Simple Living

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:36 pm

I added this as a topic since it was a description example for lifestyle questions.
I think most of us who have purchased clutter at some point realize they would rather have the money back on half the things that filled the shelves. It is often a difficult task (physically) to even throw it all out, sell it, or store it. The sad part is that it all represents time in our lives we will not be getting back. Even if something is free, it still took time to bring home.
How about hearing your stories on avoiding/getting rid of clutter, downsizing, and simple living?

Redsted1 · Post by **Redsted1** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:54 pm

I would never say I had a "clutter" problem, per se, but I'm definitely at a far better level than ever before. I continually am trying to set aside time to go through my stuff and ask myself if I REALLY, TRULY need many of the things I have. The toughest part is having things of sentimental value, such as high school yearbooks--I almost never look through them, yet can't seem to get rid of them. Expensive but useless clothing from the pre-ERE days are another huge downfall of mine, I always need to remember they're a sunk cost that will never be fully recovered on most items I bought at that time in my life. After reading this blog and many other resources and books relating to simple living I have de-cluttered very well. I feel so much less stress because of it too, your possessions really do end up owning you...

Post by **jacob** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:58 pm

My main problem with unwanted stuff is that I won't throw perfectly functional stuff out, nor will I usually give it away just like that. I have to find some either someone who will buy it or someone who will appreciate it as much as I did.
This can make unloading a very slow process.
A smaller issue is that DW and I have different opinions on what constitutes clutter. To some degree I feel that her clutter is affecting me.

Cashflow · Post by **Cashflow** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:08 am

I'm a pack rat by nature (because you never know when you might need something). Then I stumbled upon the book "Professional Dreamer: 6 Simple Steps That Turn Dreams Into Reality" a few years ago (which I'm still reading as I implement the steps).
One of the steps is to clear out the clutter in your life so that you can make way for the new. I went through all my stuff and figured if I hadn't used something for awhile, I probably wouldn't be using it ever again and got rid of it. I might have over-pruned a couple of things, but by and large I don't miss anything I no longer have.

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:57 am

@Redsted1
I am guilty of keeping the yearbook/sentimental memorabilia. I would through it out, but you never know when you need to remember a person's name or want to look back through some photos you haven't decided to scan in or start a fire with:)

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:11 am

@zengarden69
Don't forget to make a back up of your pictures on an external hard drive or DVD. I know too many people who lose all their photo's when the computer dies.

Post by **jacob** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:12 am

@zengarden69 - Indeed, if DW and I had a room each, I bet they'd look entirely different. Actually I don't mind stuff as long as it's being used. When stacks of stuff starts collecting dust, it starts annoying me---why is this stuff still around, why hasn't it been put in a box or sold, etc.?

Maus · Post by **Maus** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:23 am

In the clutter arena, I fight two tendencies that are rooted in my family's intrapersonal dynamics.
First, my parents were both Depression kids. As a consequence, they saved everything that was still useful. Just by way of example, my mother has something like seven frying pans. Over the years, siblings and other relations have given me their furniture and kitchen cast offs in the misguided belief that a bachelor like myself could not possibly equip a functioning home adequately. In reality, they simply wanted to make room for new acquisitions. I am made to feel guilty if I later rid myself of unneeded items; so I finally just pre-emptively declined to accept anything at all.
The other issue is the extreme sentimentality of my mother and sisters. I am expected to become the curator for hoards of art, tchochkes, photographs, scrapbooks, trophies, plaques, and other ephemera collected over decades. Any mention of E-Bay is met with vituperative scorn.
Sometimes, I think the only way to do it is to simply walk away with nothing but a single back pack or duffle bag of essentials and start fresh.

Post by **jacob** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:34 am

The idea of annual clutter cleansing is quite appealing. It could even be a limited process (socks only?). It just seems kinda wasteful.
But indeed, a duffel bag and a toolbox is one of my aspirations. (I'm pretty close too.)

