The simple life, decluttering, and frugality.

Ooh, the plastic containers!!! They seem to reproduce like rabbits back there! :shock:

All jokes aside, though, I have that problem as well. I can't bring myself to throw away anything that I might want to /be able to use or look at or wear in the future. And I rationalize it by thinking that I'm saving money.

I don't have many tips to offer, except that I've been getting a little better by trying to actually put it into perspective: "will I really use this? I haven't used it in the past X years/months, and I didn't miss it except when I actually see it and think about it... if it's out of the house, will I still think about this specific object and be disappointed that I didn't keep it?"

Sometimes the answer is yes, I just might be, so I hold on to it a little longer. But sometimes it helps me realize that I could hide it for 5 years and never think about it...

One idea: Put a little plastic sticker on each of those containers. If you use something in a container, take the sticker off. After three months, get rid of the containers that still have stickers on them, because if you didn't touch them in three months, you'll probably never need them.

I have the same problem, too. It's something Amy Dacyczyn talks about in the Tightwad Gazette. She mentions that she can do all these crazy frugal solutions she suggests because she has the room to store, say, a billion egg cartons, but that everyone has to find their own balance between keeping stuff that could be useful and drowning in clutter.

I haven't come to an ideal balance myself, but I think if you're at the point where you wonder where to put the stuff you bring into your life on purpose (i.e. purchases), then you really don't have room to be storing, say, gently used tin foil.

Also it's important to consider the likely usefulness of things you're saving, as well as how much space they take up. I save beer bottles because we're into home-brewing. They're heavy and cumbersome, but we save quite a bit by reusing commercial bottles. I don't save tinfoil, however, because I can never figure out how to reuse it or where to put it.

It is important not to become a slave of your things. You own them and they shouldn't own you.

My weakness is accumulation of raw resources. I enjoy obtaining things free or at rock bottom prices and holding onto them until I can put them to use. To avoid excess accumulation, I apply those resources to projects, like the large greenhouse I am building. My resources are being consumed, but it really is an investment, and that is why I have them in the first place.

Four tips for fellow pack rats:

First, have a place for things, not just a pile or stack. A pile or stack can have everything and anything in it. If you have assigned places for things, it is easy to see when you have enough, too much, and way too much.

Second, imagine a purpose for things before you acquire them and when you have them. It should be a near term purpose and one that you focus on regularly. Getting an old hulk of a car for restoration isn't a good idea unless you have restored cars and intend to continue doing such things. If you are going to resell an item, that is a legitimate purpose, but only if you engage in that activity regularly.

Third, when the time is right to use something you have, then do it so the item has served its purpose. Using something also includes giving it to someone in need, applying it to a project around the house, or donating it. In any case, it is put to good use.

Fourth, when I had limited storage space, I used to be good at limiting what I owned. Whenever I thought about whether I should keep something, I asked several questions: have I used it in the last year; will I use it in the next year; does it have high monetary value; does it have high sentimental value; and will I use it as a decoration? If it didn't meet one of those criteria, then out it went.

Clair

Thank you all for the replies. I guess it comes down to being less attached to "things" and being realistic about the near term utility of things. This may be connected to the question in another thread about stockpiling items. An item on sale is only a bargain if you need the item. Saving things is only useful if there is a use for the item in the immediate or near future, not a "what if" future or a "maybe" future. Thanks all for putting into perspective.

By the way I am not the person who has piles of foil, twine and newspapers stacked in my living room, and my collection of plastic containers is not really that big. I do have a weakness for cardboard boxes which I could potentially use for sending items sold of ebay in my quest to own fewer possessions. :lol:

Do we really own anything Clair? We may have exchanged money or time for material objects but surely aren't we just guardians of all the objects that we have "owned" in our lifetime? We come into this world with nothing material and leave with nothing..just the memories of our experiences of life. I find that if i remind myself that everything around me is not really mine, then i spend less time worrying about what i have and dont have and more time contemplating life itself. Just a thought..............

Yes, we own them.

No one ever said that the word "own" means forever.

Semantics... :)

Hi Jon...nice to speak with you
I have a real problem with this concept of ownership.To own means 'to possess' and to possess means 'to have as property'...which to my mind is the opposite of simplifying and decluttering....the more property we own, the more our lives become complicated and cluttered.
I know its difficult in todays capitalist societies, where more, more, more is rammed down our throats daily by the media, to turn against the tide, but i believe this is the wrong path....let me give you an example...

A colleague of mine collects DVD's.He has over 500 of them and is very proud of this collection.At $20 each thats $10,000. At 2.5 hours each viewing time, thats 1,250 hours or 52 solid days of watching...he's also had to work for 6 months of his life to pay for the DVD's............i can rent any one of thost DVD's for $3............

I guess the point i'm trying to make is that we can spend a great chunk of our lives working to 'own' material possessions or we can spend that time doing something worthwhile like discovering who we really are.....

over to you..

Renting a DVD is usually more like $4 ;)

My DVD purchasing has significantly declined since joining netflix. I still have a rather large collection though. Also, buying a PS3 slowed it down as well because I don't want to spend any money on an older technology now that I have a Blu Ray player.

Hi Adam

I guess we pay less for renting DVD's over here in the UK than in the USA....a single nights rental is £1.49 which converts to about $3...i did the example in $ as most members on this forum are from the USA.

I guess the point i'm trying to make is that we can spend a great chunk of our lives working to 'own' material possessions or we can spend that time doing something worthwhile like discovering who we really are.....

-"oceanwindsong"

I completely agree with you. Some people just keep getting more and more possessions, but they are not really adding any value to their life. Before buying something, I consider how much real use I will get out of it. My last big purchase was a Xbox 360 back in February, and I play it almost every day. I love it.

