Collector Confidentials: Netizens Share What Makes Them Self-Proclaimed Hoarders

Some theories estimate that humans stopped being hunters and gatherers about 12,000 years ago. This happened when humans garnered the knowledge and skills to produce their own food and clothes instead of solely depending on what nature has to offer. Even though we no longer need to fully depend on mother nature not to starve or freeze us, we never quite lost the need to collect and preserve things.

Collecting various things is a well-accepted hobby. However, when the collection thing goes out of control, it gets to the point of hoarding. It is a common problem as stats say that almost every home has at least 200,000 unnecessary items. For this listicle, we have gathered netizens who took it a little too far with their hobby. Some of them might actually require therapy. 

Vintage Tech

Don’t let the cliche saying “old is gold” fool you too much. Sometimes the old can also be trash (no offense to our nana. We adore that woman). However, this OP seems to be struggling to let go of history. 

They have several out-of-date tech products in their collection, such as old computer monitors, broken gaming consoles, floppy disks, etc., but they have a special attachment to this old Nokia. We think Nokias are a wise investment. Those phones break the floor instead of breaking their plastic when they fall down. 

Nuts And Bolts

This is perhaps the most “dad thing” that has ever occurred since the invention of dad jokes. Not to be sexist, but these men have the god-given power to tinker with electronics and somehow put them back in their functioning form.

This OP collected all the spare nuts and bolts from all the things they tinkered with incase these become necessary in the future. Usually, we would say people have screws loose if they collect bolts with such devotion. However, our father saw us typing it and gave us some stern life lessons. 

LEGO

LEGO is the part of our childhood that we can never let go of. The LEGO company is most certainly not the only company to produce building blocks for children, however, they have a nostalgia factor that no one can replicate. 

This collection makes a lot of sense to us. It is scientifically proven that building blocks can be used as a stress reliever. And as overworked adults, we can vouch that LEGOs are more useful to grown-ups than children. You can also hide them and make your enemies step on them. 

Face Masks

There was a time when we were ignorant children and did not trust those who wore face masks. To our young eyes, these masked folks were surely hiding something. We knew all about stranger danger, and face masks were a bright red flag back then.

However, we’ve changed in recent years. Now, we see a face mask and know someone is smart and safe. Oh, how times have changed that blocking your mouth is a sign of trust and respect for your fellow humans. That being said, unless you have an immune deficiency, there’s such a thing as too many masks.

Instant Rice

Due to obvious reasons, we cannot disclose where we live. However, we will admit that we grew up in a culture that worships rice. You can eat a whole buffet and still feel hungry if there wasn’t any rice on your plate.

Yes, we take our rice very seriously. As connoisseurs of rice, we have the birthright to critique this person. We are positively repulsed that they thought instant rice was superior. If you want to save time from cooking, just invest in a good rice cooker. Do not succumb to the instant nonsense.

Rocks

Personally, the rock collecting hobby is not for us. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. To rock this hobby, you have to do extensive research and then figure out a way to make them look good on your shelf. 

Yep, it is not for us. Many believe that certain crystals have healing properties. Sorry, but we’re not in that group. We will at least concede that a gemstone collection can be quite aesthetically appealing if it’s carefully curated and not just dumped in a pile.

Books

This listicle consists of several questionable collections. This, however, is not one of them. If we had to wholeheartedly agree with one collection, it would be collecting books. We shed tears for three nights when we learned of the fire in the Alexandria library and the destruction of the knowledge within. 

You can imagine how much we adore books. There will never be enough books, nor will there ever be enough knowledge. A good collection of hardback books can last for generations. To be honest, we once considered throwing out all our furniture and replacing them with bookshelves. 

Socks

Socks are an acquired taste. At first, it feels as if the fabric is suffocating your feet. However, once you get used to it, there is no going back. Not wearing socks will most likely make you uncomfortable once you start loving them. 

This will most likely lead you to a lifelong obsession with this attire. Most of these socks will most likely not have matching pairs. However, no one cares since mismatched socks are a quirky trend these days. This OP has enough socks to rival Dobby the free elf.

Squishmallows

Whoever came up with the idea of Squishmallows is a genius. Squishmallows are adorable with minimalist designs. They are also super comfortable and they use the perfect soft, fluffy material in production. Nightmares will not touch you if you sleep with one of these cuddly babies. 

