Ep. 332 | Clutter Coffins 

I’m not sure where I heard it from but I heard the best way to organize is just get rid of stuff. And I am a true believer in that.

I wish we could turn some of the storage facilities into housing Edit: I really appreciate the call from the scrapbook maker. I'm an artist and I work in multiple mediums (drawing, sculpting, music, etc) and each art form has its own set of tools and supplies. The stuff that goes along with being creative has been the majority of my stuff that I don't want to let go of. Sometimes it just means I have to give up more of my other stuff to make room for it without feeling overwhelmed with items. It's still a work on progress

I stored my Mom’s things after she passed, I could not bring myself to let go. My Husband that I met after she passed, was incredibly helpful to me in that process. I stored her things for 10 years! He gently helped me let go, and I felt so much better when I did.

Equating storage containers and units to 'clutter coffins' and 'mausoleums' is brilliant. It actually gave me a visual that I do not wish to continue in my home. Thank you.

WOW! I can tell that simple phrase "clutter coffins" will be revolutionary for my decluttering. Thank you! When I come across a box of old stuff in my room, I can say, "This is most likely a clutter coffin." 🤣 I think it will help there be less emotional attachment to whatever I find inside if I'm honest that I haven't been missing it and it's long been dead.

I had a storage unit for six years at 200 bucks a month. Which is 14400 dollars. Total cost of items was less than 5000 dollars. Made sense at the time when I was moving then I neglected dealing with it for years. And that’s the cost of procrastination for me lol

I've never had a storage problem. My mom, my husband and my neighbor who stored anything and everything taught me that you never really need half of what you keep. Less stuff for me is less stress.

i rented a storage locker, and after putting in the second box i though, what the hell am i doing. canceled it and took it home and decluttered it instead.

Karen here. OMG! Storage facilities being built everywhere here in NC. AND you two are hysterical. CLUTTER COFFINS 😂😆 Mauseleums of clutter coffins 😄

My wife and I moved into a home and a concern we had upon moving in was there wasn't really any dedicated "storage" room. We quickly put shelving in the garage and put clutter coffins in the closets, trying to manage and hide the hoard. It was last fall when I really started listening to the podcasts, and you guys inspired me to finally start going through the hoard, selling on ebay, donating more to local charities. Our lives haven't become difficult or lost any meaning by ridding ourselves of these items. Our closets are less crammed with stuff, less clutter coffins, and others are able to find use and value in those items. Thank you again for your inspirational messages. They've helped me to not only look closer and appreciate meaning and value in physical possessions, but also with relationships, hobbies, activities, just life in general.

Despite decluttering junk i had I have small amount of storage containers to keep essentials in organized way. Always HAPPY to listen to this. GREETINGS FROM POLAND 💟

Great idea guys! Have coffee shop/storage so you can visit your stuff while enjoying a cup-o-joe! LOL!

I really enjoyed this. I put your strategies into place a few years back. Recently, I found my kitchen cabinets feeling tight. I was thinking about getting some coffins 😂 but instead I went through the items and had an honest conversation with myself. Now the cabinets are back to “normal” . It only took me about 15 mins & I didn’t have to buy anything. Thanks for these helpful nuggets over the years.

My husband was very poor as a young child. Two shirts, 2 pants. He was picked on terribly. He loves to keep things as an adult. I think it makes him feel safe. I find it very stressful though. I've been working very hard to get rid of my things, and I'm seeing results. Hoping he will want to begin letting go as well.

When I moved to a small space, I considered renting a storage facility near where I was moving. My daughter mentioned Habitat for Humanity. I called them. They arrived with a trailer, and a few guys who said they'd take whatever I wanted to give them, except exercise equipment. My head turned around and they made 3 or 4 trips. I just became more willing to let it go. I put a sign up on the street for free exercise equipment. It all went. I had all those feelings of what I had to pay for all that stuff, and maintain it, etc, but now... did I want to pay for a storage space, and did I really want it at all? Now, I'm still downsizing. I always keep a donate bag nearby to put small stuff in, and give away things people want. I sell very little, although I could use the money, but am not inclined to have sales at home. Great video. Thanks for posting.

