topic Re: Too much stuff! in Community Chat

Too much stuff!

Witchy Woman — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 15:50:00 GMT

Despite my constant and somewhat ruthless efforts to rid myself of things, there is always more to be done.

Recently noted in my china cabinets are holiday dishes, both Lenox and Walmart brands. They've got to go.

There was a time I entertained large groups and that is over. My two nieces have no interest in this stuff. I cannot be bothered to "sell" it. No one wants these things.

The dishes have been unused for over 5 years. I have lots of very large tablecloths that likely never will be used again. Placemats, too. Serving pieces for large groups. I cook for just two!

I'm just reminding myself to redouble my efforts to streamline. Honestly, what we accumulate is just overwhelming (to me). It makes my unhappy and uneasy to have things just stored away knowing I'll not use them again.

Rather than bringing me any comfort, I find it is slightly depressing to see what was and is no more.

Talked to my sis and she is the same. Told me she'd recently bought a smokeless grill from QVC and realized she was never going to use it. She has sets of dishes unboxed, unused. Lots of Temptations sets. She lives alone!

I told her to STOP watching QVC so she would stop buying. It worked for me.

Off to assemble some boxes for packing!

Re: Too much stuff!

fthunt — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 15:57:18 GMT

I don't have any unboxed or unused things - but gave away 2 KitchenAid food processors last week to younger gals at my dentist office. (plus Vitamix which I'll never use again - the young lady so so thrilled to receive and for $50) Others went free.

Smoothies upset my stomach & don't make soup ever.

Re: Too much stuff!

IMW — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 15:57:20 GMT

Just think of what great satisfaction you’ll feel as you rid yourself of these things.

Donate, donate, donate. When necessary I just dump things in 🗑.

It is definitely a process. One day at a time.

Re: Too much stuff!

JudyL — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 15:58:56 GMT

I completely understand! I have a huge set of Old Country Roses dishes and serviing pieces that need to go but I love the pattern so much. I only use them if my DD and her husband come for the holidays, otherwise they sit. When I was married and all the kids - his and mine - and family came for the holidays it made sense to have that many dishes. But that is no more. Also was looking for something in my kitchen cabinets the other day and realized "what is all this stuff?" I should go through that too.

Like you, I don't have the patience or desire to sell it so will just donate it. When I think of all the money I spent......Ugh......

You've inspired me to get going and pare down!

Re: Too much stuff!

Bri369 — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:06:39 GMT

After going through all of my mother's excessive collections of things - she wasn't a hoarder, but overbought and loved having options and just too many things in general - that cured me of overbuying and buying things unneessarily.

If I need something, I buy it. If I find I'm not using it or don't love it anymore, I get rid of it. I refuse to be burdened by excessive items. And it is a burden.

My neighbor down the street died suddenly. Her daughter had an estate sale to get rid of the rest of the things nobody in the family wanted. It was kind of sad to know that all of those expensive items were being sold for hardly anything. Nobody wants half of those things and nobody wants to store them either.

Re: Too much stuff!

golding76 — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:09:43 GMT

Witchy Woman,

I am presently bogged down with the same sort of once "inheritable" items, and they have nowhere to go. The weight of this excess is, quite frankly, depressing. It is a reminder, as you so accurately noted, of "what is no more." That in addition to a poke at excessive consumerism on my part.

My mother gave me her large assortment of gorgeous linen tablecloths. When will I ever again use them or my Royal Doulton china (whose pattern, chosen for my first marriage in my early 20s, no longer satisfies me)? Most likely never. (I received the tablecloths after she passed, which was 10 months after my husband passed. I have not entertained since then, and so those tablecloths have just sat quietly, folded up pristinely in my buffet.)

I also have over 30 pieces of Christmas tableware.

This gluttony on my part has spilled over into my clothes closet. Even if I were blessed to live another decade, I could not wear out all the clothing I own. And don't even mention my jewelry! My spirit has been weighted down with what I've bought in excess.

