What makes a person, "hoard" stuff?

[Mark Doble]

Personally speaking for myself, I do collect things a bit around the house. I guess I get them from a store, antique market, In the ditch, etc...

Why do I keep them? I guess I see a possible future need for them. Although after a couple of months of non-use I do throw it out.

To make room for my motorcycle in the garage I threw out 3 truck loads of stuff I had kept for some time! I had just become lazy about cleaning.

Do some people feel safe and cozy by surrounding themselves with stuff?

I kept my 1990 baseball card collection, stamps, and Super Heros K...

[Joel Merrill]

I think there can be many reasons why people hoard stuff. I've known a lot of people who grew up during the great depression or grew up in poverty who hoarded stuff. There is a mental condition called, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that can cause people to hoard things. Simple greed also causes it. There is usually a difference between hoarding and collecting.

I've been in people's houses that were just full of useless "stuff". They never threw anything away and they were always hauling home more stuff. We had a neighbor who hit every garage sale in town every week. She had boxes and boxes of clothes for her kids and they were out growing them way faster than they could wear them. That's hoarding. We all know people who collect things as a hobby. I have a friend who collects Hot Wheels toy cars. I know a man who collects and restores antique tractors. I collect model airplanes. Right now I have enough where it will take me years to build them all so I'm not buying anymore until I build the ones I have.

Joel

[Mark Doble]

I think there can be many reasons why people hoard stuff. I've known a lot of people who grew up during the great depression or grew up in poverty who hoarded stuff. There is a mental condition called, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that can cause people to hoard things. Simple greed also causes it. There is usually a difference between hoarding and collecting.

I've been in people's houses that were just full of useless "stuff". They never threw anything away and they were always hauling home more stuff. We had a neighbor who hit every garage sale in town every week. She had boxes and boxes of clothes for her kids and they were out growing them way faster than they could wear them. That's hoarding. We all know people who collect things as a hobby. I have a friend who collects Hot Wheels toy cars. I know a man who collects and restores antique tractors. I collect model airplanes. Right now I have enough where it will take me years to build them all so I'm not buying anymore until I build the ones I have.

Joel

Very true, a difference between collecting and hoarding. I know a guy that can not throw anything out! It even kills him to lend anything to anyone cause it is missing from his hoarded, collection. One time I actually got something from him to borrow, and before I left he had taken it back cause he could not have parted with it for the day! OMG

[Dennis M. Scott]

Personally, I do it in the name of good stewardship, or some other spiritual excuse.

[Marg Webb]

My husband has all of his college papers and much from his childhood. He has this in his will.
Lumber he is going to build bird houses from SOMETIME.
Bags of our shredded paper, as we might want to pack a package, box's to go with the paper. You name it he has it.
I just gave the Pick Up man iron pipes, after receiving permission. Now what would he do with iron pipes living in a Condo.
Now I have every book I think I have ever had, SO I have just donated many and given much to Good Will.
Home Schoolers love to receive many types of books too.
. I have the rest in my will.
I have a drawer of underwear male and female, incase someone comes and needs a change.
Sheet's for double beds. We have twin beds, but just maybe someone might need them sometime.
Lots of makeup, shampoo, bath soaps, enough sponges to sponge NazNet I think.
So see the "pot cannot call the kettle black".