All the money you spend on STUFF

[ilovedolphins]

I have been going through my things and getting rid of stuff I no longer want or use.  If I had the money I had spent on that stuff I would be happy.  It makes me rethink everything I buy now.

Then there is the closet full of stuff that I thought I would sell on eBay.  I haven't gotten that done in years and then I think maybe when I retire.  I don't want that stuff sitting around until I retire and when I do retire I want to spend my time cooking, gardening, exercising and with my grandchild.

It really makes me realize what is important and unfortunately a lot of stuff is not.

[Deleted]

When I moved 4 years ago I tossed probably 90% of my stuff and have made sure to keep it in check since.

[Artemis Windsong]

We recently updated our interior paint. A lot was moved into closets. Do I want it all back where it was? NO. Would it sell on ebay, NO.

A lot of things we cannot find.

On the other hand. I have not bought anything but consumables or used books in months.

[jerseygirl]

Trying to stay out of stores, I don’t need anything but food and realize how fortunate we are
But I do like to shop for new clothes so I’m ‘shopping in my closet’. I seem to wear mostly the same clothes so I make a conscious decision to wear something different.
Downloading books from library or Kindle

[HoneyBBQ]

I've been buying more covid shit than typical. Not spending any money on travel, going out, etc...the money is piling up so I feel justified with purchasing things that will help me survive/last this covid time. 

But historically yeah, I've been trying to cut back on impulse purchases and things.

[buystoys]

We did a major purge before we moved 1/2 across the country.  Then did another after we had moved and unpacked most of it.  Then did another when we remodeled one bedroom.  Then did the kitchen just recently when we remodeled the kitchen.  I think we have finally gotten rid of most of the things we do not use.  There are two boxes of T-shirts DH won't let me throw away yet, but I know where they are and have the space to store them.

I'm not into shopping, so once it's gone we're pretty well done.  Unless DH gets antsy and starts shopping online.  We try to keep him with small items we'll use, such as light bulbs.  He needs stuff he can look up and compare on multiple sites.  He's helping our friend review new SUVs for her to potentially buy one.

[TheOtherMe]

I dumped a lot of stuff when I moved here 11 years ago.

Sadly I have bought too much stuff since I moved here.

Slowly it's going.  I tried the eBay thing but realized by the time I considered the time it took to take pictures and describe items, it was not worth it unless it's at least going to sell for $100.  I donate anything else.

[Clifford]

Sept 25, 2020 13:18:37 GMT -5 @aj said:

When I moved 4 years ago I tossed probably 90% of my stuff and have made sure to keep it in check since.

Same.  Although the athlete of the family (DD) needed to keep working out when Covid ended practices and closed the gyms. So now we have way too much workout equipment.

[irishpad]

With my job, i have to periodically move so I'm managed to keep my "stuff" down to one carload.   It's easy to say "thanks for the gift but I have to limit what I have due to moving"  Easy way to re-gift some of the "stuff"

[irishpad]

Sept 25, 2020 14:56:52 GMT -5 irishpad said:

With my job, i have to periodically move so I've managed to keep my "stuff" down to one carload.   It's easy to say "thanks for the gift but I have to limit what I have due to moving"  Easy way to re-gift some of the "stuff"

[chiver78]

I bought so much stuff for entertaining and hosting guests in my laat two places, and I had hoped to offload a lot of it before selling my last house in the spring. and then COVID. 🙄 the items I have to unload are sequestered in a finished basement room until they go. as I unpack, I'm adding to that room. whatever I can't sell is getting donated to a local charity that outfits returning veterans and DV survivors. and I'm not buying more.

[Deleted]

Every.single.time I buy something now that's not consumable I think about where it will be stored and what would I do with it when/if I move again.

It's sort of a problem, because I need certain things to take care of the house/yard. Just the new lawnmower, hedge trimmers, pole chain saw, etc... would fill up some serious trailer space if I moved and none are terribly cheap to replace.

I have a mostly empty shed and basement. I have places to put things, but I don't want to just fill up the space with stuff I will have to deal with again sometime down the line.

Thanks to the current climate, I've been stocking up on mostly consumable stuff.

I dread the day something happens to my mom and I have to deal with her stuff... OMG...

[ilovedolphins]

I guess my mom passing away in January made me think that I needed to start doing something with my stuff.  I haven't even started on my mom's stuff....its just too overwhelming.

[Deleted]

I got rid of a lot after DH died.  Although it was primarily his stuff, it forced me to look at my stuff as well.  I periodically make passes through my stuff and set aside things to give away.  But Covid hasn't made that part easy.  

