Too Much Stuff
originally published on www.thegledaproject.com on 4th Apr 2014
Having moved house just a little over 2 years ago, I thought that I had got rid of a lot of ‘stuff’ then, approximately 30% of my stuff I reckon. But it is amazing how much stuff I still seem to have.
Certainly for the last 12 months I have been more aware of what I was buying. Before buying, thinking if it would be coming on the boat, is it necessary, is it practical or is it just pretty and I want it anyway.
However, almost a year to the day ago, after having to empty my Dad’s house in a day (Dad was a burgeoning hoarder) into 2 skips I panicked about how much stuff I have, how much my Mum & Step Dad have and that one day I’d have to sort that too. I got rid of a lot of my stuff then. But still I have stuff – maybe it replicates (or should that be duplicates)?!
So a concerted effort to sort out what can be got rid off, what I will store and what I will sell or give away. I have been putting stuff up on Ebay – I have a lot of kitchen products (I used to be a Pampered Chef consultant) and a lot of shoes and handbags. I’ve also cleared a lot of stuff to friends and charity shops.
However, at Christmas I still bought, from my pretty and I want it anyway category, a pot which I don’t intend to take on the boat but I just fell in love with and was happy to have a few months enjoyment from. It was handmade and I bought it from a small shop in Polruan, Cornwall.
Some of my possessions will be going into storage for now, mainly some furniture I love such as a 1930’s drinks cabinet that belonged to my Nan and two mosaic lamp tables that I bought from Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds.
It’s been amazing how much money I have saved too by not buying ‘tat’ e.g. pretty stuff that I don’t need and has no practical use. Doesn’t stop me looking though, much to Neil’s bemusement – why look if you don’t intend to buy? I think it’s a man thing and a strange non-shopping woman thing. I can still look at things and appreciate them without having to want or buy them.
New technology is helping with the sorting out. For example, where I used to keep old birthday cards, I’ve been able to photo them and add them to a ‘board’ on Pinterest (I love Pinterest).
It has been quite cathartic clearing out stuff and looking at things to decide if they are necessary or just a want. Thinking of items for the boat, being someone who has never lived in a small space, I think “is it necessary” and “does it have more than one use”. I figure this is a good start, and then I run it by Neil!
Still a bit more to go but as we leave the cottage 4 weeks today – we need to be ready.
