It was interesting watch this just now because two hours ago I posted on Facebook about how my husband and I are downsizing out lives. We've gotten to the point where we realize that we don't want to spend all our time working to buy stuff and are then too busy to enjoy it. So a smaller house and less stuff means less to pay for, so more time available to enjoy the people and things that really matter in life.
I'm 50yrs old...I lost a really good job some years ago. I've since then "purged"...my LOTR dolls, my Magic CCGs, my comic book collection (that one hurt bad), most of my book collection (thank god for friends that understand who have a garage), and several other crazy collections I have collected throughout the years. The most important thing I've learned in this....is that my Geekiness is in my heart,...not in what I own. I am a nerd, a geek, a collector....ALL those things. And I don't need to own anything to wave that flag proud. So...purge, my young friend, purge. Love your videos Alex. Keep on keepin' on! Hugs.
I did this extreme with my Uncles House recently, he had not taken care of the place so and there was still all my grandmothers things in the house. He is still in Reno to get the house built back up again, cause we tore it down to concrete and took out the kitchen as well, but when he gets back in, he will have all the things he needs and not all the clutter that was making his house unmanageable. So When we got home we started to get rid of stuff too, I even paired down all my daughters toys. Its going great but I still have more stuff to get rid of.
I definitely have too much stuff. My great-grandmother was a collector too, and she used to say "surround yourself with things that make you happy." So I try to keep a nice balance of things that make me happy without having a bunch of clutter. It's a struggle.
During our last move, we threw out / donated so many things. At least half of what we owned. We might have gotten rid of more, but we ran out of time to go through boxes we had of things. Things I definitely couldn't live without - all my kitchen supplies. I cook at home, mostly from scratch, and it's difficult to do without pots, pans, cutting boards, knives, etc. Other things I personally can't live without - clothing, my bed, my computers (at least one of them!), an our internet connection.
I have a lot of stuff I'd be hard-pressed to part with. I've just started to make sure that all the stuff I love and think I need can easily fit into my apartment without it looking too cluttered. Books and movies would definitely be my biggest issues... also t-shirts.
I end up putting things in boxes to give away and then put off taking them to Goodwill until 2 years later. YES. And last month, I FINALLY took that stuff to Goodwill. It was definitely a weight off my shoulders and I feel like I have more room to move around and whatnot. And every once in a while, I go through my shelves and ask, "Will I read this?" or "Will I read this ever again?" and if the answer is NO, it gets taken off the shelf.
Hah! I just moved and was annoyed at myself for having so much stuff, but now that I've found places for it all I'm pretty happy with it. I like having way too many clothes and more sheet music than I'll ever play and enough tools to build a house...as long as I don't buy more stuff, I think everything's ok!
I too, have WAAAY too many things. What's ironic is that my parents had many things when I was growing up. My dad collected Egyptian memorabilia on top of sci-fi toys. I recently moved out of my parents house and in with my boyfriend. Obviously I couldnt take all my things because I'm sharing a room with someone now, and the hardest thing I had to do was get rid of some of my things.
I love this mentality, because while I know I would miss some of my things, I definitely don't NEED them. Although... I'd be sad without my laptop... but everything's on the external....
I got rid of a ton of stuff last time I moved and now the only things cluttering my place are art and books and I'm okay with that. I still have packed boxes in my closet from when I moved into this place a year and a half ago, though. I clearly don't need any of that stuff.
I am currently preparing to move house and your logic has made it much easier for me to get rid of a lot of unnecessary stuff. Thanks for being brilliant, Alex! ^_^
in all honesty if I had to choose one thing it'd probably be my laptop. I know i /can/ live without it but it's my connection to the world and yes I could replace but that would be expensive haha. I love these "walk and talk" type of videos Alex, seeya Thursday!
I definitely have less stuff as I've gotten older. I remember a few years back when I found out that my mom had gotten rid of my entire rather large binder full of Pokemon cards I was pretty unhappy with her, but I realize now I didn't really need them, even if I do miss them (a lot) sometimes. I think my main problem is books now, picking out which ones to take with me to school isn't going to be fun for me I don't think. Three things outside of clothes that I don't know what I'd do without are my phone, laptop, and a pair of headphones.
Comic book parents - wow! I didn't know. I can't live without water. I don't need any stuff. This knowledge makes my life way easier. Where are you moving, Alex?