I loved to get rid of stuff long before The Minimalist Movie came out. One Christmas Day years ago my son said I really needed to watch it. I was so excited because it actually put a name to what I loved to do. My parents and siblings laughed at this habit of mine. You validated me! I do frequently have dreams where I am on vacation/at a camp/etc and have to leave in an hour and I brought so much stuff (way too many clothes, statues, pictures in frames, you name it) and cannot get it all packed in time and I am always so mad at myself for bringing so much. Or I’m in line to board a plane and they will not let me on since I have too much luggage. I am very anti stress when it is avoidable and having very little is so calming.

I think the fact America has stores PURELY dedicated to selling you storage boxes and it’s not just part of a normal supermarket or home store is what’s baffling to me

To the artist; and, anyone who can relate. It may be scrapbooking, painting, gardening; or, even having a collection of "things." If it brings YOU joy; then, continue on. My mother was an artist. The "things she collected" were for her business. My father had a junk yard full of stuff he dismantled and sold---for a living. It brought them joy. I can assure you, as their child...I want NONE of it. I'm happy that it brings them joy. It put food on our table and a roof over out heads. .. but, I don't want to inherit that clutter. It's not my forte. So, create!!! Be artistic!!! Enjoy those hobbies that are, indeed, tactile. Just know that they are YOUR joy; and most likely, your kid has an altogether different joy. Save the 11-22 books for your own tactile experience. ...but, don't be offended if your kid doesn't connect with the memories you've created for yourself. They're not her memories. She may or may not enjoy seeing what you created and reminisced over. The most important lesson to be learned there: share yourself, now; not a pile of scrapbooks in 20-years. Are any of those cherished memories include her? Is it a story about her? Did you involve her? ...because the lesson of the real Christopher Robin's in The Winnie the Pooh books was tragedy.

This came on by accident and I died laughing 😂 love this podcast

Congratulations on correcting very unique! It drove my mother crazy. It means you are a smart guy to a lot of people.

As a Funeral Director, I really appreciate the mausoleum comparison.

I’m always surprised that this podcast doesn’t have more subscribers

The spontaneous combustion question is just what I needed to help by 3 boys declutter their bedroom. I think this will meet them where they are!

This is the BEST episode! I am literally helping my mother (who is a hoarder) clear her storage unit this weekend! Only $1,250 later😳😳😳but it is ends now - FINALLY!!

I'm a self storage broker, so I literally make my living off of selling storage facilities. So insane that the industry is as big as it is. Why do people have so much stuff?! I'm not complaining though lol

My answer to the 20 boxes of kids chlothes in storage is this: figure out how much you can have space for in your house. 1,2,3 boxes. Take your favorites and put them in first till the containers are full. Keep the ones you’d like to see on a future child that would really make you smile. Pass on the rest to kids who can use them now.

I've never seen a funeral procession with a U-Haul after the coffin...

I have so many books I’m attached to because I read them to my kids!!!! Ahhhhh

Storage units are off the chain! The show Storage Wars is proof that people need to let go.

All my "stuff" IS my coffin ! It insulates , shield and distracts me from life itself. I can't have people over. I can't go out , gotta straighten everything out . It goes on and on .

My spouse says half a garage is for the motorcycle or work bench. But I made a promise to myself at age 21 that I would never have a storage rental. At age 23 I had to include no longer storing things in people's home so took longer for me to get to this spot where my life fits in a 10foot moving Uhaul🤗

My goal is to only need/use a storage unit if there is a gap in my housing (switching from one home to the next without an overlap). You guys really nudged me toward a more minimalist hope for my immediate future.

To the Scrapbook maker: My Mom gave me several scrapbooks, all full of newspaper clippings, school memories etal. Some were made by her, some were made by my grandmother, her aunt and even a neighbor lady. I have re-created those into one large scrapbook, with the things that mean something to me and that I enjoy looking through. The point is, enjoy your scrapbooks, share them with your daughter and when it is time, let them go and trust your daughter to honor some of the art you have made in her own way.

With more than 5000 Patreon members at a minimum of 5 dollars a month and also other forms of income Joshua and Ryan probably still make a six figure income today. It's just an assumption but I would hate people to think that minimalism in this context means being poor.

The key is to set limits. Friends have rooms of fabric, yarn, and saddest of all, VHS tapes. I am 72. Tina, Al's wife

After moving around from apartment to apartment because of the recession i found myself paying an extra 60-120 a month for my stuff and this went on for a full year. My biggest goal for recovery was getting rid of this payment. I had to move my stuff to my moms and I had to get rid of stuff too, but I did it. Never going back unless i'm in dire need (like i was for a short time) but I'll never do this just to save my stuff because my stuff is not worth that much money!

I feel like you guys are in my head. This week I was just tackling ALL my clutter coffins. I want to get rid of the excess containers because I always fall into the trap and use them.

I 100% agree with the storage problem. However, my brother is a marine in the military and we have a storage unit for all of his things - couch, bed and bedroom furniture, towels, sheets, etc. - and without it we wouldn't have any where to store his belongings that he will eventually need again. Just a quick note for you guys!! I love your podcast!!

You 2 men are awesome,your laughter’s so heart warming,so happy to hear your laughter on a daily basis.thank you for your podcast ❤🙏

I noticed that keeping personal & sentimental items are only a Visual Aide to help me reminisce......So I thought, "A visual aide?; I can take a picture for that.

My husband bought a motorcycle but we live in a condo. We ended up getting storage unit to store the motorcycle for the winter. We ended using it for actually storage and when the weather got better, we decided to not keep the storage since it was only supposed to be for the motorcycle. We will be only be getting the storage for the motorcycle for the winter month. In the process of just decluttering.

Art making is the thing that I can't not do - it brings me joy to make something with my hands. And making art is a perfect venue for being in the moment - get in the zone and delve into another dimension with thought & creativity! Re: Clutter Coffins - actions do speak louder than words.....every time we put another dead useless thing in a clutter coffin we are saying, "I am keeping useless things in this container for me to ignore".

We put some things in storage when we did a renovation. And I found it frustrating and intriguing that the facility itself provides no trash cans or assistance to help you declutter. They want you to keep it there and pay them forever. You had to haul it out of the actual unit to put stuff in their giant dumpster at the base. But there were no barrels whatsoever within the building anywhere to trash anything, short of hauling it all the way out.

I previously owned about 15 clutter coffins full of stuff. Now none. What a relief.

I can almost guatantee the reason GenX has the majority of Storage units is because ou parents were serious "collectors" that we now have to go though. This is either very overwhwlming and we don't have time to do it, or there is guilt associated with gettign rid of their prized possessions 😳. I know I would get rid of most of the "stuff" in my house if my husband would be willing to let go of a lot of his parents belongings.

I think the ages of those utilizing storage facilities is because of inheriting items due to death of parents, siblings, and other family members. It’s probably helpful to take the items and put them away until you can emotionally heal from the loss before deciding to get rid of the items.

My mom was a hoarder. “Was” because she lives with me now. I’m a minimalist so there’s no room for that in my home. She has come to accept it. Last year I declutter her three bedroom home to One bedroom apartment. We had a big fight but she was grateful in the end. This year she had so sell most her stuff to move in with me. Somehow she managed to come with all her clutter and junks. I was overwhelmed trying to organize her stuff to fit into my tiny one room apartment. I got rid of the excesses including clothes. We live in a bigger one bedroom apartment now but still minimal. I’m working towards getting her to declutter more of her clothes. Slowly but surely. 😅

The latest number of storage units has grown to 60,000. I need to get rid of my junk in the storage coffins and the coffins themselves and F-A-S-T! You guys are amazing with your research findings, comments, podcasts, and of course, all the lovely books, and all so inspiring. Thank you so much!

