Are You Becoming a Hoarder? ...

One of the ways to tell if you're becoming a hoarder is if things are piling up all over the house. Instead of organising your belongings, you're simply throwing them anywhere. Things are piling up on top of each other, and you're having trouble finding what you want.

Do you keep lots of things 'just in case' you need them one day, or because they might come in useful? Then you may be developing a hoarding problem. The chances are that we won't need most of the things we hang on to. It's a wartime mentality of not wanting to throw things away, and isn't relevant today. The best option is to avoid accumulating so many things in the first place.

Are any of your rooms stacked with boxes from floor to ceiling? If you have so many boxes that you think they must be breeding, you're in danger of being nominated for the next series of Hoarders. Boxes are a useful way of storing things, but don't let them take over; be especially cautious of taking the 'out of sight, out of mind' view and filling rooms you don't use with boxes.

Are you renting a storage unit because you've run out of space? Take that as a sign that you have way too many possessions. You're paying good money to store things you probably don't need. Clear out space in your house so you can store the things you do genuinely need or want, without wasting money on storage rental.

Do you have rooms in your house that you can't use for their intended purpose because you're using them as massive storage cupboards? Do your kids have to share a room because one bedroom is chock full of boxes and bags? You might as well get a t-shirt printed with 'I'm a hoarder'. Get rid of all those extraneous possessions and turn the bedroom back into a bedroom, or make it a guest room or study.

Hoarders often have massive collections of useless objects or things that have no value in themselves. Think about what you're storing. Do you keep every magazine you've ever bought, or never throw out any clothes? Do you keep every empty margarine tub and yogurt pot? You won't use them, so get rid.

Finally, nobody likes cleaning, but it has to be done. However, if you're finding it difficult to clean rooms because things get in the way, you're risking a hoarding situation. Rooms will soon get dusty and dirty.

Hoarding behavior is often learned from a parent, so if one of yours was a hoarder be alert for signs of it in your own home. Hanging on to things won't make you happy, and no hoarder is really content with the situation. Do you live with someone who never throws anything away?