Decluttering and mindful acquisitions
April 3, 2019
We’re developing a steady rhythm of moving things out of the house even as we add things that we need and use. I’m looking at a steady state that should trend lower over time.
This almost cleansing ritual is at odds with my borderline hoarder nature that wants, nay craves, the security of having everything I might need ready to hand. I hate having to buy things when they’re not on sale. But the purging is necessary.
Without this outflow, I’d feel stifled and overwhelmed by STUFF. I hate that feeling. I want to have stuff, I don’t want it to have me. I want to have our own purely practical Warehouse 13, but not live in it. I’m not sure that compromise is possible but nevertheless, I persevere.
Less stuff, more stuff, just the right amount of stuff: a lesson in mindfulness
Some things have to be pruned daily or they multiply LIKE TRIBBLES:
- Junk mail
- ALL of JB’s art which is sometimes represented by scribbles on 39284829 sheets of paper, a wad of paper taped up 17 different ways, or a stack of papers stapled together. If the latter, I secretly unstaple them and stash them in a bin of art supplies so ze can reuse the other side.
- Anything that’s been in the trunk of the car for five years but hasn’t been used (except the emergency gear).
We bid farewell to:
- A broken coffeemaker that’s been taking up room in the garage – with grateful thanks to our local disposal company
- 6 of 12 pairs of trouser socks. Haven’t worn them in 6 years, probably safe to assume I won’t in the next 6.
- We rarely get takeout for a lot of reasons but I especially like to see how long we can go without adding to our plastic takeout containers stash – we are down to an all time low of only 4 sets! They were used mercilessly, then sent home with potluck dinner guests filled with delicious leftovers.
- We use our clothes the same way we duel: to the death! Often, the things we’re ready to give up aren’t in any shape to be sold or donated. Any clothes still in good condition go into my Sale Bin in hopes of finding them a good home. About 15 lbs of clothes have languished in there for a year, it was time for them to move on.
Areas of concern
- We definitely have enough tote bags but I struggle heartily with not adding more to our collection. I can resist a great tote bag about as well as I resist street tacos. (Hardly ever and with bad grace.) I love the feel of sturdy canvas, the clever art, the easy breezy “shovel all the gear into the tote and go”-ness of a great oversized tote. The non-preciousness wherein you can sling it any old where, because it’s sturdy canvas, so no worries about scuffing. I resonate with a great tote bag.
With all this going on, it seems counter-intuitive to be adding things to the home, doesn’t it? But we have and it’s eased our day to day lives too. We’ve added:
- A good quality garden shovel.
- A pair of tough gardening gloves that actually fit my hands. Begone, ye thorns!
- An extra set of sheets – I don’t have to strip the beds, do all the wash, and remake the beds all in one marathon day! I can rotate our extra set in and take my time. It’s amazing.
- Three bowls and platters for dinner service. We’ve squished many a dinner into 2 solitary 1-quart casserole dishes for quite a lot of guests. It’s ok to make serving up meals a little easier. This is also a sideways investment in social capital. We are starting new traditions in the area with local friends, trying to build community, and one of them is having select groups of people over for dinner. By “tradition” I mean, we’ve done this once before and by golly we will try again. We might even host as many as TWO dinners this year! But even if we don’t, we have house guests every month so these items won’t be mothballed during the year.
- That new Pyrex set – I’m over the moon about it! It makes me feel warm and fuzzy and like an adult. We’ve had a longstanding need for more containers with lids that can serve many purposes, and these are just the ticket: oven safe, freezer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe. Now that my hands are less painful, I can actually use the heavy duty Pyrex instead of relying on flimsy plastic containers that aren’t oven safe and having to dirty an extra dish. I actually picked up two sets and I serve our dinners in them so that after meal cleanup is as simple as popping a lid on. It’s fabulous.
PiC continues to be our Craigslist selling whiz as well as the secondhand gear guy. I buy new but search every nook and cranny for bargains, sales, and savings. We try to be extra conscious of not resorting to the reflex to buy something to fill a need until we’ve considered all possible alternatives first.
I’ve been on a decluttering blitz lately. It is… kind of shocking how much random junk we’ve accumulated just living here for four years.
“We use our clothes the same way we duel: to the death!” Lol, I heartily appreciate this line. š
Isn’t it? It feels that way even though we’ve just been here going on two years. I really need to make more time to declutter because the tide seems to always be pushing against us.
The extra set of sheets is pretty amazing. The fitted sheet in one set is about to go (I think it probably will give next time I use it and someone leans on the bed), but I haven’t been able to bring myself to buy a new one yet. We’re planning on getting a larger mattress, and I just don’t want to spend that money for something we’ll only use for, say, another 6 months.
I would hold off too if a new larger mattress was in the works.
I’ve been selling or otherwise getting rid of the baby items we have outgrown. I received a ton of free 2nd hand baby clothes, and I’ve passed along most of them (primarily via local Buy Nothing group). Baby never really took to the (second hand) swing, so I think I’m selling that – it seems like I can get almost double what I paid there. I did save a small number of my best / favorite baby clothes, because I can’t help it. WE aren’t totally decided that there won’t be a 2nd, though we lean that way.
We got rid of a bunch of stuff from our garage, but there is more to go. A fair amount was donated to ReStore, a few pieces were sold, and a few pieces were unloaded via Buy Nothing or neighborhood e-mail list.
I did the same. We didn’t have much room to be saving things but I had to hold on to just a few favorites! I’m still staring at boxes in my office XD
Oh god no, wayyy too much stuff! T has a habit of getting free stuff that needs fixing, bringing it home and …. never quite finishing with any of it. And baby stuff, by god. I’ve started listing a few bits for sale and have given some away, but a lot of it falls in the ‘well, if we have a 2nd one day…’ camp.
At least a second set of sheets is a MUST!
OMG that habit would make me even more antsy than I already am! I accept free stuff if we can use it actively, sell it, or find it a new home POST HASTE.
The baby stuff, though, it does make sense to hold on to it in case a second comes along since you don’t want to pay for that twice.
Hi Revanche! You are doing great in giving much thought to what comes into and out of your home. That is a huge part of staying organized and saving money, as I had to learn the hard way. The fact is, collecting stuff creates a headache not just now but also in the future, and not only for the acquirer but for other members of the family/people who have to live in the house too. After a decade plus of decluttering my own hoard, I am finally at a place where my own home is well organized and almost empty of the things I don’t need/want/use. The amount of wasted money that it represents creates a sense of despair at times so I commend you on your awareness, frugality and organization. You are saving yourself lots of anxiety. Good job š
Thanks, Quest, I’m trying to make sure we don’t make our stuff into someone’s headache, or even our own!