Modern people are just like us!

[Aunt Marg]

I almost choked when I read the part about the soap. My parents had an odd object in their bathroom that was specifically for the purpose of saving and using bits and pieces of bar soap- it was a large sponge with an opening to put the pieces into, and the pieces kind of melted together, and a long handle so people could use it when they bathed or showered.

Of all the items they bought from those mail-order catalogs, I thought that was one of the dopiest- or at least came in first-place along with the square egg maker...

You know, in you mentioning the soap-bit sponge thingy, I seem to recall seeing something like that, or something very similar to, back in the day, though I can't for the life of me remember where...

ROFLMAO! So many of those old mail-order catalogs had such off-the-wall stuff in the them, didn't they?

 

[grahamg]

Im all for waste not want not to a point but many frugal folks use it as an excuse to cheap out in general.

Straightening out old rusty nails instead of buying a new box. Saving every plastic bag, paper clip, elastic bands, reusing every piece of wrapping paper, gluing cups and saucers back together , keeping socks and underwear until they have holes everywhere, not flushing the toilet to save on water, not wanting Christmas lights cause they use up to much electricity, not throwing anything out since it might be worth something.

People like this often become hoarders where they end up with so much stuff that it clutters up everything and becomes more like a OCD mental disorder.

I’m ALL for saving money but some people push those limits to an extreme. People who like to be generous to others often get taken advantage of by these types since they are always trying to save a buck where it can be not only embarrassing but annoying.

I liked your post, but with one small objection, (as an inveterate hoarder, as my mum used to be), I do sometimes admire those taking matters to extremes. We've all seen those house make over shows, or shows trying to assist folks wanting to sell their houses, haven't we, and they're all told to declutter. How are they coping now, I have to ask, in these days of lockdown, when a little "stock" is a good thing! .

 

[grahamg]

You know, in you mentioning the soap-bit sponge thingy, I seem to recall seeing something like that, or something very similar to, back in the day, though I can't for the life of me remember where...

ROFLMAO! So many of those old mail-order catalogs had such off-the-wall stuff in the them, didn't they?

My dad used to cut a new bar of soap into two halves, and use one till it was gone, followed by the other, I think it was a wartime measure he'd learnt when soap was rationed, because the smaller bars of soap did last longer than using the whole thing straight away. .

 

[Aunt Marg]

My dad used to cut a new bar of soap into two halves, and use one till it was gone, followed by the other, I think it was a wartime measure he'd learnt when soap was rationed, because the smaller bars of soap did last longer than using the whole thing straight away. .

Interesting... your dad may have been onto something.

I do find when the bar gets down in side (thin and small), I tend to mess with it less when washing my hands, compared to a freshly opened large bar, where you can really grab hold of it and work it, so my guess is, less soap id used the smaller the bar is, at least that's my story.

 

[JaniceM]

When I was a kid, they were called cakes of soap. As the late, great Andy Rooney said, when a cake of soap becomes more like a thin cookie, it's time to throw it out!

 

[Wren]

I wouldn’t describe myself as frugal, I’m not stupid with money either, you wouldn’t see me gluing a broken cup together though

 

[Keesha]

I liked your post, but with one small objection, (as an inveterate hoarder, as my mum used to be), I do sometimes admire those taking matters to extremes. We've all seen those house make over shows, or shows trying to assist folks wanting to sell their houses, haven't we, and they're all told to declutter. How are they coping now, I have to ask, in these days of lockdown, when a little "stock" is a good thing! .

No disrespect . You can admire it all you want. Me? Not so much . I grew up with this type of mentality .... waste not, want not., ... save for a rainy day. Save , save , save. There are many things I admire about my parents but this wasn’t one of them. My dad had OCD and didn’t like throwing out anything. Even if a cup broke, he’d keep gluing it back together. That way he could save money.

Of course everything had sentimental value. When my mom was in hospital I had to go out and purchase new pyjamas since all hers had holes in them. She probably hadn’t purchased new pyjamas in about 30 years. When I threw them out, my father took them out of the garbage again. It becomes an illness. They DID NOT declutter. Not even close. I think people who hoard get defensive of all their stuff and always have a justifiable excuse why they do it but I understand it’s an illness.

Yes I’ve seen those shows where they declutter hoarders houses. My parents house wasn’t even close to that type of hoarding but I also didn’t have any type of helpers either. After a while I’d make sure my dad had a few beers, and load my car with stuff to take to the dump. Lol.
It was a lot of work but had to be done to cut down on the mice. My parents went away 6 months out of the year for 30 years and the mice had a field day; no pun intended. If it wasn’t done the subsidized nursing couldn’t work there.

How are my parents doing now? They are both fairly senile and I successfully got them both into a nursing home . My mom got in there first. Four weeks later , my dad got in and now they share a room and really like it. They are getting the medical attention they need. My mom needs 24/7 care and my fathers not far behind her. They get fed, are well entertained and have company their own age to mingle with. They had colour in their cheeks the last time I saw them and looked very content.

Not long after they got there I went up and played and sang for them all. My dad cried. It was touching. The great news is that there are no reports of the virus . I’m so relieved knowing they are doing so well.

Thank you for asking. How is your mom doing and how bad was her hoarding?

 

[grahamg]

My mom died ten years ago, but never really changed and wouldn't have wanted to much (dad occasionally disliked all the clutter, but had plenty of his own outside in the sheds).

You may not have heard of an old TV show called "Steptoe and son", where scrap iron merchants, who cleared peoples houses lived in some squalor? It may have had a different name, when the series was remade in the US, (Junk yard something or other perhaps?).

I do accept decluttering can make people happier sometimes, and there are serious downsides to it all, but I've still got a sneaking admiration for cussedness. .

 

[Keesha]

I’m so sorry for your loss. No! I’ve never heard of that show. Decluttering a hoarders house is complete anguish for them. It’s like mental torture which is why they need the help they do. Trying to change someone’s lifestyle and habits is almost next to impossible but it should be their choice.

The only reason I intervened was so the free home nursing wouldn’t quit because they were threatening to. Twenty six hours of intense labour which they didn’t want. It was a struggle but in the end they liked it and their place looked and smelled much nicer.

 

[MarciKS]

I'm in agreement about the possible bacteria growth. I just use it the one time. I don't use a lot of baggies so it's not that big of a deal.