Cutter coffins best name for containers hahaha 🤣

I have used a storage unit when moving. When calling to rent a unit my interaction with one facility owner struck me as really odd - his reaction to my plan to rent for 2-3 months was a combination of a) not sure if he wanted to rent to someone short term (as if it was a house not a small room/shed/locker) b) acting like 2-3 months was delusional and I didn't know myself so I should make sure I had the plan & money to rent it forever c) everyone who rents from him realizes how great it is & keep renting for years or almost forever... He was almost dismissive & condescending of the opinion anyone would want a storage unit only to help facilitate a move. I even told him I was moving from a 1 bedroom apartment to a 3 bedroom house with yard & shed.

"clutter coffin" 😂. I'll use that often. The best thing I've ever heard. Love you guys! Thanks for the work you do.

I have been a follower since your first book/documentary and I am slowly moving to a more minimalist lifestyle…. Especially after living/ being raised by hoarders.. And I thought I was going great with my storage coffins only having twelve storage bins in my twenties. Then in my thirties I narrowed it down to five storage bins, and now approaching my forties, I have eliminated all large storage totes, and have about half a dozen small clear shoebox size for items I use, but don’t need out all the time, and three small bags from ikea, and two small carts. But I still feel like that’s too much. I feel like anything “packed away” is not serving a purpose.. so this episode is was great timing.

I've noticed that hobbies really accumulate. My daughters have lots of crafting supplies, but what is funny is that they spend most of their time drawing with a regular pencil on computer paper.

Joshua's jacket is really nice. He looks like an extra from Star Trek!

As an Indian, I saw storage industry pickup when covid struck, with folks giving up on their rented accommodation, dumping the stuff, shifting to their hometowns, working from there, coming back and close the subscription. I can definitely say that storage isn't inherently beyond US, definitely not in India.

Got 2 Pods to do a cross country move - really tried to only get 1, but a few items just didn't fit and the cost was worth it to pay to move vs. buy again. That 2nd Pod got filled with unnecessary junk that we tried hard to not take with us - it has in turn cost us monthly to keep the pod for extra months because we just didn't have time to deal with the stuff and finally, 5 months later have it cleared out.

I love your work so much - it has a calming effect on me - thank you 🙏

Thank you!!!! I have been listening for about a year during my journey of minimizing. I struggle with the guilt imposed from my mom of getting rid of things… in her mind everything is an heirloom or a just in case item. And don’t ever get me started on the kitchen “uni-tools” 😫 In fact I had a dream last night that she was in my house super angry and yelling because I had gotten rid of “something special”. She was so upset at me that my house looked like a hotel with nothing in it 🤪💀 it was a very stressful dream. I listened to this episode and don’t think it was a coincidence that my mom (age 72) is asking me when I can come over to reorganize her 900sqft apartment to fit all the contents of her 10x10 clutter unit (costing her at $220/month) 🤯 5 years ago my dad passed away and my mom moved from a 3,000 sqft house with an additional 2000 sqft warehouse. So yes, she has reduced a lot of her things but it’s still SO MUCH STUFF. I’m hoping she will release much of the stuff in the storage unit, but based on past experiences she will “make me” take a lot of it. In her mind everything is worth way more than it is or everything is special. I’m very anxious over having to help her figure out how to make it all fit. We already have a stressed relationship as it is 🤦‍♀️ Keep up the awesome work and I look forward to coming home listening to you guys and clearing out closets and drawers in my house after working with my mom in her clutter coffin over the next few weeks.

When u were talking about storage units, i was waiting for u to talk about how many people end up losing their storage sheds anyway AND the people who BUY them at auction.

My first son was born in 1988. When we'd moved several times I finally gave away his matching Paddington Bear nursery items in 2016. The pieces washed well and looked new.

“Clutter Coffins “ lol love that!!!

Some people use these as a store to sell couches,kitchen canners,shops,etc…. My mechanic had two outside storage units used as a mechanic car repair shop.

We are renovating our apartment and have rented a storage unit for 3 months. We paid around $400 for the 3 months and will move everything back when the reno is done. However, I know that I will get rid of a lot of the things in the unit. So right that we wish we didn’t have so many boxes!

