How much stuff do we all really need? Other than a roof over my head, some food on the table, clothes on my back, some means of transportation, some of my books, and a computer so I can do my job – what else is truly necessary? Somehow in the 15 years since college, I have managed to accumulate a household full of “things”, some of which have not been used in a very long time. And while I do not collect anything and live pretty minimally, there still seems to be an abundance of items I could probably get rid of and not miss at all. In the grand scheme, do I really need these things? Cookware I never use, books I never read and never will, random stuff held up with magnets on bulletin boards, extra computer parts, chairs I never sit in, a junk drawer full of, well, junk, files I should have digitized already, frames with no pictures in them – the list goes on and on. I am not sure I do need them anymore, and I plan on doing something about it.
I want to start getting rid of this stuff this week.
As you guys probably know from reading this site, I already do my best to live clutter-free. And while this stuff is not necessarily clutter in the truest sense of the word, it is “extra” to my life – and not necessary. So I am going to do my best to walk around my house looking for 10 things I can get rid of each week. I will do my best to document these purge trips every week, whether the stuff goes to the landfill, the recycling bin, the consignment shop or Goodwill. Enough is enough – even without being surrounded by clutter I am feeling overwhelmed by having a household full of stuff. I know I would be perfectly happy in a tiny house living a simple life with just the cat, a laptop, my iPhone and a few books – but I don’t plan on going that extreme yet. One step at a time! But I do think it is time to reevaluate the things I do have and whether or not they add any value to my existence. And if they don’t, then out the door they go. Ever done anything like this? If so, I could use some tips!
Wish me luck! 
Do you have a couch you’re getting rid of?
I could write a book on how to ruthlessly purge without regret. I am a pro. Pick my brain. Please.
“Ever done anything like this? If so, I could use some tips!”
Hanging on to things can be a sign of fear that one will never have those things again. It’s anti-abundance medicine. This is a hard nut to crack, however. The only tip I have is to not be too hard on yourself for wanting to *keep* certain things. The only thing that’s evil is absolutism.
I got rid of 1000′s of things before we moved to New Mexico: books, tools, art supplies, clothes… because I was “enlightened” and knew I couldn’t take it with me when I died, anyway. However, I’m still on this earth, and whenever I think of some of what I let go, it hurts like hell. (My TOOLS!!! My PAINTINGS!!!) And yet, in my current life, I have no need of those things, nor any place to store them!
So I have no idea what to tell you, except to try to operate from a position of what makes you feel good at the time. No matter what, you’ll learn something about yourself and be in a better position to counsel others.
I WILL say that once during a long spell of not having access to our clothes, possessions, and other amenities after a move, it was astonishing how easy it was to get by with almost nothing. That was an astounding revelation. Two shirts? Fine! One pair of jeans? Fine! One frying pan? Great! But then we fell back into love of junk. Back and forth, back and forth…
Oh hell, I forgot to ask about the couch.
Tips…tips…tips…let’s see:
What do you need RIGHT NOW?
Ask yourself that question as you walk around the house. You’ll be amazed at the answers you’ll get. As you know I’ve been purging for – well on a year now – and am in the final stages of an international move(like I leave tomorrow). After all that, all I can really offer is this – if it’s not relevant to you life as you live it RIGHT NOW, you probably don’t need it.
Not to shamelessly plug my own blog, but stay tuned for more posts about living with the ultimate in less, out of a duffel bag…when I land I’m not going to get my shipment of STUFF for at least a month, if not two…should make for good reads!
Jesse
Sorry, no couch!
The trouble is that I dont have much to begin with, and the stuff I have is pretty organized. So its all going to be crap stuffed into closets and drawers that hasnt seen the light of day in years. Tools? Those are definitely staying with me!
Bummer about the couch. I’d feel flush with a couch for napping. lol
My formula is this: If I haven’t touched it in a year, it’s gone. I never look back. If I regret it later, too bad. Use what you got. I go two years for clothes, just because my body changes so often.
You know that pile of stuff as you come in the kitchen door? That is the perpetual free-box pile. It is never gone.
My next door neighbor died a couple years ago. She was a packrat. I think I told you this story. We took away SIX contractor dumpsters of STUFF. It was a wake up call to the whole neighborhood. I went home and asked myself, ‘If I dropped dead today, what would people see as junk?’ That helps, too. Get rid of it. We don’t want to have to clean it up.
Ah, the perpetual “free” box – I have one too! I think if I dropped dead, people would wonder where all my stuff was.
But for me, even the stuff I do have is too much!
I loved living in my truck then a motorhome. You have to pare down that way! You truly have only what you need. It’s so cool.
I too am clutter free, I recently went through and decluttered my closets and drawers. It is amazing what is not crap, but not what you need. I had a curling iron and blow dryer for example. We live in a warm place and I have not curled my hair in about 5-7 years. So they went. Frames, blankets, sheets, make up bags, clothing, ect…
All good items, maybe just not for you and your home now.
Plus now when I go to the store and want a new whatever, I ask myself…will this be really liked in 1 month, 1 year, 5 years? Most (99.9%) of the time the answer is no! I think it will be easy for you to get rid of more than 10 items a week.
good luck!
I have the same thing going on in my life. I’ve gotten rid of all the “clutter” and now I have a very bare and pretty organized home. Yet, I still find myself looking around and feeling boxed in by those last things that feel like necessities but I’m sure I could live without. I kinda take it day by day looking around to see what I am comfortable with getting rid of today. I like your idea of doing 10 things a week. That seems very do-able. I’m not sure I have much advice as far as getting over that whole “I may need this ______” But I guess I’d say (for my little tip) I would rather just repurchase that item (and see how long it takes me to think I even need it again) or go without it the once a year I may need it (like a ice shaver, lol) Anyway, hope that helps!
-Chandra
In my recent move, I feel like we did a good job weeding out the major clutter. Now it’s down to the hard stuff (well, I MAY need it one day) and I’ve learned to accept that it’s a slow process.
Sometimes you’re just not ready to let something go. I had to wait two years before I was ready to let my grad school stuff go, but when I was ready, it felt SO GOOD to say goodbye.
10 items a week…. this seems like a doable goal to me…i’ll join you.
Altho at some point I may have to up the ante cuz I don’t have enough years left to get rid of all the junk at the 10 items a week pace…that’s only 520 per year….hmmmm
Does each piece of old polyester fabric count as ‘one’
haha…. I’m a fabricaholic for sure. And its gotta go!
I am putting my first 10 items up tomorrow morning – will make it a weekly feature! Come along
Fabric only counts as 1
I’ve done (almost) exactly this as my new year’s resolution. In the fall we are moving home to the states from toronto, ontario, and will have an allotted two hours of elevator time to get everything out of our apartment and into the moving truck. I knew that this would be the one move that couldn’t drag out all day… no last minute sorting and tossing and “should I keep this or not?” while packing up all of those last odds & ends.
I decided that each week I’d get rid of, organize, or condense at least one thing. It’s ended up being more like a bag a week of donated goods, condensing all old photo albums into small storage boxes at one time, etc… once you start getting rid of stuff, it can become rather addictive.
Blogging my weekly task has also held me accountable
emily – I agree, blogging about it will keep me accountable as well!