The rise of the middle-class hoarder – and how to know if you’re one of them
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Why the middle class have become the new hoarders
- Overconsumption, fuelled by easy online shopping and targeted marketing, has led to a rise in "middle-class hoarding," where individuals accumulate excessive possessions, often unused.
- This differs from hoarding disorder, a mental health condition marked by distress and an inability to discard items, but can still lead to negative feelings and financial strain.
- Experts suggest shifting focus from material goods to experiences for greater happiness and recommend decluttering, adopting a "one in, one out" rule, and differentiating between wants and needs.
- Evaluating the labour hours required to afford a purchase and utilising the sharing economy can help curb spending and clutter.
- The rise of social media and home organisation trends can exacerbate the problem if not approached mindfully, as unplanned storage can create more clutter.