I use storage containers as boundaries. Create categories and what fits can stay. Anything more needs to go. Really helps with kids cause the container becomes the "bad guy".

"Some day" isn't a day of the week", another gosh- Josh saying!!! :)) Your daughter has survival instinct. That gets mourning of your mind by focussing on pleasant present events. Storage firms raise like crazy in Europe, in suburbia...but also in very rural areas. Abandoned farms and industrial plants become cluttercoffins...instead of welcoming creative non polluting volunteer & work initiatives. It is very strange to listen and think about all this whilst being confrontated by luggage free Ukraïnians and seeing all their empty homes on tv. Brings our purpose to a complete different level. Spring cleaning is from Easter, Pesach. No old yeast should be left in the home before the celebration of the renewal and the journey following Moses through the desert. Also the Neanderthaliens, after spending long cold months inside, itchy insects accumulating, could let go out a lot of vermine by opening up their caves and huts...

I spent $5,000 over 5 years to store $500 worth of stuff.

I have a lot of clutter coffins. We bought a larger home to accommodate the possibility of family moving in with us. I was doing a major purge already at the other place and had given away a ton of totes. Husband said I think we should list this place, it sold in a week so packing like I wanted to was not an option (I pack 10lbs worth in a 2lb container husband packs 2lbs worth in a 10lb container) and we had gotten rid of all the totes. Had to purchase more so we could store our household in the garage while the newer place was scrubbed (they had cats and we're allergic) so it was done before we and the 2 dogs moved in. Well things changed and family won't be coming. Doing the purge of unnecessary items and plan on having a "mock move". That should help to eliminate more of any questionable unnecessary items and I will know how many clutter coffins need to be saved (+3 because I'm not mock packing bedding as well as to have the extras for anything we may have added) so we are ready for the move we're talking about when husband retires. Because that is the plan we will have more clutter coffins than probably many others watching this podcast but I'm disabled and having items (like desk items, first aid items, pet needs) in small containers some with covers on and others used daily without covers on will make the future packing (a year or 2 out) much easier for me. There are furniture items that we won't be taking with us so the list it to sell it will be a quick empty and pack it for personal items. There's always someone moving somewhere so liquidation of those totes after we move (again) will be easy. So they aren't used for anything else they'll be stored in contractor bags in the now huge empty area of the shed. As fast as homes are selling it will be a huge help for me to store these clutter coffins in an area they are set aside for only their intended purpose ~ the next move to a smaller home closer to family

We spent $65 a month a few years ago for one we did not access often. My dad passed away, we sold our home, moved in with my mom, and the plan was to be temporary for about a year or so. Well, we ended up moving my mom to a condo and bought her home from her. So It ended up being about 4 months. Then mice ended up getting into the furniture! Had to have it cleaned. We DID have the mattress' covered with plastic! I highly recommend that lol.

I live by a lot of homeless and if I have anything extra I donate it to them.

There is a storage facility on every corner here in FLORIDA. And building more every day.

I love your studio setup! New sub. Found you from Rachel Cruze's channel. Great content. I agree. I would keep scrapbooking. She is archiving family history.

My sons are 5 years apart and some of the clothing I was saving was stored in a hot attic which destroyed the elastic. Looking back I wish I'd bought a new Baptism suit for #2 because he was 5 weeks older at his ceremony and so much bigger than his brother that he looked like a stuffed sausage.

Zero. Never used one thankfully, not even when moving continents. I sold everything when I moved from the UK to the USA in 2015 and used the money from the sale of it all to furnish my new home out here. I set myself a goal to be more intentional when I furnished my new home out here and actually spent less than what I sold my previous items for so was a win, win situation.

As creepy as it sounds, when the scrap book artist dies, her daughter can display the story of her life at a celebration of life party, then the guests/family members can either take a book, or it can be burned in a huge bonfire, letting her life -in--pictures and art go back to the ether and join her Spirit.

We can compare hoarding with anxiety. You keep things/emotions for hypothetical events! Love people use things now!

