Is the need to hoard normal?

My aunt and my sister was kind of a horder, they kept newspapers and things. I throw everything away, and sometimes I get in such a hurry and throw things away I don't mean to and don't realize it until it is too late. I actually throwed my first set of wedding rings away. I had put them in a plastic bowl in my cabinet while washing dishes, and that night I was cleaning out the cabinet, got a hinkling to do it that night because things kept falling out, and I actually threw my rings and they went in the garbage and garbage collector got them the nex tmorning. Broke my heart, but hubby did finally buy me another set, which I never took off.

They will never understand and will come up with the most ridiculous reasons if you try arguing. I have given up and now she stores whatever she wants and where ever she feels like - The Dressing Table, The Almirahs, The Iron Frames, the big box made of tin - above and inside of it and even the bed. And each bundle contains those horribly awful smelling naphthalene balls. She keeps adding and removing at will \All is now okay with me as long as she does not put anything on my work desk

No, it's not normal. Compulsive hoarding like that is a mental illness.

My husband is a hoarder, I cannot decide him to throw things he does not need.

I hoard.. I love having random stuff around me. Trick is to regularly tidy up as if you're moving houses. Then all of a sudden it's great to see what's "essential" gets to the bin. Having said that, I've moved 3 countries 'n' 5 cities in the past 7 years, so it's easier to think "travel" light.

I think some hoarding is normal, especially if you've come from a background where every penny counts, but newspapers and empty bags, maybe not

No, hoarding is a mental illness :) I do hoard carry bags... think it started from the thought of those being hazardous. So least I could do was use them again. Started keeping the clean ones and take those with me, if needed. Now, my shopping has got limited but I still keep the carry bags... dump them when really old. But I feel bad...god knows where those will go and end up clogging which water source or whose digestive system...

Hoarding is a way to fill an emotional void by hanging onto things that give you a sense of security. It's alright unless people go overboard.

I think your dad had a tough childhood, and poverty taught him not to waste anything. I think if we were to go through the same kind of childhood, we might grow up the same way. Sometimes I think we never can get rid of the habits and money ideas that come from our childhood.

I tend to hoard, and interestingly so did my grandfathers on both my mum and dad's side of the family so it may not only be natural but hereditary.

My Mother is much the same as that Vandy, but she does give in sometimes...

I agree with @yukimori that hoarding is a mental illness. We have shows on TV here in the U.S. about hoarding and it can get really bad.

Your dad is just cautious especially with events happening.. My dad is also that way and I just follow so like a good daughter . For me hoarding is not good too coz you have a lot to jeep clean but the thing is he's your dad so go with it. You'll be fine

I think a lot of people hoard at least one thing. I hoard paperwork and sketchbooks (each with only a few sketches in them). Who knows why... I always buy new sketch books when I'm feeling artistic because I want a new start or something. And I just keep my old sketch books. It really is a waste of money.

Can you just sneak some of them out when he's not around?

Oh, I have an uncle like that. His garage is scary with piles and piles of newspapers and who knows what. He even saved the ashy charcoal leftovers after a barbeque - I don't know why. His wife, my late aunt, used to plead with him to throw away things but he always said that was being wasteful. But how is it useful when things are never used? I don't understand why my uncle still practices keeping everything - but now no one except him lives in that house.

What he will do to those empty rice bags, plastic covers, milk covers? Be careful that insects or pests will live in there.

Lol you got to be kidding. I am seeing first time that someone who is keeping all these. Can you make me clear that why he keep those milk covers? I am still wondering.