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Original poster

Do we all have too much stuff???

133 replies

Notcontent · 29/08/2020 23:25

I moved house recently (had another thread about how stressful that was!). I moved to a house pretty much the same size as my old house but both houses are quite small. Anyway, as part of the moving process I had to obviously find new places to put everything etc and I felt really overwhelmed by how much stuff I have. It’s just me and a teen, and I did lots of decluttering before the move, but it still feels like we have a lot of stuff. But we don’t have a garage or a loft where we can just stuff random things out of sight, so I think we probably have fewer things than a lot of people.

If you have a small house or flat, are you constantly decluttering? Or if you have a large house, is it full of stuff and do you ever feel overwhelmed by it?

OP posts:
littlecatfeet · 30/08/2020 20:34

I read a great comment somewhere (might have been here) about facing those wasteful feelings along the lines of:
the waste happened when you purchased something that didn't fit your needs.

It was a bit hard to swallow but so true.

whirlwindwallaby · 30/08/2020 20:45

When DS was younger and we didn't have much money we were given many things and bought most of what else we needed from charity shops. Anything we are not currently using I figure someone else could be using so it feels much more wasteful to hoard it than to donate it.

dementedma · 30/08/2020 20:49

We are in a flat with very little storage and are constantly decluttering. Its endless. Frustrating at the moment as charity shops aren't open and I have loads of decent clothes after a recent cull. Sold a couple of things on ebay but still have loads. Might put it on Freegle

Waxonwaxoff0 · 30/08/2020 21:11

I don't have much "stuff" really. I live in a small 2 bed semi. I'm not very sentimental so I'm not bothered about hanging onto anything, I recently donated most of my books to charity and just use the library now. I don't have many clothes.

lljkk · 30/08/2020 21:42

I'm still a work in progress letting go of "might be useful"... what astonishes me is that I buy very little. I mean, the rule is I only buy stuff to replace the worn out or badly wanted (if not a replacement). and STILL I have so much stuff. I probably regret about 5% of my give-aways but I think that's a good ratio. I guess it took 40 yrs to stop being a hoarder & it might take 40 yrs to finally get rid of the clutter!

the few minimalists I know end up wasting money, tbh, in their disinclination to buy anything in advance, they end up spending more because their need becomes very urgent & sudden. I think they're happy like that, tbf.

lljkk · 30/08/2020 21:42

I'm still a work in progress letting go of "might be useful"... what astonishes me is that I buy very little. I mean, the rule is I only buy stuff to replace the worn out or badly wanted (if not a replacement). and STILL I have so much stuff. I probably regret about 5% of my give-aways but I think that's a good ratio. I guess it took 40 yrs to stop being a hoarder & it might take 40 yrs to finally get rid of the clutter!

the few minimalists I know end up wasting money, tbh, in their disinclination to buy anything in advance, they end up spending more because their need becomes very urgent & sudden. I think they're happy like that, tbf.

Meruem · 30/08/2020 22:29

I’m genuinely intrigued by the guilt some of you feel at having stuff. Why being minimalist is somehow seen as virtuous. It’s a trend, that’s all. Yes some people will genuinely feel better having less stuff and that’s great. But people who want to keep things just in case, if you have room for it what’s the issue? It’s only a problem if your spending money you don’t have or it’s in danger of becoming a home like you see on those hoarder shows.

I had a cupboard full of craft supplies/projects, jigsaws and the like that I never had time to do. The sort of stuff a professional de-clutterer would have told me to get rid of. I had a great time during lockdown getting back into all those things. My minimalist friends were going crazy with boredom. They even moaned about having nothing to clean because their sparse homes didn’t generate enough housework! Grin

WinWinnieTheWay · 30/08/2020 22:36

I am desperate to cut back, other than books, I need to halve my belongings.

latticechaos · 30/08/2020 22:43

@WinWinnieTheWay

I am desperate to cut back, other than books, I need to halve my belongings.
Ooh exciting! Is there a decluttering thread?
LolaSmiles · 30/08/2020 22:50

Meruem
You're right about minimalism being a trend and some people feel oddly virtuous about having as little as possible, but I still think there's merit in thinking seriously about what we consume and our relationship with having stuff.

RevolutionRadio · 30/08/2020 22:53

Yes we do. I love a clear out. My husband doesn't. We're getting close to renovating the upstairs which means a wardrobe clear out. I know he's going to want to keep everything that hasn't been out of the wardrobes in years.

linmanuel · 30/08/2020 23:05

Yes. Too much stuff

squeekums · 31/08/2020 00:11

@Meruem

I’m genuinely intrigued by the guilt some of you feel at having stuff. Why being minimalist is somehow seen as virtuous. It’s a trend, that’s all. Yes some people will genuinely feel better having less stuff and that’s great. But people who want to keep things just in case, if you have room for it what’s the issue? It’s only a problem if your spending money you don’t have or it’s in danger of becoming a home like you see on those hoarder shows.

