Comments on: How to Cure PackRat-itis

By: Sanur Bali Hotel

Sanur Bali Hotel — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:39:52 +0000

Nice posting anda very helpfully , i will try to practice it thank you

By: Suzanne Stanford

Suzanne Stanford — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:01:21 +0000

I admit it! I’m sentimental. Especially as a single mom with only one child. As I’ve gone through my storage unit which I spent $125 per month on since 2000, it seems as though I’ve kept every drawing and project of hers. I also kept my expensive wedding dress for my daughter, things from my parents and family members who have now passed away – now holding treasured memories, and beloved books that I will never read again and of course, a collection of Disney VHS tapes.

I am in the process of de-cluttering and it is very challeging.

What I can tell you, now that my child is a young woman of 21, is: She doesn’t want her old drawings or projects (except maybe 2) and she definitely does not want my wedding dress. She has her own style and wants her own dress… when the time comes.

I have trouble getting rid of things because since the recession, with money being “tight” is how to turn what I have into money. The problem is that can become a full time job.

My tip for all those with sentimental cluttering issues is: “Take a picute of it, print it out, and put it in a scrapbook!

By: change your life

change your life — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:57:16 +0000

I like how one of my friend’s put it to me … they said they think in terms of the trade-off … at some point, keeping stuff is more work than letting it go.

By: Oleg Mokhov

Oleg Mokhov — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:42:25 +0000

“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.” -Peace Pilgrim

Hey Tina,

Effectively cure PackRat-itis by maximizing functionality of each item you own while reducing the number of them.

Have clothes that are multi-functional or high-performance, not just for looks. Moisture-wicking shirts that don’t stink and dry quickly, so you need less of them. Breathable microfleece long-sleeves to provide warmth without sweating indoors.

Rather than 3 gadgets, have 1 that does all 3 functions. Instead of an external keyboard and mouse, own a laptop with an excellent keyboard and trackpad.

Can you use one item for multiple functionalities? And is the performance of the item itself awesome enough to where you don’t need multiple items?

Nice list, these tips will really help people who want to minimize their possessions but don’t know where to begin reducing,
Oleg

By: wie bali

wie bali — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:02:22 +0000

Thanks for sharing. The only thing I would add is a preference to The Container Store for supplies as they are typically long lasting and the company has a rep for being good to it’s peeps.

By: Mirandairanda

Mirandairanda — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:34:25 +0000

packrat-itis means inflation of the pack rat. itis means inflation of. smart.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:03:05 +0000

What about living with someone that is a pack rat? This woman collects empty yogurt cups and microwave food bowl that are only meant to be used once. Even the containers that meat comes in. She doesn’t do anything with them just collects. You can’t even see the floor in her room and it’s coming out in the hallway as well. I even have a bag full of leaves sitting on my freezer because she liked the way they look and she bleaches them. I want to pull my hair out. I realize she is old and that’s how she was raised but give me a break. I have managed to keep some of it out of her reach by cutting it up but it just makes her mad and she tries even harder. I just don’t know what to do anymore. Anyway, thanks for letting me rant.

By: Margarita

Margarita — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:45:37 +0000

Stuff is a never ending battle. But, the universe does NOT provide, and the “clenched fist” analogy is a bunch of crap.

C’mon people! Think!

I will always regret getting rid of my Grandpa’s giant magnifiers that he used on projects. Now my Dad is almost blind, and we can’t afford to buy one.
I got rid of our large computer monitors because they were out of date. My Dad would be able to go on the computer if he still had them.
I kick myself every day for not predicting blindness in the future when I got rid of things.
Repeat after me: The universe does not provide.
Think carefully about what you get rid of, especially if you are low income.

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:04:23 +0000

Betty Million – I’m not sure where you are that you can’t find a place to take your stuff, but here are some other suggestions.

Battered Women’s – Domestic Violence, etc. Each community seems to have a place for these women and their families and usually they are starting over.

Vietnam Vets of America or AmVets – these guys will pick up (unlike the one above)

Food pantries – nearly every county has one. You can call a local prominent (you saw it, so that qualifies usually) church and ask the folks there where food pantries.

Local churches, synagogues, mosques, etc., are all good sources of people who can help you donate your items locally. If you can’t drive and can’t deliver, they can help you with that as well. These folks can be found online and called or even emailed at times.

Don’t give up – give away.

Good luck!

By: Betty Million

Betty Million — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:56:02 +0000

Read your article with interest, especially after scrolling thru 15 pgs of sites with “giving things away” as the keywords. Yes, you are on Page 15. I’m trying to get rid of clutter, but how in the hell can I when the only place I can find is Freecycle, which requires your life history in order to register? I refuse to pitch this stuff — will only get rid of it if I can give it away. Is everyone so affluent these days, that no one is interested enough to sign onto a website with an anonymous donor? I can’t even get ahold of our local homeless shelter. They have better things to do. Thanks for letting me let off steam, but the clutter still abounds.