As the old saying goes…the proof isn’t only in the pudding it’s in your closet, your cupboards, your back porch and – if you have one – your garage.

You’ve got too much stuff. Everywhere. It’s not just a bunch of grandmas building enormous collections of margarine tubs or Uncle Bill’s believe it or not 500 jars of pennies. More and more middle-class households are plagued by overconsumption and even hoarding.

Hoarding? Not Me

Just about everyone I know is struggling to clear out the clutter in their living space. Shopping is easier than ever; click a button or two and anything from the latest bestseller to an oxygen tent will be delivered straight to your door. And, in a culture that fetishizes possessions, why should we be surprised that we’re drowning in stuff?

Clutter is one thing. Hoarding’s a whole other ball of wax.

According to the Mayo Clinic, hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding belongings, often paired with intense emotional attachments – they’re even irrationally attached to items that others perceive as worthless. Not everyone with a full garage has a diagnosable disorder, many of us are still caught in a cycle of stress-shopping, over-saving, and avoidance.

What’s With Our Stuff Obsession?

Before the current era of rampant over-consumption, hoarding was survival-based. People who lived through the Great Depression learned to hold on to everything from buttons and string to shoe polish, twine, and Christmas wrapping paper. But the post-World War II prosperity boom found happy – and often suburban – families ready to jump into a sparkling world of dishwashers, Chevrolets, clothes, phonographs…you name it. Pride of place was awarded to those who got the most-est, newest things the fastest.

We’re still caught in that loop. Contemporary marketing tells us we need a dozen storage bins, backup phone chargers, and seventeen skincare serums. The result? We’re maxed out on objects but lacking one essential thing: happiness.

The Psychology of Hoarding

Hoarding behaviors are often tied to anxiety, OCD, trauma, and depression. Some people find clutter comforting, soothing. Others hold onto things because they somehow feel they might need them at some point in the future, or can’t withstand the guilt of throwing things away.

Therapy — especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — can be quite effective. Services like BetterHelp or Talkspace offer accessible, licensed therapy online for hoarding-related issues (and everything else, for that matter). These platforms offer flexible session plans that can help hoarders find mental wellness and support as they go on their decluttering journeys.

What If It’s a Family Member?

Dealing with a parent, spouse, or sibling who hoards can be emotionally exhausting. The key? Compassion over confrontation.

Start by:

• Setting small, achievable goals (e.g., clearing one drawer)
• Focusing on safety, not judgment
• Offering support, not ultimatums
• Recommending therapy or professional help

Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee’s book Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things is a wonderful source of info and advice. It can help loved ones understand the emotional roots of hoarding.

Decluttering Help: Products & Services That Actually Work

🧹 Home Organization Services

Companies like The Container Store’s In-Home Organizers or TaskRabbit can connect you with pros who specialize in decluttering. They’ll help you tackle clutter room-by-room without judgment.

📦 Storage Solutions

Some messes just need better systems. Try:

•  iDesign Storage Bins: Clear, stackable, and terrific for kitchen, bathroom, or toy storage
• Open Spaces Entryway Rack: Gorgeous and practical shelving for shoes, bags, or books
• mDesign Drawer Organizers: Help categorize all those “junk drawer” items

Minimalism Isn’t About Living Like A Monk – It’s About Enough

Minimalism doesn’t mean living with three forks and one T-shirt. It’s about intentionality. Shifting from “how much can I get?” to “what do I truly need?” can provide the clarity you need to live with what you actually need…and getting rid of what you don’t.

Start with these:

• Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki: A minimalist guide rooted in real life, not Instagram aesthetics.
• bemorewithless.com blog by Courtney Carver
• The Minimal Mom & Break the Twitch – Trending minimalist-focused YouTube channels

Ready For The One-Week Minimalism Reset?

