topic Re: We have so much stuff.... in Among Friends

We have so much stuff....

Group 5 minus 1 — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 12:57:33 GMT

I have decided to do a moratorium on purchases for a while. Haven't decided for how long,just want to see if I can do it. Of course not the bare necessities, but stuff we do not need. I am not sure we can do it.

Altho I was ready to purchase the Liz Claibourne sweater in the Lunchtime Specials,but no I did not.

Do you all think I can do it?

Re: We have so much stuff....

happycat — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:09:29 GMT

Yes, I think you can do it, just set your mind to it and be stubborn.

Re: We have so much stuff....

QVCkitty1 — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:09:46 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
I have decided to do a moratorium on purchases for a while. Haven't decided for how long,just want to see if I can do it. Of course not the bare necessities, but stuff we do not need. I am not sure we can do it.
Altho I was ready to purchase the Liz Claibourne sweater in the Lunchtime Specials,but no I did not.
Do you all think I can do it?

Sometimes it's fun to challenge yourself, best of luck !

Re: We have so much stuff....

BN MI — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:12:27 GMT

I too have to much stuff. I also looked at the Liz lunchtime special. The reviews said the color bleeds after one washing. I need to clean the basement big time. My husband just retired. I do not want to leave a mess for my kids to clean up when we are gone. I think most are in the same boat. One day at a time. I have been walking everyday. This really helps.

Re: We have so much stuff....

aggravated — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:19:43 GMT

Go for it! Do more than just try! I really need to start going through things and generally getting rid of stuff we have kept for too long and are not using.

Re: We have so much stuff....

mimomof4 — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:37:07 GMT

Yes you can. I have been doing the same thing and have completely reduced my Q purchases to 1 for the past 8 weeks. Think of something else big you would like to save for instead. Everytime hubby tells me he wants something that I don't think we really need, I tell him I'd rather put that money towards our vacation or that new car that he really does need.

To reduce any tempation I don't scroll through products which have been aired or any of the lunchtime or prime time deals.

I also purge my house constantly. We are a family of 6 in a small house so I can't keep clothes which are too small for anyone or out of style around. I donate on a monthly basis to local charities.

Re: We have so much stuff....

SXMGirl — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:38:15 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1, you can do it and I am going to do it with you! Thanks for the incentive.

Re: We have so much stuff....

OhioAngel — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:40:28 GMT

Im divorced now and have a smaller place. I am in the process of going thru every thing including clothes and clean and clear out.

I like things simple and not cluttered. Plus I have clothes I dont wear that I will donate too. I need to not watch any Shopping Networks when they have skin care and makeup though LOL!!!

Re: We have so much stuff....

Sweet Caroline 1 — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:44:58 GMT

Me too except for some clothes and shoes. I gained weight when I stopped smoking in January. Food tastes extra good now. Don't need any household things, in fact, I need to downsize a lot. I think you can do it and me too! Good luck!

Re: We have so much stuff....

kaydee50 — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:45:29 GMT

We're preparing to sell our single story home and move permanently into a condo. So for the next week I will be sorting what's left in the house, donating, trashing or moving it. I actually like doing this. Gives me a feeling of accomplishment and control--LOL!! No more purchasing until everything is sorted out.

Re: We have so much stuff....

SeaMaiden — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:52:27 GMT

I have started to get rid of a box of STUFF once a week. I just pick a room and take a box or bag and fill it up with stuff that has been there for a long time that I really do not need or use. Yesterday I cleaned out a kitchen cupboard of dishes and cooking things that I NEVER USE. I look at my shelfs now and they are so clean and just the things I use daily! Loving the new space.

I need to really do an overhaul of my closets..... that is my next big STUFF attack.

Re: We have so much stuff....

devababy — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:52:32 GMT

You go girl. I’m 72, and I have decluttered a lot. Given so much away to shelters, garage sale, holiday stuff. All my blue porcelain collection, and it was room full, I gave to my daughters to divide up and decorate their homes with. I even got rid of excess furniture, less to clean and more room. I even decluttered toooooo many plants and gave away to some ladies that are starting out fixing their yards. I could do more, but that will be a spring group garage sale. It feels good to get things in order.

Re: We have so much stuff....

Carmie — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:04:29 GMT

Oh yes, you can do it. I took the pledge to stop buying things I didn't need a few years ago.

it was difficult at first. I spent a great deal of time looking and shopping on line. I put stuff into my cart, then shut down my device before I actually completed the purchase. I stopped going into stores to look.

Now, it's like a second nature for me. I very seldom buy something I don't need, but want.

I also am thrilled with all the extra cash I have in my account.

If I can do it, so can you.

Re: We have so much stuff....

jeanlake — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:33:25 GMT

Kitty's right - It IS fun to challenge yourself - go for it. Have two pictures in your mind. Which do you want?

A space littered with clutter reflecting things you don't need
A clean space; lovely and peaceful with a wallet full of money on a pretty, mosaic table

Report back -- cheering you on

Re: We have so much stuff....

OKPrincess — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:44:40 GMT

We’ve been in the decluttering mode for a while now and so proud of the progress made.

If we can’t wear something and it’s been sitting two or more years, out it goes. Put it in the garbage bag hanging on the bedroom door.

All of our photos are in one spot. We’ve gone through books and donated the ones we don’t want to keep. Same with CDs and video tapes.

I feel so much better now knowing the kids won’t need to go through stuff.

Re: We have so much stuff....

Puppy Lips — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:55:48 GMT

I hope so, because I need to do it too.

Re: We have so much stuff....

ValuSkr — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:07:45 GMT

I don't know you very well, but I think you can go cold turkey. I've done it myself. I like the things I have and don't want to be bothered making room for new things. I buy new things only when old things need to be replaced. And even then, sometimes they don't get replaced because after doing without for a bit, I find they weren't needed in the first place.

Re: We have so much stuff....

Mominohio — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:10:21 GMT

You absolutely can do it, if you really want to.

Just a suggestion, but may help with the willpower.

Come over to the Home forum and we have a very long running thread about "what have you purged today". Great inspiration there.

If you begin to go through your home, and see how much of each category of things you have, and if you decide to unload some of them, it becomes very apparent just how much excess you have, and just how much money you may have spent on things you don't really use, or don't really like, or that didn't really live up to your expectations of what you thought they would be. It is great incentive to curb future purchases.

And while it might not work for everyone, when I start to save money, put it away and watch it grow, I get in the swing of it being easy to say no to many new purchases. I'd rather have the cash in the bank when I begin to consider purchasing something that I really don't need, or have to think about where I will put or store it when I get it home.

Keep us posted on how it goes for you.

Re: We have so much stuff....

Alison Wonderland — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:16:40 GMT

I do think you can do it. I did in July and August.

If you need help, you can check out a book called The No-Spend Challenge Guide: How to Stop Spending Money Impulsively, Pay off Debt Fast, & Make Your Finances Fit Your Dreams, by Jen Smith. She mostly looked at it as a financial thing, but I read a lot of it as a stuff thing.

I spent the summer asking myself if I really needed something and if I'd actually use it or if it was just going to gather dust like so many other things. I'm one of those people who goes all-in on a new hobby/craft (knitting, jewelry, candles, soap, etc.) and buys a ton of supplies only to get bored 2 months later and move on to something else, leaving drawers and cabinets full of stuff from my last new thing. I'm finally reexamining and donating.

Re: We have so much stuff....

Group 5 minus 1 — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:56:06 GMT

I appreciate all your replies.Keeping my fingers crossed!