I no longer go to garage sales.  That was one of my favorite activities.  You could take $20 and come back with a lot of awesome stuff.  I did some shopping at Pfaltzgraff yesterday and actually restrained myself to one set of s&p shakers in my Christmas pattern.  I did buy a few other things like a $3 fruit bowl to be Penny's new water dish.  Yes, I have a ton of dishes, but I don't think my guests really like looking at her dishes and thinking, "Oh, we share a bowl."  Lol.

It does bother me, too, how much I paid for the stuff I toss.  I sold a few hundred dollars worth of Tupperware serving pieces for $50 a few weeks ago.  I think that's why I am trying to sell it even at a loss.  My kids will just give it to the thrift store.  

And I am conscientiously trying to eat my way through some of the freezer so I don't have to toss that stuff either.

[nidena]

I've gotten rid of a ton of stuff the past five years and especially when I moved from East Coast to Midwest to Eastern Midwest.  I got rid of more clothes and books in my first place here in Indy and got rid of even more books once I moved into my house but I balanced that with buying a few things that I *needed* here in the house and some new clothes for work.  They tend to frown on tshirts and yoga pants at the office.  Weird.  lol.

But, yeah, I plan to be mindful with my money on all "stuff" purchases.  Food and experiences don't fall under "stuff" for me.

[Deleted]

Like others, I've shed a good deal of Stuff through moves, downsizing and loss of DH. I haven't been much of a shopper in a very long time. First, so much is made in China and I try to avoid that (can't with electronics but with many other things I just don't buy.) That keeps me out of a lot of stores (I'm looking at you, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby and DSW Shoes) and I don't buy much on-line, either, since they just tell you things are "imported".

Second- I really don't like clutter. Getting rid of things is freeing. I do not need a specialized kitchen gadget for every purpose (Magic Bullet, InstaPot, food processor, shrimp deveiner...). I rarely buy clothes- I have plenty and since I'm not into fast fashion, what I buy doesn't have details that scream the year of origin (spaghetti straps, holes over the shoulders, whatever "must-haves" they push). I've spent $180 on clothing YTD and $140 of that was a sweater made in Ireland.

I read posts from people here who are buying from certain retailers every week and I shudder.

But I don't say anything.

[Deleted]

We learned a lot about purging when we had to clean out DH's parents home back in the day.  And we learned it all over again when we remodeled in 2015.  At 1,300 square feet, we simply don't have the space for stuff so we adhere to a strict "one thing in = one thing out" rule.  Not being comfortable with in-person shopping has helped.   We are a little heavy on food and household supplies at the moment, but that's manageable at this point.  

I'm with you on the kitchen stuff-lots of stuff looks good but with a tiny kitchen, every item has to pay for the space it occupies.  

I will probably choose to get a couple of fresh outfits as we move forward into in-person meetings and events over the next few months.  Knowing I will be on camera at various functions means I need something different, but I've always tended to stay with basic bottoms that can be freshened up with a new top and accessories.

[Tiny]

I had the "Why do I have all this stuff?" epiphany more than 10 years ago.  It took me several years to go thru everything.   I spent about a year "using up, giving away, throwing away" products - like cleaning stuff, beauty stuff, stuff I thought I'd like to bake or eat or use,  you know the stuff in your cupboards (and extra storage area) and bathroom closet/drawers/under sinks and in my bedroom.  I spent a year on a "clothes diet" too.  where I went thru what I have (I have a small bedroom closet so I store off season clothing).   I also went thru closets and the basement and attic stuff... 

I had the hardest time getting rid of things that I had had for years (decades) that didn't quite do the job - but that I felt replacing was a waste - as I had something that "almost" did the job.  Think kitchen pots and pans and utensils.    I just sucked it up and did spend money trying to find the "right for me" cooking thing  - when I was successful the old stuff got donated or trashed.  The 'duds' I bought got donated/given away quickly.  

I can't tell you how many trends I managed to buck - the Vera Bradley purses, the Vita mix, the air fryers, the InstaPot, and who knows what else. 

I have purchased a lot less "stuff" over the last 10 years, I'm happy with the stuff I have and I like to think I am happier over all because of it (no longer feeling like I can't keep up with the trends - I dont' really care about the trends and/or I can evaluate if the trend is really something that I will benefit from. )      

[jerseygirl]

I have ‘stuff’ in my house that I gave NO IDEA how it got here

[Tennesseer]

Changed weekly trash pickup company last week. Asked for a second trash bin for the next three months.

Am also keeping my old provider and their one trash bin for the next 4 week.