Take it easy. Breathe deep. And…

• Day 1: Clean out your junk drawer
• Day 2: Donate 10 pieces of clothing
• Day 3: Unsubscribe from marketing emails
• Day 4: Toss expired pantry items
• Day 5: Declutter one bathroom shelf
• Day 6: Set a spending freeze for 24 hours
• Day 7: Reflect — what felt good to let go of?

Bonus Tip: Reward yourself with something non-material—like a walk in a clean, open space.

Final Thoughts

Burnout, marketing pressure, outdated notions of frugality inform modern hoarding. You don’t need to live in a gleaming white box with a futon, a spoon, cup, and plate. You don’t have to go into personal debt investing in organization systems.

All you need to do is take the first step. After all, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about making room for what matters.

string(11759) "
As the old saying goes...the proof isn’t only in the pudding it’s in your closet, your cupboards, your back porch and – if you have one – your garage.



You’ve got too much stuff. Everywhere. It’s not just a bunch of grandmas building enormous collections of margarine tubs or Uncle Bill’s believe it or not 500 jars of pennies. More and more middle-class households are plagued by overconsumption and even hoarding.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyuvUEFu2vE




Hoarding? Not Me



Just about everyone I know is struggling to clear out the clutter in their living space. Shopping is easier than ever; click a button or two and anything from the latest bestseller to an oxygen tent will be delivered straight to your door. And, in a culture that fetishizes possessions, why should we be surprised that we’re drowning in stuff?




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rhVQCzF3r0




Clutter is one thing. Hoarding’s a whole other ball of wax.



According to the Mayo Clinic, hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding belongings, often paired with intense emotional attachments – they’re even irrationally attached to items that others perceive as worthless. Not everyone with a full garage has a diagnosable disorder, many of us are still caught in a cycle of stress-shopping, over-saving, and avoidance.



What’s With Our Stuff Obsession?



Before the current era of rampant over-consumption, hoarding was survival-based. People who lived through the Great Depression learned to hold on to everything from buttons and string to shoe polish, twine, and Christmas wrapping paper. But the post-World War II prosperity boom found happy – and often suburban – families ready to jump into a sparkling world of dishwashers, Chevrolets, clothes, phonographs...you name it. Pride of place was awarded to those who got the most-est, newest things the fastest.



We’re still caught in that loop. Contemporary marketing tells us we need a dozen storage bins, backup phone chargers, and seventeen skincare serums. The result? We’re maxed out on objects but lacking one essential thing: happiness.



The Psychology of Hoarding



Hoarding behaviors are often tied to anxiety, OCD, trauma, and depression. Some people find clutter comforting, soothing. Others hold onto things because they somehow feel they might need them at some point in the future, or can’t withstand the guilt of throwing things away.



Therapy — especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — can be quite effective. Services like BetterHelp or Talkspace offer accessible, licensed therapy online for hoarding-related issues (and everything else, for that matter). These platforms offer flexible session plans that can help hoarders find mental wellness and support as they go on their decluttering journeys.



What If It’s a Family Member?



Dealing with a parent, spouse, or sibling who hoards can be emotionally exhausting. The key? Compassion over confrontation.



Start by:




Setting small, achievable goals (e.g., clearing one drawer)



Focusing on safety, not judgment



Offering support, not ultimatums



Recommending therapy or professional help




Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee’s book Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things is a wonderful source of info and advice. It can help loved ones understand the emotional roots of hoarding.



Decluttering Help: Products & Services That Actually Work



🧹 Home Organization Services



Companies like The Container Store’s In-Home Organizers or TaskRabbit can connect you with pros who specialize in decluttering. They’ll help you tackle clutter room-by-room without judgment.



📦 Storage Solutions



Some messes just need better systems. Try:




 iDesign Storage Bins: Clear, stackable, and terrific for kitchen, bathroom, or toy storage



Open Spaces Entryway Rack: Gorgeous and practical shelving for shoes, bags, or books



mDesign Drawer Organizers: Help categorize all those “junk drawer” items




Minimalism Isn’t About Living Like A Monk - It’s About Enough



Minimalism doesn’t mean living with three forks and one T-shirt. It’s about intentionality. Shifting from “how much can I get?” to “what do I truly need?” can provide the clarity you need to live with what you actually need...and getting rid of what you don’t.