HSpencer · Post by **HSpencer** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:40 am

Your killing me!! I only last week got control of my socks drawer. I now have the white ones paired up and the black ones paired up. I was patting myself on the back over this. You are all way to far ahead of me.

Cashflow · Post by **Cashflow** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:52 am

@The Dude - Don't forget to make a back up of your pictures on an external hard drive or DVD.
You can also back up stuff on the Web (and it's free if you keep the size of your backup to a couple of GB):

Top 3 Online Backup Services
I back up the data files on my hard drive on the Web (using a pay service). I can access my backed-up data from any Web browser anywhere in the world, which might come in handy if I'm forced to evacuate my home due to a natural disaster and can't take anything with me.

JustChristine · Post by **JustChristine** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:09 am

Having grown up the child of two pack rats, I tend towards the opposite extreme. I've always been a minimalist, even as a young child. My parents home always makes me anxious because it's so small and it's packed with stuff. My house is about the same square footage (950sq ft) but probably a quarter of the furniture and other assorted junk. In fact, I take great pride in the fact that a grown adult could do a cartwheel in my living room and not run into any furniture

Of course, moving 11 times in the 10 years prior to buying my house was a great lesson in keeping possessions to a minimum. When you are as lazy as I am, it's much easier to not acquire stuff or get rid of it than it is to box it up and move

George the original one · Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:31 am

The salvage aspect has me hanging onto extra stuff. Only if I'm pressed financially (or spatially) can I force myself to part with it. The result is that I know my limits and budget accordingly.
Since I have most every material thing I ever wanted, I quit adding to the hoard a couple years ago.
My wife is slightly better at disposal than I am. It's not in her nature to recycle/repurpose things, so she doesn't have an innate tendency to keep something "just in case".

AlexOliver · Post by **AlexOliver** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:39 am

I hate hate hate keeping things, especially things I'll never use. I don't attach sentimental value to anything, but my parents do, and thats the reason I still have yearbooks and my first guitar.

Q · Post by Q » Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:48 am

I've been de-cluttering my old life away for quite some time now. My ex got me to unload my storage unit (a 10x10 space) several years ago to 12 large boxes and my "precious", and about 20 bankers boxes - years later still doing the de-clutter. But I got SO on board for her stuff, and we are doing ok.
Ebay gets most of my DVDs - and I watch some every week or so to sell it, donate it, or what not.
Oddly this subject comes up, cuz now I am keeping track of how many boxes I donate starting this week.
Sunk cost and added space cost are hard to get over like sentimental stuff

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:04 pm

@zengarden69
No real preference besides that I prefer ones that get the power from the usb connection (no external power source). I have a 500GB Western Digital (it was a gift, I think ~$100). I don't think there is great risk in the airport scanners as I would think they would get a lot of lawsuits if they wiped out everyone's hard drives. You could also put it in a carry on (pretty sure it is smaller than 4" X 6"). I think large flash drive types are made that are not as easily damaged, but I don't keep up on all this technology. Most things I know are second hand from my brother.
@Cashflow
Thanks for the idea!

Marius · Post by **Marius** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:01 pm

@The Dude "Don't forget to make a back up of your pictures on an external hard drive or DVD. I know too many people who lose all their photo's when the computer dies."
Yes!
I recommend making frequent backups to an external disk that you keep at hand.
And periodically to an external drive (or USB stick) that you store with family in case your house burns down or is burglarized.
I also have a script that mails a daily copy of my most critical file to a gmail account. Hey, it's free storage.
Disk space has finally become cheap, there's no excuse not to have adequate backups.

movetoportugal · Post by **movetoportugal** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:32 am

I've spent 5 years de-cluttering and I'm nearly there; it's been a constant relationship with eBay, Amazon and the local charity shop.
I'm definitely moving towards a minimalist lifestyle and taking dh along with me....the kids? they keep stuff in their rooms so that I can't sell it on