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Post by gaseousclay on Apr 15, 2016 17:50:37 GMT -6
I've decided that I have way too much crap. I guess I've always had OCD spending habits going back many years. Being separated and sharing a small apartment with my 3 yo has basically forced me to purge a lot of stuff.
I don't know why but i've always formed an attachment to things but it's these things that are weighing me down like an anchor. I've become a pack rat of sorts and am one step away from being a full blown hoarder. I still have tons more stuff at my exes house and will need to go get it all. The thought of it makes me depressed and a little frustrated for having so many things.
Any of you guys go through this? On the one hand, it's liberating to get rid of things I don't need. On the other hand, I think of how much money I've spent over the years accumulating stuff that doesn't benefit me now. what do you do to keep yourself from digging yourself into a hole?
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Post by exophobe on Apr 15, 2016 18:21:24 GMT -6
I've decided that I have way too much crap. I guess I've always had OCD spending habits going back many years. Being separated and sharing a small apartment with my 3 yo has basically forced me to purge a lot of stuff. I don't know why but i've always formed an attachment to things but it's these things that are weighing me down like an anchor. I've become a pack rat of sorts and am one step away from being a full blown hoarder. I still have tons more stuff at my exes house and will need to go get it all. The thought of it makes me depressed and a little frustrated for having so many things. Any of you guys go through this? On the one hand, it's liberating to get rid of things I don't need. On the other hand, I think of how much money I've spent over the years accumulating stuff that doesn't benefit me now. what do you do to keep yourself from digging yourself into a hole? Marc Maron has been talking about it in recent episodes of WTF. I have too much stuff but I'm not ready to purge it yet. I think it comes after the first full Iron Heart outfit.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 18:29:41 GMT -6
I had filled an entire house with crap. So many clothes, gadgets, closets full of spare computer parts and home theater gear as things got upgraded. Tools, clothing, etc. It was ridiculous. When I knew I would be relocating to chicago I started a structured purging. Shippable items of worth went up on eBay. Non-shippable on Craigslist. Whatever didn't sell and the rest was sold in a huge garage sale. Leftovers were donated. I purged probably 86.23% of my stuff. It felt great and paid for my relocation along with some extra cash.
Take your time if you need to...especially if you have an emotional connection. Having a friend help out that can ask how you plan to use things and sort into keep/purge can be very helpful. Good luck.
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Post by brentkuz on Apr 15, 2016 18:50:31 GMT -6
I've been pretty cheap my entire life. Besides with the past few years and clothing. I really don't collect much stuff. I am tossing a bunch of worn out of really old stuff in my coming move. Like the free furniture I got when I was 22 and moving out on my own.
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Post by devastitis on Apr 15, 2016 19:38:37 GMT -6
I've been pretty cheap my entire life. Says the janitor with Rolex watches. |
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Post by brentkuz on Apr 15, 2016 19:41:03 GMT -6
I've been pretty cheap my entire life. Says the janitor with Rolex watches. Retired janitor! I really don't accumulate much stuff tho. 6 watches is nothing. Compared to what people shove in their homes. I like watches, guns and cars. |
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Post by bentin on Apr 15, 2016 19:42:05 GMT -6
I basically ditched everything material I had after my first marriage. Just wanted to cleanse myself of all those things. Really cathartic experience for me, and I've learned to live with fewer, but more meaningful things. Not quite zen Buddhist just yet, but certainly striving to live a simpler existence. Divorce is great for putting things in perspective and giving you a good look at what's really important moving forward. Not looking to do it again though!
