Just in case Hoarders is looking for a new client

I have to confess, a Hoarders fan I am not.  It’s not that the shock factor isn’t amazing how much stuff these people keep in their homes but it’s the fear they will either discover a dead body underneath all the rubble or that I might find something a little too familiar about the things these people hold onto.  I’m actually not that bad.  I make myself go though the excess at least twice a year but I think my problem is the same as every other woman who holds onto things too long.  It’s a phrase each one of us uses when we are deciding whether to “keep” or “get rid”. “Just in Case”  Here are some examples that may or may not apply to me:   I better save this size 3T Halloween costume of Winnie the Pooh “just in case”  I someday have a grandchild that wants to be Pooh for Halloween even though imaginary said grandchild may not know who Winnie the Pooh is by then.   I better save this beaded black cocktail dress “just in case” my husband (who is a Painting Contractor) throws a big fancy company party and I think I can squeeze into a size 6 after all these years.  I better save this giant tub of child size hula skirts “just in case” my youngest daughter, who has a March birthday, wants to have a big Hawaiian themed luau for her birthday party.  I also better save this giant bag of Beanie Babies “just in case” they all become Collectors items and I can find all the missing Ty tags and get thousands of dollars for selling them.  The worst “just in case” excuses have to do with” just in case” they come back in style (mom jeans never will!), "just in case" 8 tracks or cassette tapes make a comeback,  or “just in case” I decide I want to start selling on E-bay.

Just get rid of it.  Now!  Never use “just in case” as your excuse again.  You don’t need it.   If we got rid of every single thing that we keep “just in case” we would actually have room in our coat closets for guests coats, be able to close our drawers without smashing things down  and we would actually be able to put our cars in our garages. (you know who you are!)  If you find you actually need the item that you got rid of, smile to yourself and give yourself permission to buy another one.  I guarantee you will have more times you won’t use something like that than you will.

So take the “Stop the “just in case” mentality oath! “ “I solemnly swear to not say “just in case” when I’m determining whether to get rid of something or not.”  Instead, we will now be able to open our cupboards without the fear of something falling out because we refuse to throw away 100 reusable containers or ten year old Sippy cups when our kids are teenagers!  And if there are gadgets we own that we’ve never used because we’ve never learned to use them or we think we will find the missing piece some day, get rid of it.  

I better state a disclaimer here.  Now it is possible there may be a couple of instances when “just in case” is a very reasonable and logical reason not to throw something out.  You could save your wedding dress or a family baptism gown “just in case” your child wants to wear it or use it someday.  And you better save that huge Giraffe lamp your next door neighbor gave you last Christmas (at least until next Christmas) just in case they come over and wonder where it is.

Throw away, give away, donate, and just get it out of the house and out of your sight.  If you put it in storage or in the garage you will find yourself rethinking it all.  Get rid of it “just in case” the Hoarders producers knock on your door.