I will have three trash bins to fill up each week with junk and other stuff not used in years. One cabinet, a closet, a room, a corner of garage each week to throw out the disposable stuff. Will give books to city library.

Not moving. Just less stuff cluttering up areas of house and garage.

[ilovedolphins]

I cleaned in my bedroom yesterday.  Had stuff laying on the floor cuz there wasn't anyplace to put it.  Cleaned off a good size area and when I went to bed last night and looked at it it made me feel a whole lot better and less stressed.  Today I am going to work on the kitchen a little bit.

[Deleted]

Dolphins, how are you doing (other than losing your mother)? It's good to see you back again.

One of the traps I've seen in having too much stuff is that you lose track of it so you go out and buy another of something you already had. A waste of money and more space taken up. DH had multiple screwdrivers in each size. I gave away all the duplicates, keeping the good ones for myself. I think I own 3 tape measures and 4 corkscrews. Have to start listing more Free Stuff on Craigslist.

[ilovedolphins]

I am doing ok.  I am still working full time and am my dad's caregiver.  He doesn't need as much as help now as my mom did so I am getting to spend a little more time at home.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Sept 26, 2020 10:00:47 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Dolphins, how are you doing (other than losing your mother)? It's good to see you back again.

One of the traps I've seen in having too much stuff is that you lose track of it so you go out and buy another of something you already had. A waste of money and more space taken up. DH had multiple screwdrivers in each size. I gave away all the duplicates, keeping the good ones for myself. I think I own 3 tape measures and 4 corkscrews. Have to start listing more Free Stuff on Craigslist.

Put a corkscrew in your glove compartment!  When TD and I combined households, we had 13 corkscrews between us and most had been purchased when we were staying at a hotel during a trip and had forgotten a corkscrew.  We kept 2 in the house, put one in each car and got rid of the rest.

[Deleted]

Sept 26, 2020 11:57:48 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Put a corkscrew in your glove compartment!  When TD and I combined households, we had 13 corkscrews between us and most had been purchased when we were staying at a hotel during a trip and had forgotten a corkscrew.  We kept 2 in the house, put one in each car and got rid of the rest.

Thanks- good idea! I did have one in a suitcase for the same reason and then the "security" people in Madrid airport confiscated it because it was in a carry-on. You know- because we might try and stab somebody with it.

Bicycling through neighborhoods this morning reminded me of another thought on this- lots of garage sales today. I look at all the stuff for sale and some are just items that you get rid of because "it's time"- kids' clothing and toys, things belonging to a deceased loved one that you hope someone else can use..but tons of decorative items, especially glassware. You wonder what they originally spent on all those things and whether they ever "sparked joy".

[giramomma]

I just posted about not buying stuff in the "what are you doing right now" thread on the other board.

We, however are not really feeling too much of a break. Other bills have gone up from everyone being at home.

[flamingo]

We downsized 10 years ago when we made our first big cross-country move. From a 3 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom apartment. We've continue to keep our possessions to what will fit in a small place. Turns out, after a decade of living in small spaces, we don't need as much as we thought we did.

I will say, due to COVID, we've bought some stuff I may otherwise not have. An at home spin bike, a new office chair, new end tables for our living room and new nightstand for the bedroom. If I have to WFH and look at my stuff 24 hours a day, I needed a few new pieces. But also, I donated a bunch of stuff once our donation places opened back up. I've managed to purge more than I've added, so that makes me feel good.

[MN-Investor]

You know, at this point in my life, it's not the fact that money was spent on items which are now collecting dust. It's the fact that 1) all of these unwanted items take up space and 2) I have to go through every single item and figure out if I need to keep it, give it to a relative who can use it (i.e., my husband's wonderful tools to his nephews), toss it, recycle it, or donate it. Even after more than two years, I can get overwhelmed going through my sweetie's things. Well, at least with the pandemic going on, I don't have folks coming into my cluttered house. But, on the other hand, I don't have my husband's nephew or my Seattle sister able to come and help me sort through things like they have in the past. Oh well.

[formerroomate99]

There was an article a few years ago on the MSN website “The hidden cost of too much stuff.”

It isn’t the stuff that’s that will kill you financially, it’s the cost of housing to store the stuff, along with all the expensive shortcuts you take because you wasted so much time tending your stuff. For example, due to my husband’s retail therapy, vacuuming one floor of our house is an all day affair, as in eight hours of backbreaking labor to get it done. This means that doing home repairs ourselves is an insert fantasy and the only way to get anything done Is to pay contractors.

[dippyegg]

I have realized that I like a very simple life and don't really want or need a lot of stuff though I have certainly acquired far more than is necessary.  I am working on changing that.