windhoek
The Phoolosopher
My gran wasn't an ebay sort of person. A thing was used till it could be used no more, or given away. But as you say, original packaging is great for selling and that's why I've empty boxes galore!
Stuff - why on earth do we have so much stuff?
- Thread starter windhoek
- Start date
My gran wasn't an ebay sort of person. A thing was used till it could be used no more, or given away. But as you say, original packaging is great for selling and that's why I've empty boxes galore!
Joe Hutch
Mate of the bloke
I grew up in a non-clutter house (six people crammed into what was essentially a two-bedroom plus box room house, with only one habitable living room). Anything not put away was thrown away by my mother. A reaction to that is my excuse for accumulating shedloads of gubbins. Well, that, and the fact that Mrs H will never throw anything away. If there's no obvious use for it, it gets put in the loft and forgotten about.
If/when we downsize, it'll be a massive task to de-clutter, so we'll probably never move.
If/when we downsize, it'll be a massive task to de-clutter, so we'll probably never move.
Stemcor
I should be listening to music
In my view it’s very simple.
If you don’t use it you don’t need it.
The exceptions are my records. Everything else I own is used regularly. All of my stuff with the exception of the hifi, records and 3 of my guitars are in 2 wardrobes and a bedside cabinet. There are 3 guitars in a wardrobe. I also have a “clear-out” every year.
Mrs S sees things differently. Not much gets thrown away as it might be needed one day. I’ve been waiting for that day for years......
If you don’t use it you don’t need it.
The exceptions are my records. Everything else I own is used regularly. All of my stuff with the exception of the hifi, records and 3 of my guitars are in 2 wardrobes and a bedside cabinet. There are 3 guitars in a wardrobe. I also have a “clear-out” every year.
Mrs S sees things differently. Not much gets thrown away as it might be needed one day. I’ve been waiting for that day for years......
But it's not about need. I spend weeks on end living in hotels for work. That teaches you what you need. When I'm not working I spend a lot of time in the mountains or cycling. Again, one bag. However there are other things that I like doing. 25 years ago I bought a Lister D stationary engine. 1944, a little bit of history. Came from a farm in Spalding. Got it running and one day I'll build a trolley for that. I didn't have a workshop, it sat in my dad's garage for 20 years. It then sat in mine for 5. I've finally built a trolley and I'm trying again to get it to run. Now in any rational world I should have sold it or given it away, it has no use in the modern world but it's an interesting thing.
The world would be a dull place if we only kept things that we need.
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awkwardbydesign
Officially Awesome
2 cordless (one with a slipping clutch that is still useful for light work).
1 pillar drill.
2 x 240V (1 of them for really rough/dirty work, or lending out).
I heavy percussion drill (our bricks have granite chips in them!).
1 x 12V mini drill (for PCB work).
1 hand drill.
1 brace (and bits).
But I do have 4 routers.
paulfromcamden
Baffled
There's a thought
I've met lots people who spend all their time and energy on jobs they hate just so they can buy expensive crap they don't need.
Would the world stop turning if they stopped...?
JensenHealey
pfm Member
Careful! They breed you know. Farm worker friend of mine, lives in tied cottage, acquired a nice Lister. Got it running with his Dad to help. Within 2 years suddenly there are 4 of them!
So the mistake I made was to move to a bungalow with a big garden . I gave me space to put up a shed .
3 years later I have 4 sheds the smallest of which is 12x8 ft , a pottery studio ( 4m x 5m ), a double garage (5m x 6m ) Funny thing is they are all full to the rafters with stuff which will come in useful if only I live long enough. Really dumb thing is I ended up building the crossovers and wiring up my Ergo nines on the dining room . Still it was nice and warm to do so.
Certain that when I am no longer inhabit the planet most of the contents will end up as landfill.
It all comes down to how you live your life. I have multiple hobbies and interests so have an eclectic collection of stuff for each . I occasionally really envy the single minded individuals who like only one hobby.
