“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.” —Peace Pilgrim
Three years ago, we sold, donated, or discarded over 70% of our family’s possessions. We removed clothes, furniture, decorations, cookware, tools, books, toys, plus anything else we could find in our home that was not immediately useful or beautiful. The result has been a completely transformed life and lifestyle. It is a decision we have never regretted.
The intentional choice to live with fewer possessions has brought with it a great number of benefits. It has been the answer to much of the discontent we felt in our lives when we owned more. And the decision holds the potential to do the same for you.
Consider these Seven Common Problems that Can Be Solved by Owning Fewer Possessions:
1. “I don’t have enough money / I’m in debt.” The simplest solution to almost every money problem is “spend less.” In fact, it’s the first step in almost every financial program ever devised. Purposefully deciding to own fewer possessions is an important step in getting your financial house in order – and often times, it’s the only step you really need to take.
2. “There’s just not enough time in the day.” We were immediately surprised at how much extra time we found in our lives after removing our unnecessary possessions. We came to realize, if we aren’t careful, the things we own quickly move from “time-saving” to “time-consuming.” Just think about all the time we waste caring for our possessions: shopping, researching, organizing, picking up, cleaning, repairing, replacing – even earning the money to buy them in the first place. And the reality is, it can be difficult to determine how much time our possessions are actually stealing from us until we actually remove them.
3. “There’s always so much cleaning to do / Even after I clean, my house feels cluttered.” Want to have a cleaner home? Own less stuff. It works every time.
4. “My house is too small / There’s never enough storage around here.” Chances are pretty good that your house isn’t too small – you’ve just put too much stuff inside it. Case in point: according to statistics, the average house size in America has doubled since the 1950’s… yet, many of us still think that we need something bigger. You probably don’t. And removing the unneeded possessions from your home and life will likely provide the opportunity for you to discover that again.
5. “I’m too stressed.” The artist and philanthropist, John Ruskin once said, “”Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.” Every increased possession weighs down our lives with new things to worry about, care for, and maintain. Our purchases have far surpassed bringing convenience and ease into our lives. In fact, they have begun to do just the opposite – they have brought new forms of stress and anxiety instead.
6. “I can’t decide what to wear / It’s so hard to keep up with the changing fashions.” On the surface, fashion appears to be an ever-evolving game where the rules change with each passing season. As a result, it demands astute attention (and an expansive income). But it does not have to. Instead, carry a beautiful wardrobe filled with a few timeless pieces that you truly love to wear. Once you love everything hanging in your closet, deciding what to wear will be one less problem to deal with in your morning.
7. “I wish I had…” Our culture begs us to own more. Advertisements call us to purchase the latest and the greatest. Our natural tendencies cause us to compare our lives with those around us. And we seem to have a built-in desire to impress others by owning as much as possible. As a result, we spend precious energy wishing we had more. But this constant dreaming, hoping, and envying other’s possessions is stealing from our joy and contentment today. It makes us feel like we are missing something – even though there is so much joy right in front of us.
We made the decision years ago to live with fewer possessions. Sometimes, I get asked, “Do you think you’ll always live with a minimal number of possessions?” My response is always the same, “Oh yeah, I’m never going back. There is just too much joy and freedom on this side.”
And I cherish the opportunity to invite others to experience it as well.
I became a minimalist almost 2 years ago and I’ve never regretted it. In fact, I’m looking to purchase a tiny home in the near future. I love how freeing it is to live with less. I’m sure there are still areas where I can condense more and I’ll continue to do so. But as mentioned above, I’m never going back to the materialistic way of life again.
Someone needs to teach myself how & especially my family how to live with less. Maybe someone needs to teach a class on this kind of stuff. 1 know I would definitely attend. ????
thank you.
Judi Grace StoryCorps.
Enjoy your stuff, for you can be dead in an instant.
Have a blessed 2017
https://storycorps.me/interviews/to-donald-trump-for-what-it-is-worth/
i know i possess too much stuff,i’m going to try what was suggested. thanks, trying.
I would love to live this way when I got remarried I came into the marriage with very few possessions I just didn’t want the memories that came with them.!However I believe I married someone somewhere between a picker and a hoarder everything is a cherished posession it drives me crazy. He has a small trailer full of items from an antique store he owned 6 years ago that could just go to GoodWill
I have controlled clutter in 13 gallon Rubbermaid containers, covered by beautiful clothes. i keep an index box of the RM #, location and contents. I use different sizes ziplock bags inside the RM to keep thing seperste. i use RM for everything! I place books on top or pillows. Once I am dead, then i leave it all to my family to do what they want. i am very generous to others also, for all my life. i treat myself to online grocery, and I love my apartment. Social Security may force me to live in a cheaper country in the future. Rent etc, are too high, and we are not crooks, so we live off our income.
Have a blessed 2017
https://storycorps.me/interviews/to-donald-trump-for-what-it-is-worth/
This is complete my at a good time in my life I downsized little over a year ago. Got rid of a lot of stuff then. Still have too much stuff I will get my box out and start reducing. It is such a good feeling when you have so much I really don’t enjoy it. It’s just here
I love the idea but how do I get my family on board?