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Post by gaseousclay on Apr 15, 2016 20:08:07 GMT -6
I had filled an entire house with crap. So many clothes, gadgets, closets full of spare computer parts and home theater gear as things got upgraded. Tools, clothing, etc. It was ridiculous. When I knew I would be relocating to chicago I started a structured purging. Shippable items of worth went up on eBay. Non-shippable on Craigslist. Whatever didn't sell and the rest was sold in a huge garage sale. Leftovers were donated. I purged probably 86.23% of my stuff. It felt great and paid for my relocation along with some extra cash. Take your time if you need to...especially if you have an emotional connection. Having a friend help out that can ask how you plan to use things and sort into keep/purge can be very helpful. Good luck. I've got plenty of things that have worth, so i'll definitely put them up on Fleabay when time permits. However, i've got about 3000 or so records/cd's that I want to get rid of that I dont know what to do with. I've thought of calling some of the record stores in town but i'm almost positive they'd lowball me on everything. Today I went through some stuff and got a box full of clothing i'm gonna donate. There's more at the house I have to go through and most of that will also be donated |
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Post by gaseousclay on Apr 15, 2016 20:09:52 GMT -6
Says the janitor with Rolex watches. Retired janitor! I really don't accumulate much stuff tho. 6 watches is nothing. Compared to what people shove in their homes. I like watches, guns and cars. Glad I got rid of my rifles when I did. I still have a new Leupold VX3 scope I need to put up on ebay |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 20:12:57 GMT -6
^x2 I purposely led a very simple life for several years after a divorce. I just didn't want it around. Then remarrying and buying a house, slowly led to a lot of clutter. When we moved we purged a ton of stuff. I'm feeling the need again to lessen the clutter. So I've started working on one part at a time. Keep what I need. Yard sale the rest, then goodwill what's left over. Clothes I purge twice a year when switching for the seasons. Anything unworn in a year or two goes. I posted this link in the no spend thread. It is worth reading if you missed it www.artofmanliness.com/2014/07/31/the-problem-with-minimalism/ |
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Post by gaseousclay on Apr 15, 2016 20:18:49 GMT -6
I basically ditched everything material I had after my first marriage. Just wanted to cleanse myself of all those things. Really cathartic experience for me, and I've learned to live with fewer, but more meaningful things. Not quite zen Buddhist just yet, but certainly striving to live a simpler existence. Divorce is great for putting things in perspective and giving you a good look at what's really important moving forward. Not looking to do it again though! That's my plan for the most part. I've been forced to live a simpler life and now that it's starting to happen I can accept not having more clutter. the funny thing is that my ex was never the materialistic type but she often questioned why I had so much. When my son stays at my place he has his toys everywhere, so dealing with his mess along with my own has also given me a wake up call of sorts. I can't take any of my stuff with me to the grave so I might as well start thinning the herd now. even though my son is only 3 he'll still come up to me and say, "when I get older can I have your jeans, and boots, and belt, and jacket?" |
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Post by DigDug on Apr 15, 2016 20:20:31 GMT -6
I'd start small, like a single closet, bureau, chest.
Completely empty and clean it. Then put back only what you have designed that space for. Limit what goes back in (like only hanging shirts, chino, trousers).
You'll end up with a bunch of extra stuff from that one space. Go through it and get rid of anything you haven't worn/touched in a year.
I find just donating it all is the easiest. I simply don't have time to sell stuff (though I have here). If you want to sell some nice stuff, start a pile someplace away from your living space (a plactic tote in the garage/basement/etc). You'll get back to it. For now it's about getting your space/life back.
Once you've done that one space tackle another space/area. Concentrate on one area, one room.
Once you have a room done, keep it that way. I go through my clothing every spring and fall, rearranging it for the coming season, again purging what you haven't worn in a year. (only takes an hour if that once it's organized).
Whan I see and remove what I haven't worn in a year, I'm more careful on what I buy.
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Post by gaseousclay on Apr 15, 2016 20:29:41 GMT -6
I'd start small, like a single closet, bureau, chest. Completely empty and clean it. Then put back only what you have designed that space for. Limit what goes back in (like only hanging shirts, chino, trousers). You'll end up with a bunch of extra stuff from that one space. Go through it and get rid of anything you haven't worn/touched in a year. I find just donating it all is the easiest. I simply don't have time to sell stuff (though I have here). If you want to sell some nice stuff, start a pile someplace away from your living space (a plactic tote in the garage/basement/etc). You'll get back to it. For now it's about getting your space/life back. Once you've done that one space tackle another space/area. Concentrate on one area, one room. Once you have a room done, keep it that way. I go through my clothing every spring and fall, rearranging it for the coming season, again purging what you haven't worn in a year. (only takes an hour if that once it's organized). Whan I see and remove what I haven't worn in a year, I'm more careful on what I buy. I plan on donating a lot of clothing. I had already donated a ton of stuff over the last 2 yrs so i'm making a dent. I also feel that donating is much easier. I do have a pile of unworn denim I need to go through but may hold onto them because it's one of those articles of clothing I will eventually wear. |
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Post by DigDug on Apr 15, 2016 20:40:29 GMT -6
I'd start small, like a single closet, bureau, chest. Completely empty and clean it. Then put back only what you have designed that space for. Limit what goes back in (like only hanging shirts, chino, trousers). You'll end up with a bunch of extra stuff from that one space. Go through it and get rid of anything you haven't worn/touched in a year. I find just donating it all is the easiest. I simply don't have time to sell stuff (though I have here). If you want to sell some nice stuff, start a pile someplace away from your living space (a plactic tote in the garage/basement/etc). You'll get back to it. For now it's about getting your space/life back. Once you've done that one space tackle another space/area. Concentrate on one area, one room. Once you have a room done, keep it that way. I go through my clothing every spring and fall, rearranging it for the coming season, again purging what you haven't worn in a year. (only takes an hour if that once it's organized). Whan I see and remove what I haven't worn in a year, I'm more careful on what I buy. I plan on donating a lot of clothing. I had already donated a ton of stuff over the last 2 yrs so i'm making a dent. I also feel that donating is much easier. I do have a pile of unworn denim I need to go through but may hold onto them because it's one of those articles of clothing I will eventually wear. Donating is the way I go. I think you should decide why you'd like to simplify. Is it that you want to recoup the money spent, just want to declutter, or want to clarify your space/life. For example you CD's, what would you take for them (what is the real $ value)? It may be worth more just to consign them and walk away. |
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Post by bentin on Apr 15, 2016 20:48:03 GMT -6
Had thousands of CD's too. We have a local shop that buys used books, they gave an average of about $3/cd for all of them. Nice little windfall.