3 years later I have 4 sheds the smallest of which is 12x8 ft , a pottery studio ( 4m x 5m ), a double garage (5m x 6m ) Funny thing is they are all full to the rafters with stuff which will come in useful if only I live long enough. Really dumb thing is I ended up building the crossovers and wiring up my Ergo nines on the dining room . Still it was nice and warm to do so.
Certain that when I am no longer inhabit the planet most of the contents will end up as landfill.
It all comes down to how you live your life. I have multiple hobbies and interests so have an eclectic collection of stuff for each . I occasionally really envy the single minded individuals who like only one hobby.
Ponty
pfm Member
Agree, however, it’s a bloody expensive way of having a clear out! I’ve got to get rid of lots of stuff this year, a barn and a garage full of rubbish really. Think I’ll weigh in any metal and a big bonfire for everything else.
nothing wrong with that. I do the same with paperbacks and CD s.
kensalriser
pfm Member
I can't emphasise this enough, as I'm currently going through my parents' house. My mother even joked that my father 'never throws anything away'. And indeed, peak hoardings discovered include: the backing board and some attachments from an old consumer unit; control panel from a Hotpoint washing machine; boxes of electrical guff including countless decommissioned cables, wires, switches and plugs; a dozen suitcases; everything legitimately collected from air travel and hotel rooms including scores of never used cleansing wipes (dried out), pens, pads, paper, cosmetic bags, matches. And on and on it goes, fifty years of shite.
If you love your kids or those who are going to land this rotten task when you're gone, have some compassion and clear your own detritus.
Thorn
pfm Member
You forgot to mention the milk bottles and newspapers.
windhoek
The Phoolosopher
Yep, my gran would have had a milk bottle in the house at all times and a copy of the Sunday Post, which she'd keep for me so I could get my weekly laughs with The Broons or Our Wullie. Ah, they were the days
Joe Hutch
Mate of the bloke
Our two will want all the books, and our elder daughter has already got first dibs on the reference books.
I've finally managed to persuade Mrs H to biff some age-old computer stuff that related to Macs we no longer own, and now the charity shops are open again we can resume the task of offloading clothes that no longer fit, DVDs we no longer watch, and so forth.
At some point we will venture into the loft and examine what we put in there 30-odd years ago 'in case we ever needed it'. The Christmas decs are nearest the loft door (and stayed there last year). Other than that, it's a mixture of old toys, children's books, and a load of gubbins we inherited from Mrs H's mother when she moved house. By way of contrast, all we have from my parents' house is one drinking glass with a picture of a pixie on it, and a small bell in the shape of a Welsh lady.
awkwardbydesign
Officially Awesome
Most of the stuff I keep for 40 years eventually gets used. And if I get rid of anything, I can guarantee I will need it within days!
I'm just about to cut up an old oak table top (30 years old?) to use as the edge trim for the Tannoy cabs I'm making.
I'm just about to cut up an old oak table top (30 years old?) to use as the edge trim for the Tannoy cabs I'm making.
calorgas
Generic middle-aged man
William Morris said "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful".
Sounds admirable, but he pre-dated internet shopping by a century so easy for him to say
We have a small house so the quantity of our possessions is limited by available space, which is not very much. I still feel surrounded by stuff though.
Giving stuff away for nothing can make you feel like a decent human being, especially if you can identify those who need it or will really appreciate it. A nice way to de-clutter.
Sounds admirable, but he pre-dated internet shopping by a century so easy for him to say
We have a small house so the quantity of our possessions is limited by available space, which is not very much. I still feel surrounded by stuff though.
Giving stuff away for nothing can make you feel like a decent human being, especially if you can identify those who need it or will really appreciate it. A nice way to de-clutter.
Bob McC
Living the life of Riley
Just packed the Mrs bags...William Morris said "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful".
Sounds admirable, but he pre-dated internet shopping by a century so easy for him to say
We have a small house so the quantity of our possessions is limited by available space, which is not very much. I still feel surrounded by stuff though.
Giving stuff away for nothing can make you feel like a decent human being, especially if you can identify those who need it or will really appreciate it. A nice way to de-clutter.