Re: Too much stuff!

catter70 — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:11:11 GMT

I always tell my sister that I hope I kick the bucket first because I don't want to have to go thru all her stuff. She hits the garage sales, picks up stuff sitting at the curb, buys new, etc. I tell her to shop in my basement because I have stuff sitting there for 20 years. I was motivated a couple of years ago to start heaving, etc. but I have COPD and going up and down steps is difficult. Anyhow, much luck in getting rid of "stuff". We're all guilty of hanging on to things and buying things we don't need but just really wanted. I'm trying to stick to the "do I need it, or do I just want it" mentality. Doesn't always work.

Re: Too much stuff!

queendiva — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:13:44 GMT

You can't focus on the $ spent. That was then, this is now.

I encourage everyone to join us on the very long running thread What Have You Purged today? Lots of support for those of us who want to live smaller and lighter.

Even 15 minutes a day, several days a week is a good way to start.

Last year I downsized for the second time, this time the kids are grown and out of the house. I still entertain smaller groups- much less frequently and a lot less formally.

It was hard work and had to be done in a matter of months, but the resulting change in lifestyle was well worth the effort.

Also, for encouragement I suggest reading the book, It's All Too Much! by Peter Walsh.

Re: Too much stuff!

Witchy Woman — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:20:40 GMT

@golding76

We are all in the same boat. We bought too much. Now, it is time to unburden our hearts. You cannot lament what was spent....it's done. Just resolve to change.

As I told my sis this morning, I'm happiest if I have a plan.

Box and donate your unused items. No matter their sentimental value, if you are not using them, the person cleaning out your home when you are gone is going to dump them.

At least while you are here, you have control over where they go.

A friend told me about a group called Green Drop that will take items and donates them to other groups, including The Purple Heart. They have a Website and you can read about them.

They have a concierge service that will help with household cleanouts. Anyway, my point is, there are MANY groups that will take things. You can drop off or they will pick up.

I tried to get Amvets out to where I live, and they would not pick up -- guess they think I'm too far out.

But, there are other's who will. I frequent the drive through drop off at a local Salvation Army. Also, I have a nice Thrift Store in my immediate area.

As I said on another thread, once it is OUT of my house, I don't care if they sell it or give it away.

The goal is to move it out.

Re: Too much stuff!

bikerbabe — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:24:33 GMT

My place is small. I never been able to overpurchase very much. I already downsized my holiday decorations. I have a few kitchen things that could go.

Re: Too much stuff!

Witchy Woman — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:26:10 GMT

@queendiva

Yes, I have followed your thread off and on. Thanks for reminding me.

Mostly, I just posted as a big reminder to ME to get going again.

I sew blankets for Project Linus and have a large stash of fleece for sewing. While it all gets used, there is a constant temptation to keep buying that fleece for MORE blankets.

I've put myself on restriction for the rest of the year until my fleece stash is ALL gone.

In reviewing my inventory, I was reminded that I still need to keep purging my other things.

I'm 68, so hopefully, some good years left, but I do have a fear of someone having to come in and clean out my junk! I'd rather be the one to do it.

Hence, the reminder to get going!

Re: Too much stuff!

spiderw — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:36:45 GMT

I can relate to this post and to what the posters are saying. I too am overwhelmed with items I do not want any more. I donate to the Vets, it is convenient for me to leave a bag or bags on my front stoop and they come for it on the day I choose.

However, my problem isn't with donating as much as it is with getting rid of antiques and items which I cannot just throw in the trash. My nieces either do not want anything or don't have room. I have crocheted bedspreads made by my grandmothers on both sides, antique china, lamps, art work. I am thinking about contacting a dealer to see if I can sell some of it. I know the problem with that is you are never going to get the money they are worth. A dealer wants a profit and that is that. I also thought of an auction but would have to find a reputable one.

It is an overwhelming task but not an impossible one. I will continue to donate and also look into dealers and auctions. I do know one thing is true, when I am able to get rid of things I do feel better!!!!!

Re: Too much stuff!

jackthebear — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:37:19 GMT

@Witchy Woman wrote:
@queendiva

Yes, I have followed your thread off and on. Thanks for reminding me.

Mostly, I just posted as a big reminder to ME to get going again.

