While I don't think that my shopping habits are tied into the OCD, deleting all store-related emails without opening them has helped me to not feel so drawn in by sales pitches and current events. Compulsive buying is such a hard thing!

In terms of the hoarding, if you would be open to it this is something that has helped others I know - ask a trusted friend or family member (one who knows you well enough to be able to discern what's actually important to you) to come in and take several trash bags of "things," whether it's clothing, figurines, random items, etc. Make sure that you're not present when they're doing this (very important). The person should keep the bags for four to six months, and if you don't actively look for or need any of the things that they took, the bags are donated or the items sold. This would obviously be more difficult if you keep meticulous order of the things that you buy, but if it's more that things are purchased and then are just around then it could help decrease the unnecessary clutter. It's very hard to let go of things, but since the bags are kept around for a while it's a reversable process.

Regardless, I hope that you find relief soon!

actually, I have the opposite problem. I get rid of things. I have thrown out my wedding dress, high school annuals and many other important things. Maybe hoarding is my fear, where as yours is losing things. My Mom is a clothes hoarder, I think it's because she hardly had any clothing growing up and what she did have, she had to share with her sister. She almost always buys some type of clothing every time she goes to Wal-Mart. I don't know what to tell you about hoarding, I just saw your post about it and wanted to help you. A lot of help I am! lol Just know that you are not weird, and not alone. I hope another hoarder writes to you and makes you feel better! You're brave to share your problems. I bet your post will make someone else feel not so alone! Susie Q.

I have a similar problem but I don't buy many new thing, I just can't get rid of old things and my house is a cluttered mess. I just can't seem to get it clean. I can't stand it. I actually have maids clean my house every two weeks so I can focus on the clutter but I still can't get rid of things. I mostly hoard old bills. I think it's because I have had two things go into collections that I had paid but threw the papers out because it was many years later. Regardless, I had to pay them again to save my credit and it was thousands of dollars. I agree with Sarasalt and I am going to take her advice. If we don't realize things are gone, then we must not need them. Anyway, good luck to you. I know getting rid of things can be very difficult.

Meeniebeans, have you considered getting a scanner and digitizing your bills? With services like Dropbox and various "clouds" accessible from anywhere, you wouldn't need to worry about losing them if your computer crashed or died. If the undertaking is too intimidating, there are services that will scan loads of papers for you! Just a thought. :)