4 Signs You Might Be a Pack Rat

Being a pack rat may not bother you, but it might affect your family or roommates. It affects you too in ways that you may not realize, including your inability to be as productive in your apartment (or car) as you would otherwise. Perhaps you’re in denial that you are a pack rat, and you’ve decided that you’re resourceful person. There are 4 signs common to most pack rats. See whether any of these fit you:

1 – Can’t Throw Anything Away

There is value in learning how to save things and repurpose them for other uses. Your grandparents may have told you stories about how they saved everything and used parts or all of one thing for something else. There are Yahoo! Groups about how to waste nothing and use everything. However, there’s a line where being resourceful turns into pack rat behavior. The line is crossed when you are not able to throw anything away, without consideration as to whether you can use it for something else or not. The way to know the difference is that you take the time to research how you can reuse something. If you merely throw things in a drawer, or put them in storage because maybe you can use it one day, that’s one sign that you might a pack rat.

2 – Gifts Never Given

If you have a pile of “gifts” in your closet or under the bed that you save for someone who might need the item, but never get around to gifting it, you might be a pack rat. It’s easy to rationalize keeping “stuff” around to benefit others. After all, it’s a selfless act and someone else might really need it. Rather than keep it in your apartment, post it right away on your local Freecycle.org group if you don’t have a co-worker or friend in mind.

3 – Addicted to Yard Sales

Not everyone who enjoys going to yard sales is a pack rat. However, you might be a pack rat when you buy things at yard sales just because it’s cheap, without any use for them in the short term. If you have boxes full of yard sale items laying around, then you’re exhibiting behavior that’s not typical of the average person who likes to go to yard sales.

4 – Move to Fit Things

When you would rather move to another apartment to fit your things, instead of eliminating some things, then that’s a sign that you’re a pack rat.  Your attachment to things is more important than saving money on a smaller apartment, which means you’re having a problem letting go of those items.

Take the first and difficult steps of overcoming your pack rat behavior today. Divide the things you don’t use into items to sell, give away and throw away. If you’re having trouble with this, ask a friend to come over and help in order to keep you accountable and encourage you emotionally. The difference it will make on your mind and those around you makes it all worth it.