I also like to have the ability to pack everything I own into a small trailer (or large car). Of course, there are exceptions I have to make such as huge items like furniture or washer/dryer machines, but the couch and washer/dryer I own are being used by my parents now at their house. I learned more about this minimalistic life a long time ago from the Peace Pilgrim. Check out her web site: http://www.peacepilgrim.com

I think your post reminded me of some people who say "since you lose everything when you die, why own anything at all?" I think they are taking the idea to a far, far extreme. It is okay to own things and enjoy them. It is not okay to be owned by things. That's the difference I like to point out. That's what is true for me.

Renting a DVD is usually more like $4 ;)

-"adam"

You are renting from the wrong place, my friend! :)

$1 DVDs: http://www.redbox.com/home.aspx

We used to live in an apartment and had minimal space of course, especially for storage. We took about 3 weekend trips to the local flea market. I remember it like it was yesterday, we made approx. $300 on our first trip and about $120 (2nd) and $80 on the last. We didn't have junk. We had some good stuff and I always took care of my stuff, so it was very clean-looking. People like that as I found out. We also gave alot of stuff away I mean old clothes, lets say you paid $30 for an Addidas jacket, I think it sold for $1.00 or $2.00. Clothes you practically have to give away. The stuff we rid our lives of was exactly that STUFF, and I didn't have any use for it. I started this minimalist simple-life like mindset in late 2006 if I remember correctly and it has carried over to the house. I had a ton of Rap Cds, well I no longer have any use for them anymore. I boxed them up and took them to a local music store that exchanges for cash. I got rid of approx. 50 Cds and got $60 for them. It is such a good feeling getting rid of these possessions, it's hard to explain!

Some other stuff I got rid of at flea market:

-old Gateway CRT $5
-old VCR $5
-19 inch TV $25
-tons of clothes/womesn shoes/handbags
-end tables from old apt. $12
-sega genesis $5
-shower hanger rings
-cologne
-jewelry

Living a more simple life is so fun to me. While most people spend their money trying to get more things, I enjoy doing the exact opposite. It's like a game to me, to see how much I don't really need. It is exciting to get rid of unused things. And it's not about lack... I have plenty of money to buy all sorts of stuff. I could go out and buy a big 60" plasma television right now if I really wanted to. But I don't want one.

Fun! :D

I am once again looking at purging my belongings. I don't have a simple life, as I have a big home, always under construction and live with a very messy husband (packrat), son (teenager, chip off the old block), 2 dogs and a cat. I"m also in the middle of a "leave of absence" from work, in order to make trips to my parent's city 2 hours away, every other week, as they move into a) mother - nursing home (done) and b) father - retirement home. So I'm experiencing helping my parents "downsize", which frequently entails taking their precious belongings off their hands (or at least into my car!), and find myself living in terrible piles of JUNK, frequently barring my path to any little oasis at home. It got so bad that a couple of months ago I rented an office space so that I could have clarity outside! And here I am without a paychecque!!

My immediate dilemna is whether I have a garage sale (which requires planning, time and energy) because I could certainly use the MONEY, or do I short-cut to sending stuff to one of the charity salvagers (goodwill, salvation army, etc.). I've tried freecycling things and find that it takes an inordinate amount of time communicating to a largely unresponsible group who too often don't show up, change their schedule, and in the end seem to expect home delivery! So it's either garage sale or plastic bags directly into the trunk, then to "Sally Ann".

Since I'm off work, I could justify the garage sale IF I can keep my husband away so that he doesn't drag the unsold merchandise back into the basement! He has a terrible time parting with anything, and because of my new low income situation, I've had to give up my cleaning lady too!!!!! :cry: :cry: Ah, the real cause of my distress.... what do you think? Garage sale? I'm almost talking myself into it! You have no idea how many times I've said NEVER AGAIN!! They are so much work...

jocelain:

You might try a series of garage sales where you only offer certain types of items for each sale. This might be easier to swing since you will have limited things to organize and sell at each sale. Think about organizing a sale around kitchen and bathroom items, yard items, furniture and bedding, and appliances and entertainment items. It might make it easier to set up and you can advertise more precisely what you have.

What you don't sell can then be taken away, but in any case, you have sliced the salami into smaller pieces. Like they say, you don't eat an elephant in one bite.

I hope this helps,

Clair

Clair, that's a great idea. It will also help me target my housework which is overwhelming right now. And if several garage sales seems overwhelming, even if I lump them into two. Much more manageable, and easier to shop you could even say! Designer Garage Sale! Thanks for the idea.

Last night I started a spread sheet in excel trying to organize my home zones and tasks in each area of the house. Using your same philosophy, I figure I can tackle small bits broken down into time alloted priority, etc. Having just taken a course on the magic of excel, it's a good way to put it to practise.

Thanks for the tip, and have a great day!

Jocelain

Do we really own anything Clair? We may have exchanged money or time for material objects but surely aren't we just guardians of all the objects that we have "owned" in our lifetime? We come into this world with nothing material and leave with nothing..just the memories of our experiences of life. I find that if i remind myself that everything around me is not really mine, then i spend less time worrying about what i have and dont have and more time contemplating life itself. Just a thought..............

-"oceanwindsong"

I agree with this a lot. It's very easy to conclude that I've got too much stuff. But if I then conclude that the stuff is the problem, and start obsessing over clearing it out, I've traded one attachment (the idea that possessions can make me happy) for another (that I can't be happy unless I'm living a "simple" life). In both cases, I'm either unaware, or willfully ignoring, the true source(s) of happiness in this world.