If you have an army of Squishmallows like this, the boogie monster will not venture into a 50-mile radius of you. However, due to how affordable and adorable these plushies are, this hobby can go out of control. We know one person who sleeps on the floor because their bed is reserved for Squishmallows. 

Crafting Supplies

Oh dear, how did our mother and her crippling obsession with craft materials end up on this listicle? Surprisingly, this is not her. It seems quite a lot of people like collecting colorful yarns and needles for no particular reason. 

This fact is as comforting to us as it is concerning. It may look like the workshop of a serial killer at first glance, but we can vouch that it’s not the case here. The only thing our mother ever killed was our self-esteem.

Pocket Knives

Now, this is what a proper collection for a serial killer looks like. Just kidding. Collecting sharp objects is not necessarily a red flag. Many appreciate the knives for their craftsmanship and elegance. And, no, we’re not talking about Thanos and his perfectly balanced knife.

It also helps that pocket knives are an excellent tool for self-defense or to help you out in a tricky situation. Can’t find your scissors to cut off a tag? Is that homemade birthday cake too hard? A carefully wielded pocket knife has you covered.

Salt And Pepper Shakers

If you listen carefully, you can probably hear our elderly grandmother gasping for breath. No, it’s not because she has asthma. It’s envy that is stealing her breath away. If she could hack, she would have probably found this OP’s home address and robbed their collection. 

This OP has every member from every biome captured in their salt and pepper shakers. They have penguins from the Arctic as well as woodland creatures such as squirrels. We have no doubt this OP loves every trip to the thrift shop. 

Guitar Picks

Every string player has an arsenal of picks or other helpful trinkets. As guitar players ourselves, we have about 300 picks of varying shapes and thicknesses. Each of them creates different sounds, in our opinion. However, no matter what, every player has that one lucky pick that creates the perfect sound each time. 

Even though we have so many, we keep coming back to that old boy. We also think collecting guitar picks is a good hobby. They are very cheap and widely available. They also take up very little space in our home. 

Soy Sauce Packets

We all have a section in our fridge that is brimming with sauce packets from the Victorian era. This person is ready to tackle an apocalypse with all the soy sauce they have. Even though it says they have reduced sodium, we are certain so much soy sauce can send a grown man to a coma. 

Instead of collecting small packs like this, just get a glass bottle of good, aged soy sauce from the supermarket. They are cheaper than collecting hundreds of mini packs and also reduce plastic waste. This is a collection that we do not approve of.

Q-Tips

Q-tips are an absolute essential in every household. They can do deep cleaning of things in a way that other products cannot replicate. Nothing beats the sensation of cleaning your ears with a Q-tip, although recent studies have shown that cotton buds are not the best product for ear cleaning. 

They are also useful for art and crafts or makeup. However, sometimes even Q-tips can be too much. This OP is suffering from a massive surplus of Q-tips. They have 20,000 Q-tips. There are not enough ears in that town to use up all these cotton buds.

Warhammer

Hobbies are what keeps our inner child alive. They are our safe space to breathe and feel happy. However, we should also be mindful of others’ safety while practicing our craft. This OP has rightfully angered their spouse with their negligence. 

The Warhammer 40k Armies are notorious for having a big box and small models inside it. Basically, the box takes up a lot of space while the small parts are very easy to lose. The lost parts could be a choking hazard to pets and children.

Bionicle Sets

Had this been fifteen years ago, the red of our blood would have turned green from intense envy after seeing this photo. As a child, this was our ultimate dream. We would have killed to have a shelf full of action figures back in the early 2000s. 

We can’t say that we are not jealous of this OP’s plethora of Bionicle Sets. Even as an adult, a part of us yearns to fulfill that childhood dream. However, we know very well that our cats would push everything off the shelf. 

Funko Pop

Almost every millennial has bought a Funko Pop at least once. Someone once said that they are the “millennial Beanie Baby,” and we totally agree. Many find them repulsive due to their soulless, pupil-less eyes; however, there is a certain charm to them. 

The company manufactures figurines from almost all aspects of pop culture, games and anime. Therefore you can collect all your favorite characters in a uniform manner. The only complaint we have is that it takes up quite a lot of space. Oh, and they’re not exactly good for our wallets.

Pennies!

Collecting coins from all around the world is probably the most common collector hobby. We all know someone who likes to gather currencies and put them in a photo album. It is also a timeless hobby that you can introduce to your children. 

