prepper or hoarder?

[izzy_mack]

It's been really cold and wet here the last few days, so I decided to do a little spring cleaning and de-cluttering. As self-sufficent living appeals to me and I

make and mend things, I tend to keep old clothes etc. for craft work, but when does too much become hoarding? I've made some tough decisions and

dumped some stuff I've stored for ages. Great, more space for prepping stuff, but hang on wasn't that what I just threw out? I could have made patchwork

covers from old shirts (I have already and everyone loved them,cosy and full of memories) and loads of other stuff. Shoes that didn't feel comfy and went

to charity shop, what if they became impossible to buy?


ok some junk is easy, turf auntie's horrible vase, get less sentimental about stuff the kids bought you and are of no practical use and they've probably

forgotten about anyway.

Life should be easier as a prepper but having every available space in my home filled is not my idea of easy! Apart from getting a bigger home and an

another container or have I misunderstood how to be self-sufficent?

[Nate66]

It's been really cold and wet here the last few days, so I decided to do a little spring cleaning and de-cluttering. As self-sufficent living appeals to me and I

make and mend things, I tend to keep old clothes etc. for craft work, but when does too much become hoarding? I've made some tough decisions and

dumped some stuff I've stored for ages. Great, more space for prepping stuff, but hang on wasn't that what I just threw out? I could have made patchwork

covers from old shirts (I have already and everyone loved them,cosy and full of memories) and loads of other stuff. Shoes that didn't feel comfy and went

to charity shop, what if they became impossible to buy?


ok some junk is easy, turf auntie's horrible vase, get less sentimental about stuff the kids bought you and are of no practical use and they've probably

forgotten about anyway.

Life should be easier as a prepper but having every available space in my home filled is not my idea of easy! Apart from getting a bigger home and an

another container or have I misunderstood how to be self-sufficent?

Izzy, my wife accuses me of being a hoarder because I will cut the cord off of an old hair drier or iron and i rarely throw anything of value away. I look at it like this: If I can find a practical purpose for it than I keep it. If I already have a couple that I haven't used in a few months, toss it. Especially if there will be a chance of another one pretty soon. If it is something that will be rare and hard to find in a given situation, keep it, else toss it. Hope this helps.

[Deeps]

I would imagine that both 'types' are from the same psychological starting place. I've always been a bit of both myself, I don't like throwing things out if I can find a possible use for them and I suppose describing yourself as a 'prepper' means you can justify hoarding stuff to yourself.

Like most things, if its in moderation then no problem, if ANYTHING is taking over your life then it becomes a problem. Saying that, me and Her Maj have slightly different viewpoints on what you can classify as 'taking over'.

[Decaff]

I love a declutter!! there is only so much room for "stuff" no matter how large your space is.

If you know you will definitely use whatever it is in the near future then its not clutter.

I don't keep any newspapers, magazines etc, clothes that are no longer worn, shoes that are not comfy, if cupboards are stuffed to the gills, its clear out time!! At the end of each season I sort through clothes and any that are just not going to be worn again I donate or scrap, depending on condition. Broken household goods I get rid of and replace when I can, I'm never going to be able to fix a broken kettle, toaster etc so it goes out as soon as its had it. I don't keep the cords etc, what would I do with them? Everything comes with a cord on it nowadays.

I've slowly got rid of ornaments etc as I'm not keen on all that stuff and really don't want to spend time cleaning, dusting stuff I hate. I've been pretty ruthless over the years but never regretted it.

[alwayscross]

I use to be a bit of a hoarder when I started prepping, I ended up realizing I had a ton of stuff I will never use and just sold them off. Ive actually been very good with what I buy, I have a small collection of knifes buts that about it.

[featherstick]

As usual in these cases, it can be helpful to conjugate the verb:

I prep

You hoard

He/She has OCD clutter disorder

: )

[Decaff]

As usual in these cases, it can be helpful to conjugate the verb:

I prep

You hoard

He/She has OCD clutter disorder

: )

[munchh]

As usual in these cases, it can be helpful to conjugate the verb:

I prep

You hoard

He/She has OCD clutter disorder

: )

Yep, im pretty sure its a fine line between the two, They say most genius is close to madness, so i recon its the same, but yeah it made me LOL too.

[nickdutch]

But what if (to the most part) you actually use the things that you "hoard"?

The definitions become blurred.

[Crows]

I definitely think I and my family are hoarders. Hopefully, starting prepping will help that problem.

We are also going to change the living room round a bit and that should help a lot with the storage