Getting rid of items I have had for 30 years is difficult but I went through an old box, walked down memory lane, and let it all go. Feels good. Thanks.
I’ve already got a donate box started and it’s in my front hallway. I’ve got a Salvation Army pick-up scheduled for November 3 and I plan on having them take quite a few things away to people who need them and can put them to good use. Really need to scale down. It’s incredibly tiring trying to keep everything sorted and in it’s place.
I’ve really enjoyed this article because I know I have to much stuff. I’m a pack rat you can’t find a empty corner in my house. I have been giving away a lot of clothes but now it’s time for the what nots. I need to dump everything that I have in tubs. Pray for me!
What do you do with all your extra “stuff” donate? sell? give away? Seems like quite a task but I am up for the challenge. I am going to get a donation box right now!!!! Please pray I can do this, I feel the need but I gave trouble following through. Thank you!!!
Paula,
If you need some extra cash, selling on ebay can get rid of your stuff and put some money in your pocket as well. I’ve sold oddball things such as food processors, old leather jackets, some antiques. I usually donate clothes and small “knick-knack” type items because the $ gained by selling isn’t worth it. Books in good shape can be donated to your local library or senior center. Some churches collect items for people in need. Check on craigslist for “wanted”…you may just have something that you don’t need but someone else does. And it really feels good to clean house, even a little at a time!
Thank you so much for all your posts I love them! Still trying fyi convince my husband to get rid of even more! I’m always trying but it never feels like we get rid of enough! :-)
I believe that most people’s problem with owning less is letting go of things that they think should be ‘worth something’. Well, that money is already spent (to own it in the first place) so if you have to, like I did, find a way to sell some of it. I found a local ebay merchant! It might not fetch what I think it should but it isn’t being ‘given away for free’ at least. Nor any longer cluttering up my 2800 square foot farmhouse that I thought ‘didn’t have any storage’. Guess what? I just had too much stuff. Hunh. It’s almost like a miracle.
take video, or photos of your stuff, and donate it, if you want. Pack everything up, and see if you miss anything. Leave only your basic items you use everyday, pack away some books, journals etc. and exchange them in and out periodically. ifnot using it, pack it away.
Have a blessed 2017
https://storycorps.me/interviews/to-donald-trump-for-what-it-is-worth/
i gave away plenty things for free. it was a blessing,for money will be worthless.
Have a blessed 2017
https://storycorps.me/interviews/to-donald-trump-for-what-it-is-worth/
And too, when you try to sell it, the stuff stays in your house! Then you may end up waiting for the day that never comes when no one buys it. Let it go!
I know I have too much stuff but the burden of where to begin and the thought of the effort it will take me to get rid of it, gives me anxiety and I just avoid it all together. It’s a war of one over here.
Try starting very small…perhaps a single junk drawer? You know that drawer where we dump all the little things like take out menus, rubber bands and all sorts of miscellaneous stuff we don’t use. Pick a different drawer another day and just continue like that until one room is done. If you do only one dreamer or cabinet or only spend 10 minstrel. at a time it won’t feel so overwhelming.
great idea, and when on the phone, listening to audios etc,
Have a blessed 2017
https://storycorps.me/interviews/to-donald-trump-for-what-it-is-worth/
I went from nothing to to much. Keep going to the thrift store and goodwill. Thinking. I’ll buy so I can help others. Now I have to much clutter. Now to try and donate it back. Need.prayers. It’s become an obsession I’m afraid
I will surely confess that I do hold on to old stuffs. However there is “Hope”!! I find that if I pray before cleaning/purging, God will help me release unnecessary items in my house hold that i need to disconnect. We tend to have soul ties to our belongings that it becomes attached to us, thus creating a heavy weight and burden. You will feel so much freedom and peace physically and spiritually if you allow Him to help you through the process.
I hope this will help someone out there who’s still having a hard time let go of their possessions.
Hauoli Makahiki Hou 2017 (Happy New years)
Wonderful little bits of wisdom. With our consumerism-obsessed culture today, it is inspiring to have a community of people sharing their own experiences and ideas.
So far, I have been on 6 year mission toward simplification – and hopefully, I will continue on with the journey!
Every time I clean out it seems to come back in one way or another. I find myself feeling like I’m taking away from my children or letting go of their early childhood memories. It is emotional and overwhelming, but I know how it feels to be to be standing on the other side. It is worth it. Pray I’ll get my focus back…
I don’t necessarily want more “THINGS” …it’s doing improvements to our house. Be it painting, expanding our deck, adding colorful plants to the garden, etc. It never stops.
I only dabble at becoming minimulist and am saving hundreds of dollars a month by not shopping for ‘stuff’ and clothes – not to mention the time I’m saving! I’m donating slowly but not bringing new things into the house so will get there. Life is less frantic this way because my lists of wants and projects are less and it feels very good. My point I guess is you can be minimally minimulist and still feel better, save time and money :)