Hoarding and False Economy

May 15, 2008 at 8:23 AM
11 comments

When do you have too much? My closet runnth over.(not a cry for Help, Jenifer) Bookshelves loaded, double stacked! Any cans of gas around? Spare stuff, extra just in case? Chest freezer with a side of beef?(working on it Steve)

What is hoarding? Supply and Demand rules. Can be smart, or when it rots it was not.

If stocking up, get stuff your going to use. Not what you think other people will want.

Too many stories of stock piles of ruined food. Heat and time are against you.
Can do it with information too. Have a drive full of stuff I may never see again! Dusty books do not move you.

Tim

11 comments

Comments

Oh, no, you've been to my house, haven't you, Tim!

Well, I do tends towards clutter. I've even written about this and the PROCESS of it over at my website (Confessions of a Clutter Queen). There is a need being met, albeit badly, and a communication happening. Working on it.

All the best,

April Braswell
Romance Coach, Online Dating Coach

Sounds like you've seen my bookshelves (and hard drives). Only stocking up stuff we're going to use is wise advice.

Yann Vernier - Personal Coach

I guess it's hoarding when you'll never be able to use, otherwise, you're just saving.

Aaron

As an adaptive behavior, it was great in the Depression. Now...

Sheridan

When the ex moved out, so did 2 maga dumpsters of "stuff"! We are in a "no-hoard zone"!

John

Can you guess that I tend not to hoard? Heehee.

But NOT holding onto things is a hard thing to do...for me, too!...it's programmed into us. And like Sheridan mentioned, those who lived through the Depression survived because they did hoard. You know...none of us knows when the next great disaster will occur, and then the hoarders may come out on top. But then again, it may never happen.... When is it wisdom, and when is it folly? I don't know that we can conclusively answer that.

Jennifer Skinner

Wardrobe Planning Expert

But, but, but..... if I throw it away, there is a 100percent chance I'll have a dire need for it next week no matter what it is. I began trying not to keep so much crap a few years ago and here's what happened....

Back in the 80's My girlfriends and I were partying with Bon Jovi's band (another fun story) but not Jon - he was "busy" in the next room. Anyway, Richie Sambora gave me and my girlfriends each a guitar pick. It had his initials engraved on it. Several years ago I found it in a jewelry box or something, and thought what am I ever going to do with this stupid thing - and I threw it away. STUPID!!! Did I hear someone say eBay?!!!!!!!! Now I'm back to hoarding!

I like to stock up on the things I use. I don't want to be ready to make spaghetti and realize there is no Prego in the cupboard. Love the buy one get one free offers on food stuff that I eat.

Scott A Bell

I am The Road Warrior

One mans hoarding is another man's wise planning. We all know or have heard of a hoarder, or what might more accurately be called a "pack rat". Not a good set of habits to adopt.

Is it wise to lay up stores for emergencies and the lean times? Absolutely. Like anything, say SCUBA Diving, it is good to have a plan and to stick to it. We all make assumptions. I may assume that I only need three days worth of supplies in case of emergency. (I don't, only three days is NOT wise planning.) After all, surely the US Government would be able to arrive with help within three days of any natural or man-made disaster.

My neighbor might decide three weeks are a better bet. In some circumstances I'd be more than right, in others he is making the safer bet. It goes down to that trust thing. Do I trust the government to be there for me? Absolutely not.

You may remember, if you know your bible, the story of Joesph in Egypt. The Jews were enslaved because they ran out of food and gave up their very freedom so they would have something to eat.

Seven fat years, seven lean years.

False economy is often a better bet than false hope.

Steve Chambers