5 ms·

This is very situational. Many people have tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars of items, especially furniture.

wyclif 2y ago
It is very situational—I get that. But the fact of the matter is that most people have way too much stuff. This creates a huge amount of problems and headaches if you have to move.
- ghaff 2y ago
  Most of us here can probably agree that moving is a very good time to assess a lot of property. Much of which you probably were given/acquired at some time or another and really don't use. I had a fairy minor (in the scheme of things) kitchen fire earlier this year. (Not my fault. Microwave burst into flames in the middle of the night.) Most of the contents are probably salvageable (or determined best replaced under replacement policy). But I intend to be fairly discriminating as I move stuff back into the house. I had already started doing some sorting and donating/chucking bu this will accelerate it.
- the__alchemist 2y ago
  We're on the same page! I agree, and pine for the days before I acquired too many things. The contrast is observation: Most people I know, myself included, do not live that minimal life style. I know someone who does; he lives in a van and loves it; owns few physical belongings, and most are in storage. He's the exception; not the rule. Personally, I have a molecular bio lab at home; I know (had to calculate for tax purposes) that it cost ~12000 USD including reagents, shipping costs etc. I have a nice 3D printer, loads of tools, a well-stocked electronics lab etc. All see regular use. A few pieces of oak furniture. I know that my personal hobbies are weird (Maybe not for this crowd?!), but many people have comparably equipment-bound ones. Now, picture being married to someone with a comparable set of items (Furniture doesn't double of course), and kids...
SoftTalker 2y ago
He paid $14k for the movers. That would buy a fair bit of new furniture unless it’s really high end.
- the__alchemist 2y ago
  I see many scenarios where the items would add up to less than this. I see more where it doesn't. e.g.: What you say makes sense for a single person who owns a PC, a TV, and Ikea + amazon furniture. Now imagine a couple or family, who's been (criticize the capitalist/consumer culture or not) buying nice wood furniture, has a well-stocked kitchen, multiple computers, hobby equipment etc. I encourage you to run a rough estimate of your own household's items. Do the same for your a neighbor's; a friend's.
  - throwaway173738 2y ago
    My nice wood furniture has had three owners and is almost 70 years old, so I certainly think it’s possible to own nice things and not be a wasteful consumerist.
    - RHSeeger 2y ago
      I built my living room coffee table by hand with my father, who is now dead. I built my shop table by hand (to match the one my father had). Even ignoring the 10s of thousand of dollars it would cost me to refurnish a house to match what I have now (and the staggering amount of time finding suitable replacements), there just a ton of things I could never replace.
  - SoftTalker 2y ago
    And yet when you die, the contents of your house (for inheritance purposes) will most likely be valued at under $10K and nobody will raise an eyebrow at that.
    - compiler-guy 2y ago
      When I die, my body will be worth a pittance. But I still value it far more than that now.
B-Con 2y ago
For me it isn't about the cost as much as it is that I've tailored my possessions to be what I like. If I have it, it brings value, and I probably like the details enough that it's hard to replace without getting an exact replica.

It is very situational—I get that. But the fact of the matter is that most people have way too much stuff. This creates a huge amount of problems and headaches if you have to move.

ghaff 2y ago
Most of us here can probably agree that moving is a very good time to assess a lot of property. Much of which you probably were given/acquired at some time or another and really don't use. I had a fairy minor (in the scheme of things) kitchen fire earlier this year. (Not my fault. Microwave burst into flames in the middle of the night.) Most of the contents are probably salvageable (or determined best replaced under replacement policy). But I intend to be fairly discriminating as I move stuff back into the house. I had already started doing some sorting and donating/chucking bu this will accelerate it.
the__alchemist 2y ago
We're on the same page! I agree, and pine for the days before I acquired too many things. The contrast is observation: Most people I know, myself included, do not live that minimal life style. I know someone who does; he lives in a van and loves it; owns few physical belongings, and most are in storage. He's the exception; not the rule. Personally, I have a molecular bio lab at home; I know (had to calculate for tax purposes) that it cost ~12000 USD including reagents, shipping costs etc. I have a nice 3D printer, loads of tools, a well-stocked electronics lab etc. All see regular use. A few pieces of oak furniture. I know that my personal hobbies are weird (Maybe not for this crowd?!), but many people have comparably equipment-bound ones. Now, picture being married to someone with a comparable set of items (Furniture doesn't double of course), and kids...

SoftTalker 2y ago

He paid $14k for the movers. That would buy a fair bit of new furniture unless it’s really high end.

the__alchemist 2y ago
I see many scenarios where the items would add up to less than this. I see more where it doesn't. e.g.: What you say makes sense for a single person who owns a PC, a TV, and Ikea + amazon furniture. Now imagine a couple or family, who's been (criticize the capitalist/consumer culture or not) buying nice wood furniture, has a well-stocked kitchen, multiple computers, hobby equipment etc. I encourage you to run a rough estimate of your own household's items. Do the same for your a neighbor's; a friend's.
- throwaway173738 2y ago
  My nice wood furniture has had three owners and is almost 70 years old, so I certainly think it’s possible to own nice things and not be a wasteful consumerist.
  - RHSeeger 2y ago
    I built my living room coffee table by hand with my father, who is now dead. I built my shop table by hand (to match the one my father had). Even ignoring the 10s of thousand of dollars it would cost me to refurnish a house to match what I have now (and the staggering amount of time finding suitable replacements), there just a ton of things I could never replace.
- SoftTalker 2y ago
  And yet when you die, the contents of your house (for inheritance purposes) will most likely be valued at under $10K and nobody will raise an eyebrow at that.
  - compiler-guy 2y ago
    When I die, my body will be worth a pittance. But I still value it far more than that now.

B-Con 2y ago

For me it isn't about the cost as much as it is that I've tailored my possessions to be what I like. If I have it, it brings value, and I probably like the details enough that it's hard to replace without getting an exact replica.