I had to think this through when I moved to Germany from CA last year. I had a garage sale that revealed a lot of unneeded stuff in my possession. What I kept, though, would take months to get to my new home once it was shipped, so I had to decide what I couldn't do without in the meantime. Besides clothes, toothbrush, etc., what ended up in my carry-on was a book. I don't even remember which one now, so it's not really a specific book that I can't live without (though, I have my favorites), just books. Words, on paper, in my hands. I need that. Presented with Fahrenheit 451, I am one freaked out person. The other thing I brought, I needed with me because I wouldn't trust it to travel across the world in a suitcase, or by any other means than in my hands. My little brother passed away mere months before, and he'd always had his mini Curious George doll with him. Always, everywhere. We're talking, if George went missing, no one was getting any sleep until he was found. So of course we had a back up that he held onto as well, but only at home. My parents have George, and on that plane, I took George 2. I didn't just need it with me to ensure its arrival, though. I was leaving my home, the place where we'd grown up together and where all of my memories of him take place. I need George 2 with me because I need that connection to my brother.
I moved from a three bedroom home to a one bedroom home. I am sure Goodwill got their donations goal that month just from me. You occasionally will miss something you gave away or donated but not often, so PURGE IT.
I realised I had too much stuff when I moved to Uni but I still kept most of it. The thing I wouldn't like living without is my laptop for obvious reasons and my camera so I can film and take pictures all of the time.
I do this a lot, especially when I'm travelling like at the moment. Before buy something I force myself to say 'do I really need this' and most of the time I don't and it's a waste of money that I could be doing cool things with. I have a strict one in one out policy too so I don't just accumulate crap, which works well.
I definitely have way too many things. My main vice is clothes (I could probably wear a different shirt every day for 3 months), but the one thing I couldn't live without is my computer, mostly because it ties me to my friends and also has pics and video from all my favourite times. Also yes, Netflix.
Heard you there...Not sure about my shirt collection, but I have literally over 100 dresses. It's pretty annoying to move them all, but once they're in the closet, hey, everything's fine, right?
I'm moving bed rooms and I have to sort through my things. It's super difficult. I collect stuff and I have a hard time getting rid of it. I'm trying to be tough and just get rid of some of it. I don't think I could part with my laptop, it's my connection to almost everything I love.
I will be moving again in May and August, and I going to try really, really had to follow this advice! I need to clean out my possessions so badly, but it's such a difficult thing to do!
I'm a junior in college and I'm really looking forward to graduating and packing everything up to move out of my childhood home so I'm finally forced to get rid of all that stuff.
I don't know if I truly need something, but a pen an paper so I could sketch and write. But on the don't truly need but would be awesome list would be, a computer, my phone and my guitar :)
I can't even think of just 3 things I can't live without. And I will have a big move coming up in a few months where I'm heading to another city so I have started to think about what I need to get rid of and what to keep. (I'm a crafter and a pack rat. I'm doomed!) If I had to force myself into it, I'd say my phone, my car, and my autographed copy of The Last Unicorn book.
I cannot live without the miracle of human consciousness because I freakin love my life, despite all the crap that happens. There is so much to do and so much to see and GAH. We really don't need a lot of things, but it's so easy to lose track. My few things besides all the levels of Maslo's hierarchy? RU-vid, my journals and DVDs of family memories and footage, and my collected music.
I attach sentimental value to way too much stuff, and most of it is just plain silly. When ever a purge some of my stuff i always have to put it in a box and give to someone to get rid of, my only request is that they don't tell me what became of it.
Practically speaking, microwave and blanket. I really dislike cold. Going deeper, I cannot think of any worthwhile things in my life. Thanks for forcing me to confront the lack of purpose... :(
Things I cant live without, Im gonna make my list 7-10. . . 1.Dino (Note: my favorite stuffed animal, his name is Dino Because Id never get rid of him , Hes currently 25 years old because I got him when I was 2 from my Dad), 2.Computer/Internet (these are both one and the same for me) 3.Hanson (fan since 1997, I will love them "forever and a day") 4.Harry Potter 5. Music/Wizard Rock 6.The Walking Dead ( I would not be a true fan if this was not on my list somewhere) 7.The Remus Lupins (because I love you