For the scrapbooking, my advice would be to continue doing what brings you joy! It sounds like the hang-up was that it would be passed on to her daughter. But if you declutter them later on in life, or set the expectation with her, that if she wants to dispose of them or take them apart when they are passed to her, she can absolutely do that.

NOT only an American trend!!! Here in South Africa you get what I call storage farms where millions of Rands of stuff are put away in storage that costs millions of Rands per year!! Sad, very sad in a country where almost 70+ people do not even have a proper house! It's sad and CRAZY!!!

My gfs dad pays $125 per month for the last 7 years to store theater chairs someone offered to buy for $400.

I live in a large multicompartmental clutter coffin. I'm dying.

Great comment re: scrapbooking in relation to creativity. I don't know why I forgot the word "legalism" which is a primary way I look at any activity. Even some Minimalism groups lean to legalism and set up rules by which they can judge others. [sigh] Where is the freedom? My criteria centers around "care." Again, thanks for your comments.

My favorite channel ❤️

Unless you are my mom and she will say “yes I do wish I hoarded more stuff” 🙄 she’s so stubborn with getting rid of stuff..and then keeps her home always in disarray and does not care one bit when ppl communicate to her that in makes them uncomfortable… She said “I need more jeans “ one day…so i literally counted her jeans and she had about 50 pairs..then she says “well none of those fit” 😤 so get rid of them!! It’s so frustrating dealing with ppl like that!

I needed this

Good stuff, thanks.

4 years = @&3,500. Stored a bed that I just tossed after discovering it had dust mites, bins of my 36 year old’s childhood memories that she hasn’t even gone through, two dresser mirrors, Six bins of Christmas decorations, and wooden toys my deceased husband built for said 36-year-old Daughter. I feel sick!

Love this and so true

Hmm…clutter coffins, I have a few of those. Right now in process of decluttering and facing a life situation which has made me so very upset that nothing else got done in a week. Now I’m doing something and still looking forward to having a somewhat minimalistic lifestyle. Yes somewhat, cannot help feeling that I’m not ready for the extreme part of minimalism.

At first your joke about 'someday is the eighth day of the week and it never comes' made me chuckle but then i realized 'someday' DEFINITELY DOES come around. . . I knew my Mom would die 'someday' and when she passed i kept thinking her 'someday' is here now. I can't even remember the dates my parents passed, that's not the important part ... i just remember it was on their 'someday'.

If course storage facilities are on the rise! Housing has become unaffordable and its not easy to find a place to live.

To say that I'm SHOCKED that Gen X is leading in the "storage unit" gambit would be a mirage. My question is: What are they storing? ...because, it would be my experience and perspective that it's their demanding Boomer-parent's SHIT---no doubt whatsoever!!!

Long time fan of zero waste here. Thought I would share my experience. The zero waste practitioners already know about the position of privilege they have, believe me. The idea is what ever they decide to buy, the micro plastics like rubber bands and stickers are left at the store. The movement has also been changed to "low impact" because of the very thing you mentioned; you still make waste. Even now with bulk stores accepting your containers, it may be more reliable for some to just recycle the plastic baggie that's already at the store to use. The idea with that too, is to refuse what you don't need ultimately becoming a minimalist, reduce what you do need, reuse what you have already, recycle what you can't do above then rot or compost what is left. Thanks for coming to my tedtalk LOL

I’m guilty ☝️ Im a doll collector & I have a storage unit storing them til I get a bigger place to display them. I currently live in a small apartment so I don’t have room

Who is Justin Case? 🤓

Thank you

Just realized you both have brilliant blue eyes! 🤩

If she loves scrapbooking, she should continue. She might want to reduce her inventory. Many, many years down the road some of them may end up in the trash. But that isn't a reason to not create.

It is EMBARRASSING that American clutter is so grotesque. The developing nations full of abject poverty are watching and wondering Where's the justice?? If we got as hooked on giving as we now are with hoarding...?

I'll take cardboard boxes over PlasticMade/Maid any day!

Turn the storage units into tiny apartments.

❤