I could, vac and make it at least presentable, but not move anything out of place.

[nailit]

Mally,never thought about toilet rolls. Just counted mine. Got 12 at the mo plus 2 packs of baby wipes (like to freshen up after wiping normally) Also got 4 bottles of bleach on my shelf in the wc)