It's not always about what it might be worth later. It's often about what it's worth to the hoarder right now, and how much anguish getting rid of it would cause.

People will develop attachments to the most bizarre of things. Even a straw and a plastic lid.

Source: I'm pretty much a hoarder. Thankfully I don't develop attachments to rubbish and recyclables like the character in this comic, but I have far too many books, clothes, knick-knacks and household items that I can't let go of. Many were gifts.

The books are the worst because I feel like they're tainted by having been in my house. If they ever leave here, the best place for them might be landfill or incineration and that feels like a waste. So here they languish where they might have some use.

You can't wash a book.

I had a clear-out 10 years ago - anything that could be cleaned up went to charity - and still have regrets about some of that. The next one probably isn't going to happen any time soon.

I’m a bit of a hoarder, but not because I’m sentimentally attached. I feel like I would later need it and not have it. To my bane, I sometimes end up using some seemingly useless piece of trash one day without having to buy it, thus affirming my beliefs.