Start with these:




Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki: A minimalist guide rooted in real life, not Instagram aesthetics.



bemorewithless.com blog by Courtney Carver



The Minimal Mom & Break the Twitch - Trending minimalist-focused YouTube channels




Ready For The One-Week Minimalism Reset?



Take it easy. Breathe deep. And...




Day 1: Clean out your junk drawer



Day 2: Donate 10 pieces of clothing



Day 3: Unsubscribe from marketing emails



Day 4: Toss expired pantry items



Day 5: Declutter one bathroom shelf



Day 6: Set a spending freeze for 24 hours



Day 7: Reflect — what felt good to let go of?




Bonus Tip: Reward yourself with something non-material—like a walk in a clean, open space.



Final Thoughts



Burnout, marketing pressure, outdated notions of frugality inform modern hoarding. You don’t need to live in a gleaming white box with a futon, a spoon, cup, and plate. You don’t have to go into personal debt investing in organization systems.



All you need to do is take the first step. After all, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about making room for what matters.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3P5q2zXDJQ

"

The Momager May Be Worth More Than You Think… Kris Jenner is a pop culture icon for many reasons. While you may have watched her meteoric rise to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians — which originally debuted on E! — she’s actually been a fascinating figure in the public eye for ages.  As

Keep reading

By Massimo Tornambe Scott Disick, aka “Lord Disick” has gained fame and a devoted following since his appearances on the reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Disick is renowned for his expensive taste in clothes, cars, and women. The question that millions of fans are asking is: where did his fortune come from? Scott

Keep reading

Everyone says the economy’s healthier than ever, but some of us still find it necessary to make that paycheck stretch…and stretch…and stretch. The better we understand our spending habits, the better we can manage them. Living frugally can benefit you in many ways. You’ll grow more self-reliant, creative, and resourceful as you learn to make

Keep reading

Spring is in the air — and while you’re clearing out closets and scrubbing the back corners of the kitchen drawers, why not do a deep clean on something that really weighs you down? We’re talking about debt. Yep, those sneaky credit card balances, student loans, Buy Now Pay Later plans, and subscriptions that keep

Keep reading

In the 1980s movie Little Shop of Horrors, the protagonist Audrey fantasizes about owning a house of her very own. She doesn’t ask for much: just a simple one-storey place with a washer, dryer, and bedding will do.  And while this moment in the film is intended to satirize the American Dream by underlining how

Keep reading

Imagine this: you marry the man of your dreams. You have two beautiful children with another on the way. You spend your days cooking gorgeous, nutritious meals for your family…. from scratch. You get paid to share your daily life and meals with people around the world. But here’s the catch: half of those people

Keep reading

In this month’s Money Journal, Celia is organized and disciplined yet enjoys her life “to the Max” Welcome to Money Journal, a monthly Paypath series that examines how Americans really handle their finances. Our participants keep a journal of their earnings, spending, and savings (if any), then share what it’s like to live in their

Keep reading

Trying to cancel your gym membership can be more tiring than actually attending that kickboxing class you keep skipping. Getting out of your gym contract can be so tough that people are going to great lengths to avoid paying any penalties. After going into debt living a lifestyle she couldn’t afford, this woman forged fake

Keep reading

You Lose $20K Each Year Just For Being a Mom You may not know this, but there was a time when smoking was considered “liberated” behavior for women. There was a cigarette company Virginia Slims that was created specifically to attract female smokers during the bad old 1970s. The slogan was “You’ve come a long

Keep reading

Even if you don’t know the first thing about collectables, you know Funko POPs. Funko Everyone does. They’re absolutely everywhere, from comic book shops to big box stores to movie theater concession stands. Many people think Funko POPs are cute, with their big black eyes and uniform features. Others think they’re creepy for pretty much

Keep reading