September 29, 2023

#111 Do you have spares of your spares? Do you have backups of your backups?

43 minutes

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Today, I'm delving into the world of excess and overstocked items. I have some insights on how to navigate the clutter of spares and backups that can often accumulate in our lives and explore the challenges of hoarding spares, the fear of running out, and the art of letting go. It's time to take action and make space for what truly matters. Let's dive in!

Too many backups, no space for essentials

Too many spares hinder finding things

Hoarders stock up, but it's problematic

Keeping spares, especially when on sale

Overbuying and hoarding wastes time and money

Allocating space reduces overstocking, prompts evaluation

Consider cost, availability, and ease of replacement. Assess necessity based on these factors

Evaluate spare items for necessary maintenance

Risk and fear limit our daily lives

Consider reasonable quantity and necessity, not excess

We accumulate unnecessary backups, making it difficult to organize and discard unused items

Keeping too many unnecessary items makes it hard to find what we really want

Letting go takes faith but leads to easier access

Buying in bulk is cheaper

Overbuying and hoarding leads to an unmanageable situation, preventing you from enjoying life

Fear of running out is understandable but excessive stockpiling is not helpful or cost-effective

Dispose of obsolete tech and excess items, donate or discard thoughtfully

Allocating a specific space for overstock might help control it

Consider limiting the number of spares and keeping track of inventory

Consider the cost and availability of replacing items. If easy and affordable, no spares may be needed. If costly or hard to find, consider quantity and storage

Check if your spare items need maintenance. Don't keep duplicates if they don't work. Consider safety and cost when replacing items

Balancing risk and spares in daily life, reassess as needed

The waste feels horrible, but you can learn from it and make more conscious decisions about buying

Don't beat yourself up, instead turn discomfort into determination to avoid future waste

Think before buying unnecessary items

Assess the importance and potential consequences of running out

Balance the need for preparedness with space and cost

Proportionality is key

The concept of overstocking and hoarding spares

Keeping a record of the quantity of spare items to alleviate anxiety about running out

Difficulty of finding desired items among a clutter of unused items

Taking Action to Get Out of Clutter

Importance of taking action to declutter and organise

Acknowledge fear of being without certain items, but encourage letting go of unused items to make space for what truly matters

Donating unwanted items can make it easier to access needed items

Availability of replacements locally or online

Considerations like expiration dates and proper storage

Fear of running out and hoarding as a response

Balancing the benefits of buying in bulk with the negative impact on daily life and family dynamics

Keeping old appliances as backups even if they are no longer functional

Using discomfort as motivation to avoid overstocking and waste

Reassessing judgments about spares over time as anxiety levels change

Futility of hoarding obsolete tech

Space, cost, and compatibility issues

Reflect on own overstocking habits and take steps to overcome compulsive hoarding

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By That Hoarder

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