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Post by exophobe on Apr 15, 2016 20:52:56 GMT -6
I had filled an entire house with crap. So many clothes, gadgets, closets full of spare computer parts and home theater gear as things got upgraded. Tools, clothing, etc. It was ridiculous. When I knew I would be relocating to chicago I started a structured purging. Shippable items of worth went up on eBay. Non-shippable on Craigslist. Whatever didn't sell and the rest was sold in a huge garage sale. Leftovers were donated. I purged probably 86.23% of my stuff. It felt great and paid for my relocation along with some extra cash. Take your time if you need to...especially if you have an emotional connection. Having a friend help out that can ask how you plan to use things and sort into keep/purge can be very helpful. Good luck. I've got plenty of things that have worth, so i'll definitely put them up on Fleabay when time permits. However, i've got about 3000 or so records/cd's that I want to get rid of that I dont know what to do with. I've thought of calling some of the record stores in town but i'm almost positive they'd lowball me on everything. Today I went through some stuff and got a box full of clothing i'm gonna donate. There's more at the house I have to go through and most of that will also be donated You will be low-balled, but keep in mind your goal, and it won't matter in the end. Just make sure you have everything digitally that you'll want, and having that space back will benefit you more than the $1-200 you may have made instead. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 21:01:46 GMT -6
I had filled an entire house with crap. So many clothes, gadgets, closets full of spare computer parts and home theater gear as things got upgraded. Tools, clothing, etc. It was ridiculous. When I knew I would be relocating to chicago I started a structured purging. Shippable items of worth went up on eBay. Non-shippable on Craigslist. Whatever didn't sell and the rest was sold in a huge garage sale. Leftovers were donated. I purged probably 86.23% of my stuff. It felt great and paid for my relocation along with some extra cash. Take your time if you need to...especially if you have an emotional connection. Having a friend help out that can ask how you plan to use things and sort into keep/purge can be very helpful. Good luck. I've got plenty of things that have worth, so i'll definitely put them up on Fleabay when time permits. However, i've got about 3000 or so records/cd's that I want to get rid of that I dont know what to do with. I've thought of calling some of the record stores in town but i'm almost positive they'd lowball me on everything. Today I went through some stuff and got a box full of clothing i'm gonna donate. There's more at the house I have to go through and most of that will also be donated You'll have to figure out your price vs time/hassle sweet spot. I'd probably pull out any rare items to sell on eBay and the put the lot up for a possible collector on Craigslist. I ended up selling a ton of DVDs and CDs at a half price books and was ultimately happy with the price I got. |
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Post by Subsound on Apr 15, 2016 21:08:46 GMT -6
I have a similar problem: divorced, two daughters who live here every second weekend and a 3 bedroom apartment is too small as I have too many clothes, CDs & books. Currently looking for a 4 bedroom apartment or house but the cost is crazy & I wonder where it will stop. This forum doesn't help as your enthusiastic recommendations are infectious!
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Post by matt on Apr 15, 2016 21:39:28 GMT -6
Moving a couple of times (PA to NC, and NC to AZ) over the past 6 years really helped me "cleanse the clutter" in my life. I was by no means a pack rat or hoarder, but moving really helped me refocus more on quality over quantity. I have a few things I'm passionate about that I collect, and that is really the only thing that may stand out in that regard. With my move to NC and again to AZ, I've had things in storage over that time where I've been able to focus on what I need and revisit the storage unit and purge things periodically. I also think that with my time in NC, I adopted more of a streamlined (less is more) philosophy with my living set up and essentially having fewer places to store things I don't need to keep.
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