Why do people hold on to useless outdated junk?

Question

I have a friend who keeps old moldy smelling magazines.
My sister keeps all her clothing that she grew out off (and more than likely will never into them again).
And I keep shoes that are out of style and worn out looking.

Answer 1

I still have my hippy poncho from when I was 15, so I have held on to it for 37 years. That darn thing is in perfect shape and I still wear it once in a while on Hallowe'en. I guess it keeps me connected to my youth.

Answer 2

i'm like that!
i can help with this one.
it's called Input.
its a personality strength. it looks crazy to people who don't understand it, but it stems from a desire to collect things.
people who are like that tend to collect things, magazines, books, posters, pins, shot glasses, labels, whatever. these things are usually USUALLY things that aren't useful on a regular basis, but to the collector, they have a sentimental value. there is something about the person that makes him or her think that it's possible that one day one of their items may come in handy.
this is the shortest explanation i can give you. if you really want to know more. email me and i can tell you more.

Answer 3

IF YOU'RE READY FOR YOUR JAW TO DROP TO THE FLOOR AND MAYBE EVEN HAVE A GOOD CHUCKLE, TYPE IN THE WORD "HOARDING" ON ONE OF YOUR SEARCH BARS. YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT AND HOW MUCH THAT PEOPLE HANG ON TO! FIRST YOU CHUCKLE, AND THEN YOUR HEART GOES OUT TO THEM, BECAUSE IT OFTEN GETS COMPLETELY OUT OF HAND AND AN INTERVENTION HAS TO BE USED TO GET EVERYTHING BACK TO SOME IDEA OF "NORMAL." I DOUBT YOUR FRIEND IS "HOARDING," BUT IT WILL GIVE YOU A DECENT IDEA OF WHAT THIS "KEEPING STUFF" CAN TURN INTO IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL AND ON TOP OF IT. HERE IN MAINE, BECAUSE OF THE WINTERS, I THINK, ALMOST EVERYBODY IS A BIT OF A "PACK RAT." ALL OUR JUNK KEEPS US ENTERTAINED AND KEEPS US COMPANY DURING THOSE LONG MAINE WINTERS! WHEN I FIRST CHECKED OUT "HOARDING: ON THE INTERNET, I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I FOUND. DON'T GET TOO WIGGED ABOUT IT. REMEMBER HOW EASY IT IS TO GIVE STUFF TO GOODWILL. HAVE A GREAT DAY, NOW. G. FROM SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE.

Answer 4

i keep old junk but i very often build things with them i also have few old magazines but the ones ive kept contain usefull info or things i may want to show / prove to others

Answer 5

When you find out... PLEASE let me know. I have heard that it is sentimental value...(???for something that you have not looked at for 20 years... how can it be sentimental??).. I just do not know. I have long gotten rid of things that I had not used for 5 years.. I closed my eyes and yard sales it out and have not yet regretted it.. I even got rid of my high school year books.. University year books, etc etc....

Answer 6

You never know when things might come in handy for something. Then there are people who don't like to throw anything for no good reason they just hate to throw anything away.

Answer 7

she's a packrat. I used to be one b/c sometimes it's hard to let go of things when they're attached to certain memories. you tell yourself that throwing something away means you're going to forget the memories attached to them. you just have to tell yourself that the memories are going to stay with you forever, whether or not keep things that you don't need.

Answer 8

PEOPLE HOLD ON TO USELESS OUTDATED JUNK BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID TO LET GO OF THEIR TINY INVESTMENTS. I PERSONALLY TOSS CLOTHES AFTER TWO YEARS OF NOT WEARING THEM. MAGAZINES GET TOSSED A YEAR AFTER THE ISSUE. I DON'T LIKE CLUTTER!!!

Answer 9

Because they haven't come to terms with being able to part with "Things" - It simplifies your life when you learn how! You need two seperate "true sentimental value" from "I really don't need this"

Answer 10

People keep old stuff because it can still be used, even if they do not need it for anything.