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[Sooner]

If you can put both cars in the garage easily and want to put the crock pot out there, have after it!  

No, grandma and grandpa (I'm talking to people in their 60's here) didn't have anything possibly.  Of course they didn't.  They might have not had electricity.  THEIR grandparents might have cooked over an open fire too.  Back in the day even mansions had an outside kitchen.

Go back a little farther and you're talking yerts and tpees.  You were fortunate to have a buffalo hide. . . or a pot!  

So it's all relative and don't beat yourself up too much (unless you really are a mess!) and enjoy your things!  Just sure you have space to live and have company once in awhile. 

[mistriTsquirrel]

Hmm.  It says the average family has 39 pairs of shoes.  I feel like that number should be higher. 

I mean, who doesn't love shoes?

On a more serious note, my mom has a four-bedroom house with a den, a full basement and a 2-car garage.  She told me the other night that she's thinking of renting a storage space.

What??????

She is also convinced that someone somewhere wants my late father's 20+ year old Wood magazines.  She refuses to recycle them, because it makes more sense to her to track that person down.

It's causing me a great deal of stress to contemplate the future, because it looks like I'm going to be the only one responsible for all of her stuff when she eventually passes.

[magicmoodz]

@lolakimono

What a beautiful gift you have given your mom! And it was very generous to spend a much deserved 10-day vacation working so hard. The end result is her artist's quarters look amazing.  

I think I am going to order the book you are recommending. Not because I need help in that area, but because I am very interested in the subject matter. Having moved to a condo, we live lean and mean. While I appreciate and hopefully will always have a well-decorated and inviting home, clutter can definitely ramp up my anxiety, so I choose to eliminate it from my life. 

[Sooner]

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@mistriTsquirrel wrote:

Hmm.  It says the average family has 39 pairs of shoes.  I feel like that number should be higher. 

I mean, who doesn't love shoes?

On a more serious note, my mom has a four-bedroom house with a den, a full basement and a 2-car garage.  She told me the other night that she's thinking of renting a storage space.

What??????

She is also convinced that someone somewhere wants my late father's 20+ year old Wood magazines.  She refuses to recycle them, because it makes more sense to her to track that person down.

It's causing me a great deal of stress to contemplate the future, because it looks like I'm going to be the only one responsible for all of her stuff when she eventually passes.

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Been there done that, take what you want and call an estate sale company.  That's my best advice when the time comes.  Not much of the stuff that was supposed to be valuable is worth a lot now.

[mistriTsquirrel]

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@Sooner wrote:

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@mistriTsquirrel wrote:

Hmm.  It says the average family has 39 pairs of shoes.  I feel like that number should be higher. 

I mean, who doesn't love shoes?

On a more serious note, my mom has a four-bedroom house with a den, a full basement and a 2-car garage.  She told me the other night that she's thinking of renting a storage space.

What??????

She is also convinced that someone somewhere wants my late father's 20+ year old Wood magazines.  She refuses to recycle them, because it makes more sense to her to track that person down.

It's causing me a great deal of stress to contemplate the future, because it looks like I'm going to be the only one responsible for all of her stuff when she eventually passes.

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Been there done that, take what you want and call an estate sale company.  That's my best advice when the time comes.  Not much of the stuff that was supposed to be valuable is worth a lot now.

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@Sooner  I believe it.  I think my mom is living in fantasy-land when it comes to thinking that some of the stuff she has is something anyone would want.

Thank you for the advice.  I realize there isn't a lot I can do about the situation now.  I'll just have to clean up the aftermath later.

I did tell her I think the storage space is a bad idea.  I'm hoping I can get her to promise not to get one of those.  At least if I can do that it will be less for me to deal with down the road.

[151949]

Look at countries like Norway where people live in very small spaces.Their society does not glorify the accumulation of goods. We have neighbors here in Florida who come from Norway and spend a few months each winter in a 1300 sq ft rental. They think they are in a mansion! Since it is only a rental it has only basic stuff in it - dishes, pot & pans etc from Goodwill. Wicker porch furniture in the living room. Very typical rental. But to them it has tons of space and everything they could possibly need.

[chrystaltree]

If I believe that, I am not the average person.  Those stats sound they belong to hoarders, not normal people.

[chrystaltree]

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@qualitygal wrote:

Part two of this discussion I think could be why?

It's so easy to buy on line.  That's how I see it.  And honestly, instead of replacing things when one still works, get rid of the older one, donate if appropriate.  We're just so afraid to let go of stuff.  

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       Exactly.  I never understood why people buy something new and hold on to the old one.  It almost happened in my own home.  I finally caved and bought a Keurig (I love it).  We had regular coffee maker that we bought at Walmart about 6 years ago for $10 or $12.  Granted, it still worked perfectly.  I was about to toss it out and hubby said "stop, we should keep it".  Huh???  We got our money from it 1000 times over.  We don't need it.  We aren't going to use.  We won't have any coffee for it.  Why keep it?  He did the same thing when we bought a new blender, he kept the old one that doesn't work too well.  I'd give things like that to people who say they want them but charities don't want stuff like that.  

[Regal Bee]

For the life of me.....I simply cannot understand why all this clutter business is such a problem?

If clutter bothers you (anyone).....it is easily solved. This should not be a major problem. Yet, it is discussed so often. 

I truly think if anyone gathers a lot of items.....clothing, decor, accessories, whatever....there is a reason for this and it doesn't have to be bad or needing to be corrected.  And, why should this be such a problem or concern? The concern should lie with the person who collects and not society, as a whole. 

Okay, I will openly admit......I am perplexed. Totally! 

[PatriciaG]

I would love to have an unstuffed house.  I keep trying, going though my closets and drawers, looking for things that I can't remember wearing. There are so many THINGS!  These messages have given me inspiration.  My weekend will be all about getting rid of things.  Thank you for reminding me.