The Cost of Stuff
Over the past two weeks I have been involved with two downsizing projects. In both instances we hit a wall. We were faced with the ‘too much stuff’ problem. We ran out of room yet there were boxes that still needed to be unpacked. As much as I’d love to be a magician and create more space, it just wasn’t going to happen.This tends to be common with downsizing however it got me thinking. When I say it got me thinking, it got me really thinking. So much so, I was up at 4:00 a.m. thinking. It may sound a bit silly, but ‘stuff’ was keeping me up!
Love Your Stuff?
I work with many people who love stuff. In fact, some people I work with love a lot of stuff. If you are struggling with stuff, here are a few questions to consider:
How much do you really love it?
This is where you have to be completely honest with yourself. Do you l-o-v-e it, or do you just love it? How many levels of ‘love’ do you have? On a scale of 1 – 10 (1 being a ‘meh’ and 10 being an “Oh my god I can’t live without it), how much do you love it? When you start to compare what you have, my guess is they all won’t be a 10.
Can I live without it?
Again, you have to be completely honest with yourself. If you only use an item once, then you can live without it? If you have clothes in your closet that still have the tags on and they’ve been in your closet for a couple of months, you can live without it.
What would happen if I didn't have it?
Would you find yourself having to buy it again (right away)? Would you find an alternative or something else to replace it that you already have? Would be it be life changing if you didn't have it?Another way to think about ‘stuff’ is to consider what it’s costing you. Is it costing you:
Money
Are you a shopper who shops without intention? Do you buy items on sale whether you need them or not? Like it or not, if you have already bought it and do not use it, you've wasted money. Get over it and get rid of it if you don't use it or need it.
Stress
Is your ‘stuff’ stressing you out? Is there a room that you ignore because all of your stuff is in there? Do you feel like you're spinning out of control over your stuff? Ask yourself if it's worth it!
Relationships
Do you find your ‘stuff’ is hurting a relationship or relationships? Are there arguments over all the ‘stuff’? Is there resentment over 'stuff'? These are valid questions to ask!
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