I sew blankets for Project Linus and have a large stash of fleece for sewing. While it all gets used, there is a constant temptation to keep buying that fleece for MORE blankets.

I've put myself on restriction for the rest of the year until my fleece stash is ALL gone.

In reviewing my inventory, I was reminded that I still need to keep purging my other things.

I'm 68, so hopefully, some good years left, but I do have a fear of someone having to come in and clean out my junk! I'd rather be the one to do it.

Hence, the reminder to get going!

knitters call it stash busting!, but it's the process not the product

Re: Too much stuff!

ripka junkie — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:41:59 GMT

@Witchy Woman

I too am guilty of all of the above! I need to start today/GET GOING

Re: Too much stuff!

chrystaltree — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:42:43 GMT

I'm sure many of us can relate to that. I know I can. I have a good handle on it now, when we sold our big house and downsized; it was the most depressing thing because as we cleaned out and threw out, I began to see how out of control my shopping channel habit was. So many things that I bought and used one or twice or for a season and then stashed them in the attic, the basement, a spare bedroom, the garage....and then I'd buy almost the same thing all over again. Don't even ask about Tupperware! Tons of the stuff. I'd go to the parties to socialize and I'd have to "buy something" and then I'd the stash the thing I didn't really want or need in a closet. It was partly that I watched HSN and QVC for entertainment and partly because hubby and worked hard and had successful careers and I could afford whatever I bought. My thinking was, if it isn't a financial problem, it isn't a problem. So moving was godsend. After than I made a consious effort not to let it happen again and stopped watching shopping channels just to be watching them. I can't buy what I don't see. Now it's clothes and I have to be honest, jewelry. I am a work in progress. I have to focus and do better when it comes to buying clothes/shoes/bags/jewelry. I did a major closet overhaul a month ago and I found so many things with tags still attached. So many things that were duplicates of things I already owned. The nice orderly closets are help and my bff suggested that I keep my closet door open so that I can see what I have hanging in there. I only allow myself to watch a couple hours of ShopLC on the weekends and that has indeed worked when it comes to jewelry. I haven't bought any jewelry in several weeks. I can't buy what I don't see.

Re: Too much stuff!

Silver Fox1 — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:45:20 GMT

@Witchy Woman, Thank you! I have been looking around my house this past few weeks and getting more and more depressed with all this " lavish stuff ", that I will never use again, everywhere and wondering how I am never going to get rid of it ! I am so sick of looking at it. For sure my girls won't want it, it's not their style. All the money wasted over the years on Lenox, Wateford, sterling. All things that have to be hand washed and nobody wants anymore, encluding me, LOL ! The chore of going through it is overwhelming but I'm going to do it. You have inspired me !!! I can't wait to be free !!

Re: Too much stuff!

cherry — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:46:25 GMT

Use your nice things everday. I don't save my bone china for best. We use it everyday..

Re: Too much stuff!

queendiva — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:51:53 GMT

@cherry : agreed! We are worth the good stuff! It's for our use, not solely for our guests.

If you have too many place settings, see if Replacements will buy it, or sell on Craigslist or FB Marketplace, or donate.

Re: Too much stuff!

SeaMaiden — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:56:03 GMT

@Witchy Woman Just donate to goodwill or the like... and take a tax write off.... then think about some happy person buying your lovely things and enjoying them! Rather than they sitting there not being used or enjoyed they are loved again. That is the way to give things away without feeling so much loss.

I found many wonderful treasures at good will over the years that have given be so much joy! I often times thank that person who themselves loved the items at one time gave them up and now I treasure them... someday I will also have to donate them and hope someone finds them special as well and finds joy in them.

Re: Too much stuff!

Puppy Lips — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:09:41 GMT

I took three bags of clothes to Good Will this morning. Outside by the drop off door, there was tons of stuff that was just recently donated. Not literally "tons" but a lot of stuff there. Then inside, the sorting room was just filled with piles of things to sort through. They can not possibly have room to sell all that. Where ever the left overs go, I hope it is useful.

I too have much to get rid of, and know that none of my three boys will want it. I really don't want to leave it up to them after we are gone, but I can not part with very much just yet. Hopefully we have many more years before we have to think about that.