Where does stuff come from?

[JennyBlueWren]

Really need to declutter as we simply have too much junk but we're not even sure why we have some of it. Today in a box in the garage I found an electric blanket and a child's duvet cover that I've never seen before. We can only presume that PILs gave it to us. We also have a pitcher and ewer which I thought was from MIL and he thinks came with the house but the house was empty (and very clean) when we got it.

Unfortunately it matters as he doesn't like to throw away presents from people and worries that they might only have been lent to us and be asked back.

Is it weird that we have stuff of know known origin? What else might we find?

Where does stuff come from?

13.8 billion years ago the universe and all matter was created as a single point of incredibly high density and pressure which rapidly expanded outwards; commonly known as the big bang.

I found loads of stuff I didn't know I had when I was moving house, DP said the same, might be presents of people etc but I just binned it. Said to myself if there's no space for it in the new house it's not coming with us - not yet had an issue with people asking for stuff back/wondering where the present they got us is and it's been 3 years!
I do know now that my dad has 'loaned' us stuff over the years that he has no intention of ever taking back - I'm almost certain he's just using my house for storage, I have three power drills of his (I asked to borrow one) an air bed that was never asked for and a wardrobe! (Admittedly that was actually quite useful and now belongs in our DS's room but at the time he brought it round we had no space for it!

Thanks donquixote for the correct answer!

Caffine addict I do wonder if we are storage! We were sold the dining room furniture with the house yet MIL still brought us their old table and chairs. Thankfully it folds and fits in the kitchen. The spare chairs have been useful.

In our house all the stuff is crap horded by my husband. It drives me up the wall. I found out recently that there's still loads more in his mum's loft that she wants us to take. I've told him he'll have to throw some things away before we can take it. If it doesn't fit in the loft storage with his other shit we're not having it. I don't understand how one man can have so much stuff.
I hope I die first.

I hear you! I am wanting to do a declutter/big clean over the next few weeks before term starts again but my husband is terrible for hanging on to random things 'just in case'. It drives me absolutely mad.

Last time I did some declutterig, I got rid of some stuff without asking him - he hasn't mentioned it and it's now a year later! So, be ruthless OP!

Clutter drives me mad so I like a good clear out

Actually, I am feeling inspired to make a start today after reading this thread!

PIL cannot bear to throw things away so when they downsized they gave a lot of things to us. We all know that the items live in our garage for a month then go to the tip / charity shop but we and they never ever mention it. They never ask after any items.

Maybe that's what's going on with your MIL. You are a staging post.

In your situation with DH I would be inclined to make up some shit to "prove" it is not a present or a loan to bin it. Or I'd just bin it when he wasn't looking.

Morning caffeine. Why has your dad got 3 (now possibly 4) power drills? Is it because someone keeps borrowing his drill?

KonMarie was the answer to my clutter; I would recommend you and your husband read her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up; it's a revelation.

I remember as a kid reading an old science fiction story - probably pre1965.

Anyway, part of the plot line claimed that safety pins were the eggs which hatched into larvae which were wire coat hangers like you get at dry cleaners. The pupae were rusty bikes.I can't remember what the adult form was. The logic was that you see far too many of these items to account for their actual manufacture.

There may be some truth in that. Who knows what items will hatch when your back is turned, but it goes to explain where odd things come from.

Don't get me started on missing items and Mary Norton's Borrowers.

I need to read that sci-fi book! We have two bags of coat hangers in the garage!

I think my own problem is stuff I plan to sell on eBay but haven't got round to. Think I'll be strong and just start taking bags to charity shops tomorrow. Have made a pile in the porch. First my obvious stuff, then unknown origin stuff then stuff I keep meaning to get around to fixing or selling.