Hoarding problems mount up

AUSTRALIANS are hoarding possessions in excess, with new national research showing four in five admit to holding on to things we no longer need.

FOTO, or Fear Of Throwing Out, is gripping the nation and it could be impacting our health. According to a leading psychologist and expert on collecting and saving behaviour, Jessica Grisham, FOTO is impacting more than just our cupboard space — it’s weighing us down mentally and stopping us from embracing the “now”.

The online survey of 1200 Australians over the age of 18 this month found over half of Aussies (57 per cent) admit to feeling guilty or frustrated about the things they can’t bring themselves to get rid of.

Three in 4 say they would feel happier and over 80 per cent would feel relived if they were to finally part with things they don’t need according to the research commissioned by amaysim.

But despite realising the need to get rid of excess junk, 40 per cent of those surveyed hold on to things for more than five years and 25 per cent can’t get rid of useless items for more than 10 years.

Clothes, travel mementos and books are the biggest things we have piling up in our homes.

Associate Professor Grisham, from the University of New South Wales, said cluttered houses and not being able to part with material items was impacting people’s mental health.