I had a cupboard full of craft supplies/projects, jigsaws and the like that I never had time to do. The sort of stuff a professional de-clutterer would have told me to get rid of. I had a great time during lockdown getting back into all those things. My minimalist friends were going crazy with boredom. They even moaned about having nothing to clean because their sparse homes didn’t generate enough housework! Grin

Completely agree We have stuff, i enjoy shopping, I collect things I dont get the guilt
Kaiserin · 31/08/2020 01:01

Yes. Totally.

I don't even buy that much stuff, but I tend to keep way too much, in particular:

  • "oh, it's a bit worn/broken, but it could still be useful/upcycled"
  • "you never know, someone may ask for that piece of paperwork some day"
  • "it was a present/souvenir from "
  • "it's a book/bag/pen/etc., and you can never have too many of these!"

I'm trying to declutter, but I hate throwing away, "must" be donated, sold or recycled...

Kaiserin · 31/08/2020 01:03

It's not about guilt for me, by the way, it's about not having enough space, and it weighing on my mind.

Porridgeoat · 31/08/2020 06:10

Materialism is a trend if minimalist is a trend. Some counties minimalism has always been the norm. Some countries are particularly materialistic.

Porridgeoat · 31/08/2020 06:13

Not about guilt for me either. Less stuff equals more freedom both physically and mentally. Less weighing me down. Creates space for my hobbies.

Porridgeoat · 31/08/2020 06:16

Minimalist, tidyish but need of a clean so far from traditionalMinimalist🤣

DancingCatGif · 31/08/2020 06:20

We cull things weekly and very rarely buy anything. I went through a stage of buying too many clothes but not these days. Qnd I am ruthless, presents, books, sentimental garbage...it all gets flung out.

"This might be useful again" is not a good way to think. If it is useful, you can just buy it again then if it's something cheap. If it is expensive, sell it and buy it again second hand.

I hate clutter.

VenetoResident · 31/08/2020 06:21

@whirlwindwallaby

When DS was younger and we didn't have much money we were given many things and bought most of what else we needed from charity shops. Anything we are not currently using I figure someone else could be using so it feels much more wasteful to hoard it than to donate it.
Lovely sentiment :)
purpleme12 · 31/08/2020 06:50

No guilt here either
I didn't take this thread to be about guilt until Meruem mentioned guilt...

Dinosauraddict · 31/08/2020 06:59

Large house here with tonnes of 'stuff'. I do get overwhelmed and both DH and I are now doing the challenge where you each get rid of 500 things in a month. Some of it is difficult though, in the last 18 months both my DGMs have died, as only DGC I inherited a lot of very sentimental items which I just can't emotionally get rid of, so need to build them into current house. I want a place for everything and everything in its place but I'm not there yet!

MrsSiba · 31/08/2020 07:07

Yes we have a lot of stuff and it is a bone is contention in our house. It isn't piled up like the hoarders houses you see on TV. We have clear surfaces and floors. But the cupboards and loft area are groaning.

I like the idea of minimalism but I also like my stuff.

I think DH just wants to get a skip for all my stuff and some house stuff. It angers me that it will then be me that has to replace it as he has little disposable income.

However I do get his point and would love to live more simply.

I have tried to restrict buying in lockdown which is going well.

However DH is worried about a second wave and is now wanting to buy in essentials in bulk in case we can't go out so will have to find stuff for that.

Fifthtimelucky · 31/08/2020 07:11

I tend to want to keep things, either for sentimental reasons or because they might come in handy. Our attic and garage are therefore pretty full.

We had a sort out of the attic earlier this year when we improved the insulation and got rid of a lot, but we really ought to do more.

The main categories are: books, children's toys and general household things that I am keeping in case the children want them one day. One daughter has now left home and the other is a student who needs to supply her own kitchen equipment so I have already been able to get rid of most of my old saucepans (fine, but didn't work on induction hob).

Toys and children's books are being kept for future grandchildren - or for the children to take away when they have more permanent homes.
I also kept some baby things (Moses basket, cot, baby bath, fire guard, travel cot/playpen).

Lots of Christmas decorations in the attic too, which obviously come out every year.

MrsSiba · 31/08/2020 07:13

@Meruem I totally agree with you. It's okay to have stuff and not everyone needs a pared down puritanical existence. Minimalism is feeling very much like the trendy thing to do.