What is your relationship with stuff?

I grew up poor. So poor that my mother put on sock puppet shows as a birthday present. So poor we slept on couches, and in peoples garages.

As a child, I rarely had new toys, always hand-me-downs, garage sale, and second hand store dolls. I still have the first new toy I ever got, I was around 6 years old and my mom got me a bear at Walmart for $8. This was a very big deal. I have had him for almost 30 years, and he has been re-stuffed along the way. His name is Clark.

As a teen, I never had designer jeans (back then it was Guess with triangle on the back pocket), I had never traveled to anywhere nice (most my friends had gone out of the country several times), I never had extra movie money.

I was resentful towards stuff. I was too poor to have stuff. We only had necessities. We had to travel light. I wanted that new Barbie. I wanted a fancy dress. I hated that we could not afford the things my other friends so easily had.  I hated that I never fit in, never had the perfect outfit or expensive hair style.

Now that I am all grown up I have a much different relationship with stuff. I still want that fancy dress, but it no longer defines who I am. I respect stuff. I work so hard for my money Collectors, that when I buy stuff it has to be something I will really use or love.

I have had this private discussion with my Clients. It's interesting that some of them have gone the complete opposite direction. They grew up poor so gosh darn it if they aren't going to buy everything they want. They grew up poor!! Filling their homes up with new items that will never be used, just so they don't feel like they did growing up, just to fit in. Crowding themselves out of their own homes with stuff, just because now they can afford it. Suffocating themselves and drowning in stuff, just to feel good about themselves. Does this sound like you?

Dig deeper on why you fill your home with stuff. How did you grow up as a child? What was your relationship to stuff back then? How were your parents on stuff? Do you buy stuff to drown out uncomfortable feelings? The more you learn about yourself, and why you clutter, the more you will be able to let go.

Until next time Collectors!

Rachel

Rachel Seavey, Collector Care
Owner & Blogger

Need help going through all that stuff? Are you completely overwhelmed and want your home back?
Collector Care Professional Organizers & Cleaners are here to help!

Give us a call 925-548-7750 or visit our website at www.collectorcare.com

#collectorCareCares

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, Discreet

Is recycling a big part of your clutter issue?

Hey collectors! Especially my GREEN Bay area collectors! And all of those green people out there in the world recycling to make a difference! Thank you so much for doing your part. 

I would like to talk a little bit about recycling and how it can create clutter. A lot of the times I walk into a home and peoples recycling bin's are out of control. Most of the time recycling is all over the place. My clients know it's a good thing to recycle but it just never gets out the door. 

Do you have a recycling overload at your home? 

There are a few common items people get hung up on, first I will start with rinsing. You do not need to rinse your recycling. If you do not believe me call your local recycling center. No one is going to think of you as dirty or lazy because you did not rinse out your recycling. Please note mucky items such as peanut butter should be rinsed out.

I have several clients that rents their recycling to avoid fruit flies. The problem is not with the recycling, you need to take your recycling out more often. Please see below.

Next I noticed people wait until a large recycling can is full until they take their recycling out. Take recycling out in small bags every day so that you don't get backed up. Sometimes people make their recycling bins or bag so heavy that they can no longer physically take them out. Keep it small and simple by taking out small bags that are easy to manage

Also if you struggle with hoarding disorder and/or perfectionism, I want you to think to yourself about how important it is to address your hoarding tendencies and not so much the rinsing of the recycling... What is really important to you? Getting your life back together or impressing these imaginary people at the recycling center? Don't lose track of your vision!

I love recycling, I have even attached a picture of my recycling bin so you see that I practice what I preach.

I have my recycling bin at the top, and my stash of bags at the bottom. Yes even I have a very small stash of bags.

My recycling container is easy to manage, and easy to clean.

The moral of this story is ... Continue recycling! Just don't be a perfectionist about it or let it get out of control by using the tips in this post.

Do you need help getting your recycling under control? 

Visit www.collectorcare.com 

or call 925-548-7750 today!

Rachel Seavey, Blogger #collectorCareCares

Do you hoard emails? Why?

Hey Collectors! Do you hoard emails? Gulp, okay guilty confession apparently I do too! I got a notice from Yahoo! today saying I had exceeded my storage limit!! No way, right? Um, yes way!

I just spent the last couple of hours deleting years worth of emails. I feel liberated! I had no idea what I had saved! (sound familiar????)

I guess it was out of sight out of mind? I also worked in a corporate environment for several years where we all saved every email to cover our you know whats. They were literally called CYA emails.

Whoah! I have to tell you it feels good to do that purge! Join me in purging emails this weekend (or whenever you find yourself reading this). Don't wait for a notice to be posted to drive you into de-cluttering your inbox! Learn from the Pro's!

Do you need help de-cluttering your emails or paperwork? We love information gatherers!

www.collectorcare.com or 925-548-7750 FREE estimates to the SF Bay Area!

Rachel Seavey (no longer hoarding emails)!
Owner & Blogger - Collector Care Professional Organizers

Organizing & Cleaning for anyone overwhelmed with clutter!
Licensed. Bonded. Insured. Check out our reviews on Facebook, Google + and yelp!