Having too much 'stuff'

A few years ago I took a conscious decision to stop aspiring to have "nice things". It really has been life changing for the better. There is still the occasional relapse.

Once you get out of the grip of extreme consumerism or whatever you want to call it, it's so much easier to be happy. That desire to have the latest things and more internet points than the other contributors to the likes of the "post images of things you have purchased" thread can really drag you down. I'm sure some people manage it just fine though.
 
Scuzi said:
A few years ago I took a conscious decision to stop aspiring to have "nice things". It really has been life changing for the better. There is still the occasional relapse.

Once you get out of the grip of extreme consumerism or whatever you want to call it, it's so much easier to be happy. That desire to have the latest things and more internet points than the other contributors to the likes of the "post images of things you have purchased" thread can really drag you down. I'm sure some people manage it just fine though.
Click to expand...

I'm the same now. The only expensive purchases I make are things I know will not be a waste of time and will see the light of day rather than rotting in a box somewhere under the bed or in the loft. I've got a set of golf clubs, a quadcopter setup and a load of other gadgets I don't even use now.

Stopped myself from buying something very expensive (~15K) recently. It just wouldn't make me happier and probably would have been wasted on me. The next expensive "toy" I buy will be a paramotor and that'll be it for a long time. Along with my other flying kit that's all I need to be happy. :D

Now I just need to find the will to actually sell a load of the crap I don't need.
 
Last edited:
In some ways I don't hold on to stuff if it no longer serves its purpose. Old computers, AV stuff, clothes and kitchen ware will go without a second glance.

I do collect stuff though. Old RC cars, retro consoles, Lego, board games. My converted attic is like a display room. Not sure if that counts as consumerism. Might be a closet hoarder?
 
We have SO MUCH STUFF. Unfortunately a lot of it isn't even particularly good stuff. It's worthless junk that she likes. Stuff that litters the mantle piece, the window sills and our cupboard spaces. It drives me nuts. I'm completely of the mind set that if we haven't used it in a while we should just get rid. She hordes and can't let go of anything, even if it hasn't seen the light of day for years! She spent years filling her dad's double garage with stuff she liked well before she moved out of her parents and into our own place! Her poor dad had a mountain of her belongings stored in there and now it's all transported to here! I had to line my whole garage with shelving just to store as much as we could have it. She doesn't understand that relinquishing herself of stuff makes it all much less of a burden
.

:(
 
Last edited:
I would take the non-essential items to a charity shop (for a local charity, not a national one). It'll make you feel warm and tingly inside.
 
Yeah I always feel a little uneasy hearing of people landfilling so much stuff. I tend to see if it can be given sold, given to charity or recycled before considering landfill. /highhorse /hippy
 
I managed to get rid of a fair portion of stuff at a car boot last year. Now I just need to convince her to give up the other 9 tenths of stuff left over. Roll on summer weather! :p
 
Don't really have this issue (although I am relatively young).

I only buy stuff that's good quality and therefore won't need replacing (ie save for better quality furniture/laptop/phone/similar) and sell everything that is old. I do have a few boxes full of cables though.... They are a tough one to throw away!
 
Maccapacca said:
Wait till you've got kids. The accumulation of plastic junk is bewildering. I've said to relatives to stop buying junk for birthdays and Christmas but it still keeps coming. Such a waste of money and resource.

Couple of years ago I hired a skip and emptied the house into it. Probably all fit for the boot sale but as above I couldn't think of anything worse.
Click to expand...

Could you not have given a lot to charity? (that's the third option for stuff that's working but can't be bothered to sell).
 
Hyburnate said:
I'd rather spend my day at work on a Saturday and earn money than stand in the cold :o
Click to expand...

Did it in the Summer so it was nice and warm, plus I was cleared out pretty much by all the people who paid extra to browse early so all in all it was about three or four hours. Certainly worth my time even if not yours.
 
I moved twice in 18 month's - whittled two lofts of rubbish down to a few boxes of rubbish for new loft. Moved again and had a clean clear loft - 6 yrs later I am back to square one - If my wife goes before me I will have one massive clear out. :)
 
I'm in the same boat. I had a massive clear out when I moved out of my old flat and put everything in storage but I still have boxes full of network cables, HDMI and optical cables and a box full of old RAM and hard disks that I just can't seem to part with.

Maybe when I move again in a few months I'll be a bit more brutal.
 
OpenToSuggestions said:
First world problems!

You have no idea how annoying it is when I want to use my weekend car, but my main car is blocking it in on the driveway! :p.
Click to expand...

Haha, this is literally my problem this morning. Thankfully my other weekend car is parked further up the drive, so problem sorted.

3 cars is too many, right?...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom