Hoarder or Hobbyist

Dear Lauren,

Dear Lauren,

My house is filled with hobby materials like books, magazines, and materials, that I never seem to get around to. I have had to buy more bookcases and storage containers to fit it all. My husband says the house is becoming over-run with my stuff and calls me a hoarder. I say I am a hobbyist. Who is right?

Hoarder or Hobbyist

Dear Hoarder or Hobbyist:

In general, the difference between a hoarder and hobbyist is that the former seems to collect and store items of useless or limited value while hobbyists collect items that are worth money to others.

A person who hoards will generally collect things like newspapers, magazines, even fingernail clippings or other thingsthat they would not be able to sell or probably even give away. The home of someone who hoards istypically filled with clutter: counter tops are filled, and there are pathways carved around stacks of collections. For someone who hoards the thought of getting rid of some of the collections will cause anxiety even while the collections cause distress or impairmentto the hoarder.

A person who collects for their hobby is collecting items that have monetary value to others. This is the key difference between one who hoards and one who collects for their hobbies. It is quite possible to be a hobbyist in some areas and a hoarder in others.

So, are you a hoarder or a hobbyist? Without knowing your collections, it is hard to say. Ask yourself, am I gathering -- without discarding -- things that have little to no value to others? Are my spaces being over-run so that they are not able to be used for their original purpose? And do I feel like I am being run by rather than running my hobbies; that is, do your hobbies cause your stress or impair your functioning?

Best Regards,

Lauren

Hoarder or Hobbyist

By: Lauren Trecosta

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