Coins from all around the world can evoke interest in different cultures and their history. Every ridge of a coin also tells many stories as they went through many hands before ending up in your collection. Unfortunately, that box of coins can really add up and get pretty heavy.

Stuffed Animals

Contrary to popular belief, we strongly believe that there is no such thing as too many stuffed animals. There is a reason why even grown-ups seek comfort in stuffed toys. Despite being inanimate, stuffed animals can offer anyone endless comfort. 

It also helps that they are very adorable and cuddly. Research shows that people who sleep with stuffed toys in their bed are more content with life. If you are tired of life, try investing in a fluffy teddy bear. Just don’t overdo it like this OP. 

Houseplants

Speaking of overdoing things, check out this person. They must have been a forest nymph or a monkey in their last life. There is no other reason why someone should be so obsessed with plants. Look at this living room, you cannot even see any space to walk around. 

The EPA should hire this person. We have no doubt this OP will push cities back to jungles. We also cannot help but fear the spiders infested in those plants. They really consider moving to the Amazon; they’ll never suffer a lack of plants there. 

Plastic Bags

In recent years, some companies and countries have participated in initiatives to cut down on their use of plastic. Metal, paper, bamboo, and hemp products are on the rise. Still, some people can’t live without their plastic shopping bags—especially as they become increasingly harder to find.

Instead of buying up a whole roll of plastic bags, this OP is a master of re-purposing things. They use old plastic bags as trash bags. That’s awesome, but we do hope that their “bag of bags” isn’t taking up too much space.

Tea

If you listen carefully, you can probably hear the sound of British folks gritting their teeth in envy. We do not blame them. We are not British, yet we are also burning with jealousy. This audacity of this person to flaunt their collection of teas is criminal. 

Due to working in a tea shop for a long time, they acquired quite the arsenal of different tea blends. We bet they have the finest earl gray in town. We wish we knew how to hack and find this person’s home address and steal all of their tea. 

Studio

We have no doubt that this is the ultimate dream of every aspiring musician. We are by no means excellent guitar players (we wouldn’t even call ourselves decent), yet even we want all ten of the guitars that this OP has in their collection. 

We bet this would be the perfect place to jam with all of our bandmates. Our only complaint about this layout is that it is a tad bit too cramped. We would be scared of entering this room in fear of toppling something over.

Paperclips

We don’t know about you, but we are personally big fans of paper clips. They are possibly the best invention of mankind after the discovery of mass-manufactured sliced bread. Paperclips don’t get much credit for making our life so much more convenient. 

They make sure loose paper does fly off in every direction. A well-folded bag of chips will stay fresh for longer if you have a paper clip on hand. Therefore, we think everyone should collect these handy materials. They even have cute animal ones.

Fragrances

We try not to be judgemental when it comes to these collections. This time, however, we’re just intimidated. The OP has a massive arsenal of perfumes. They are not just any perfumes; they are high-end luxury perfumes. For example, Chanel No. 5 is $150.

Therefore, we are not wealthy enough to judge this person and their extravagance. They have 90 of them. We could not afford them even if we sold both of our kidneys. However, we will say this: animals must hate them a lot.

Handbags

You can go about two ways when it comes to handbags. You can build your collection on a budget or you can get them at full price. This collector chose the expensive route. They have more than 150 bags in their collection. 

Although we have nothing to complain about perfumes, we have something to say about the vapid handbag industry. Most luxury brands, such as Fendi, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes, use real animal products for their bags. That sounds a bit outdated, don’t you think?

Steam Games

Steam is a must for any gamer. Some call it the global archive for video games. It’s true. Steam has many discontinued games up on their server, and gamers love purchasing them to experience them again. They also provide the highest quality of graphics. 

Once you buy a game from Steam, it is forever yours. Even if it is discontinued, you have a copy of it forever. This OP has purchased almost 50 games. While this is a solid collection, it is nothing compared to our friends who have about 700 games in their account. 

Atari Games

The video game industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Not too long ago, we were crowding at the arcade with our friends to play Pac-Man. However, now we can easily play VR games in the comfort of our homes.

However, just because the new has arrived doesn’t mean the old has to leave. They especially cannot leave if they are old-school Atari classics. This person has a massive collection of the classics. They can actively play all of them since they still have a working console. 

Polyhedral Dice

Old-school players of Dungeons & Dragons are probably gasping for breath at the sight of this photo. The wave of nostalgia probably hit them harder than their mother’s sandal. Every Dungeons & Dragons game night was incomplete without a full set of these Polyhedral dice. 

