How much is too much?

yorkshirewolf · Post by **yorkshirewolf** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 12:41 pm

Over the years i've collected masses of things i consider useful, either to use on it's own or, in most cases bits and pieces of assorted rubbish that can (and has) been used to fix, modify or adapt something that's broken or in need of adaptation.
This probably comes with the 'mend and make do' mindset, but i always feel a little proud after fixing or improving something! and if SHTF, the ability to do it and having that way of thinking will pay dividends

Boxes and boxes of bits of metal, plastic, rubber, wiring, old camping gear....

The problem is that the shed is kind of creaking, the house is full of more 'essential to life' stored items like food and i've kind of run out of space!

Now, a lot of this stuff hasn't seen the light of day in years, and as with all hoarding rubbish in the view that 'it might come in useful' invariably, sometimes things get thrown out that later could have been used! - case in point; I was doing some wiring outside today and remembered that the old hot glue gun i'd been given but thrown away as it hadn't been used - at all, would have been nice to have! granted, i got away with using epoxy as a seal, but still...

So how far do you lot go with your hoarding? how much is too much? and when it gets too much, how do you decide what to throw away?!

Post by **pseudonym** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 2:01 pm

yorkshirewolf wrote: So how far do you lot go with your hoarding?

I keep it all.

yorkshirewolf wrote: how much is too much?

Never

yorkshirewolf wrote: and when it gets too much, how do you decide what to throw away?!

Wash your mouth out with soap..

Seriously though, I need a de-clutter too; not sure where to start though.

Post by **jansman** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:37 pm

I have been decluttering lately.As you say,metal,plastic,wire etc.My workshop has been cleared and tidied,and I am still going to bin even more stuff.Be ruthless!

defender130 · Post by **defender130** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:35 pm

No such thing as too much

Just a house that's too small

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Wulfshead · Post by **Wulfshead** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:37 pm

I am at that stage where corners are filling up and preps/survival gear is heading from all corners to converge around my coffee table.
My problem is that beneath the hard psychopath exterior beats a kind and considerate hart

So, when it comes to seeing a bit of kit that looks forgotten and lonely I tend to go and buy a bit more kit to keep it company

If my wife was not on board I'm sure I would have found divorce papers sitting on top of a pile of gear in the living room before now

Wulfshead

Arzosah · Post by **Arzosah** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 5:44 pm

I'm heading for retirement later this year, and I'm decluttering like crazy - but not my preps. I don't have the sort of "clutter" you're referring to, cos sadly I've never been handy like that and now I'm not well enough to learn. But if I *had* that sort of stuff, I'd keep an eye on it - sort it, keep it rust free, that kind of thing. Otherwise its junk.

I've just had to empty out my built in wardrobe after Storm Katie damage to the roof overhead - its led me to rearrange my clothes storage completely, I've realised I didn't know what I had, not at all - in which case, you might as well not have it

Roofer has been this afternoon, and my clothes are stored much more efficiently, plus I can discard stuff more easily because I can see the blasted things

yorkshirewolf · Post by **yorkshirewolf** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 8:59 pm

pseudonym wrote:Wash your mouth out with soap..

Seriously though, I need a de-clutter too; not sure where to start though.

You know, i hate to get rid of things, and i kick myself every time i do knowing that one day it would have come in handy!

But it's got to the point that there's so much, it's becoming hard to find things when i need them! - i recently wired in a spare 2-gang socket and only bought the back-box knowing i had some spare sockets from replacing the old ones for USB combi types, could i find the old ones? nope.

Had to go and get a new one from screwfix and found the originals a week later in a place that i don't even remember putting them

So it's all well and good having spares, but having so many that you can't find them, ...this is a problem!

yorkshirewolf · Post by **yorkshirewolf** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 9:11 pm

defender130 wrote:No such thing as too much

Just a house that's too small

You have no idea how much i fantasize about my own huge barn/shed/bunker, with a million small drawers, compartments, shelves, cubbies, hangers, all with a nice little label saying whats in there...

The drawers would have metal, ball bearing runners which i could oil, and a little slot on the front for the label to slide into...

...I'd even have small labels on my offcuts of wire and rope telling me the length....

MMMMMMMM organisation...

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Decaff · Post by **Decaff** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 10:13 pm

Currently in the midst of a purge, can't stand clutter so it just has to be done!!! Sorting through clothes at the moment as a few favourite items are looking a tad worn so out they go!!

There is a "thing" on utube called 30 bags in 30 days. You basically go from room to room with a bag each day and either bin, donate or recycle a filled bag each day. If you have a lot to declutter this is a great way to start. One cupboard at a time till it's all done.

At the end of the 30 days you should have got rid of a lot of stuff. It can be a carrier bag or a black dustbin bag.

preparedsurrey · Post by **preparedsurrey** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 11:40 pm

When you start wondering where you could locate a 40ft container as you need to declutter the house garden and sheds so you can sell...

I'm a pain for bringing things back from work when we are stripping somewhere out, got a load of metal back boxes and sockets last week that would be perfect for the workshop I don't have:(

uk-preppers.co.uk