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What Paul doesn't really devote enough time to describing is the pleasure that getting rid of stuff brings. Reducing the amount of stuff you own is liberating.

What Paul doesn't really devote enough time to describing is the pleasure that getting rid of stuff brings. Reducing the amount of stuff you own is liberating. You feel physically lighter. Its not just about avoiding a burden. It is physically pleasurable to reduce the amount of stuff you are responsible for. Go through your house and give to charity or throw out anything you haven't used in 12 months. Its amazing how much of an emotional lift this gives you. I really dislike the cult of stuff. I'm getting married soon. We've requested people give us money or just their congratulations :) Some people however seem to think we're rude for refusing to accept stuff we don't need. Somehow we're obligated to accept a burdensome gift that we'll have to quietly dispose of. They spend money that we could use for things we do need and we have to go to the effort of getting rid of it. Its a lose lose. Yet somehow we're selfish for asking people not to buy us stuff.

johnyzee 17y ago
This is one of the greatest insights that I have had lately - throwing stuff out is liberating and makes you feel physically lighter. Sorry to repeat you verbatim but that is exactly how I feel. I fight with my wife over this. She wants to put something in the basement (which is already packed to the ceiling) and I am like: If you don't need it, for God's sake get rid of it. If I had my way I would thorw out everything in that basement today. Ditto on the gifts stuff. We get a gift, typically crockery or plastic shit for the kids, and all I am thinking is how long do I have to keep this before I throw it out. Here's a hack for children's birthday parties: If people want to bring gifts (which we discourage), we take the gift at the door and throw it in a closet, to be opened when everyone has left. This way people do not bring gifts out of social pressure, don't feel they have to top each other, and there is no disgusting gift feeding frenzy in front of the other children.
- andyjdavis 17y ago
  I was lucky with my then girlfriend, now fiancée. We were moving into a smaller place so she had no choice but to heavily cull her belongings. Although the process was painful she has now been converted and regularly voluntarily gets rid of more stuff just because it makes her feel good to have less junk around the place. Your method of dealing with gifts is a good idea. I've always found publicly opening a stream of gifts a bit vulgar. Whenever possible I deal with any gifts in private or with only the gift giver there. Having an audience, celebrating the giving and receiving of stuff just seems distasteful. "gift feeding frenzy" That is the perfect name for it.

johnyzee 17y ago

This is one of the greatest insights that I have had lately - throwing stuff out is liberating and makes you feel physically lighter. Sorry to repeat you verbatim but that is exactly how I feel. I fight with my wife over this. She wants to put something in the basement (which is already packed to the ceiling) and I am like: If you don't need it, for God's sake get rid of it. If I had my way I would thorw out everything in that basement today. Ditto on the gifts stuff. We get a gift, typically crockery or plastic shit for the kids, and all I am thinking is how long do I have to keep this before I throw it out. Here's a hack for children's birthday parties: If people want to bring gifts (which we discourage), we take the gift at the door and throw it in a closet, to be opened when everyone has left. This way people do not bring gifts out of social pressure, don't feel they have to top each other, and there is no disgusting gift feeding frenzy in front of the other children.

andyjdavis 17y ago
I was lucky with my then girlfriend, now fiancée. We were moving into a smaller place so she had no choice but to heavily cull her belongings. Although the process was painful she has now been converted and regularly voluntarily gets rid of more stuff just because it makes her feel good to have less junk around the place. Your method of dealing with gifts is a good idea. I've always found publicly opening a stream of gifts a bit vulgar. Whenever possible I deal with any gifts in private or with only the gift giver there. Having an audience, celebrating the giving and receiving of stuff just seems distasteful. "gift feeding frenzy" That is the perfect name for it.