As this OP reminded us, dice collecting is still alive and well. Technically, you only need one set for a game, but it’s best if everyone has their own set. However, real pros know that you need at least ten different sets to even consider sitting down for a game.

Magic: The Gathering Cards

You wouldn’t think that collecting little pieces of cardboard could be considered addictive. But that just means you don’t know anyone who plays Magic: The Gathering. Once you get into this hobby, there is no going back. It’s all card packs and special binders from now on.

You probably already know someone who collects these cards and could pay thousands of dollars to acquire a rare card. We do not blame them. Playing with Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering cards are immensely enjoyable. We are also guilty of spending a few hundred dollars on these cards. 

T-Shirts

You probably already have someone in your life who has enough clothes to put a small shopping mall to shame, yet claims that they do not have enough. We are ashamed to admit it, but we are one of those people. 

Whenever we go out, we feel like we have nothing appropriate to wear, and then we proceed to buy more clothes. Those clothes then end up in the back of our closet until we wake up again feeling that we don’t have enough clothes. It is an endless cycle. We probably need therapy. 

CDs

It feels just like yesterday when we were saving money to go to the mall to buy Lady Gaga’s latest album. In fact, it wasn’t all that long ago when we went to a rental store to rent DVDs for movie night. 

However, due to the widespread influence of the internet, we can easily listen to music from Spotify or watch movies from Netflix. However, this person is not ready to let go of the part yet. Despite CDs losing their influence, this OP is just as enthusiastic about it.  

Mad Magazines

America would not be America if Mad magazines were not there to jokingly criticize them with their satire. Almost every house in the 70s and 80s had a subscription to Mad magazine. Although they lost some influence in recent decades, they are still just as good. 

Ultimately the magazine stopped publishing six years ago. When the production of something stops, the value oddly increases. Therefore, you can imagine the worth of these old-school Mad magazines. They are in excellent condition. The OP could easily fetch thousands for this antique literature. 

Cat Toys

We demand that this OP hand over this adorable little cat to us. Look at that sweet little face. It needs some hugs and kisses; we just know it. We are eagerly waiting to deliver them to this sweet baby. 

This OP seems to be struggling with cat toys overloading their house. They have more toys thinking it will decrease fighting among the cats. Sadly, they still end up yanking at each other whenever they see one of them playing. We would be happy to take some burden off the OP by adopting their cats. 

Board And Card Games

We have mixed feelings about board games. If you want to see the real face of your friend, play board games with them. Even the toughest nut will crack under pressure. Everybody is at each other’s throats during board game nights, and it’s beautiful.

No matter how toxic the situation can get, we would never trade board games for anything. We can bet that there is rarely a dull moment at this OP’s house. We would love to visit their home on a game night. 

Empty Boxes

Empty boxes are somehow always the hardest to throw away. You know for a fact that those boxes will not have any use in the future, and it’s better to just get rid of them. Yet you still hold onto them just in case. 

We cannot even criticize this OP because we have done the same way too many times. It takes up a lot of space, and we do not move it until someone yells at us. The only good thing is that our cats absolutely adore these boxes. 

Hair Ties

Scrunchies are timeless. Controversial opinion: anyone can rock a scrunchie. That’s right; even bald people can do it. You can, of course, make a simple ponytail with it and call it a day. However, you could also wear it as a bracelet.

We have seen some videos of people twisting their scrunchies into formal bow ties for prom. Therefore, you can also look sick in a scrunchie if you are brave enough. We also have a massive collection of hair ties. The only issue is that we cannot find it when we need it. 

Cables

We have no words. This OP could put Home Depot to shame with the amount of cables that they have. The cable itself is amazed at the hoarding skill of this fellow. If you look carefully, it looks like an old man with a long beard gasping.  

The OP had been hoarding this myriad of cables for quite a long time. They refuse to throw it away as they fear they will need it as soon as they dispose of it. We cannot even criticize the paranoia of this person, as we have been in this situation far too many times. 

Toilet Paper

We admire this person’s determination to aesthetics towards something that is literally used to wipe excrement. Remember when there was a crisis of toilet paper a few years ago? We bet this person was to be blamed for emptying the shelves. 

We also bet that for the next Halloween they will dress up as a mummy. As cute as this toilet paper contraption is, we fear they will be ruined due to moisture in the bathroom. Just donate it to a homeless shelter. No one needs that much paper.