family
Things.
We love to collect them. Keep them. Save them. Display them.
But sometimes, things overtake. Things become distractions. Things inhibit and trap. Things become clutter. Things start arguments.
Think about the amount of things you buy each month. Don't count your groceries or things that disappear by the end of the month (like trash bags, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc.) Count the things you wear, display, use, etc. Do you replace things you already had? Meaning, when you buy a new pair of shoes, do you get rid of an older pair? Or you just add on to the things you already own?
Phil and I have lived three different places since we were married. On each moving day, I became amazed at the "growth." Each move, we had twice as much as before. Some of the growth was necessary - like having a child and what not. But most was just stuff we bought because we could. What else is funny (perhaps that's not the best choice of words) is that we also have 2 or 3 boxes that have still not been unpacked. From our last move. Which was 2 years ago this month. Yikes.
I often get frustrated as I'm riding around town, because if you look, nearly EVERYTHING is something you can buy - a service, a product, a "need." I know our economy is built on this, but it makes me sick. People spend their lives working, to buy things. I once read somewhere that America was the only place where garage sales existed and thrived. I'm not sure if that's true, but I think it's a testament to our problem with things. I mean, there is a menu of shows on TV now about this issue - Hoarders, the storage unit ones, auction shows... It's clearly a problem.
Recently, I've been purging. Our house is always a mess. There isn't a place for everything, which is why my purse is on the couch, shoes are at the front door, books and toys are everywhere, etc. We have so many things we don't wear or use or need, so it's time to simplify. We had a garage sale where we sold several things. Then, I put a few of the nicer things that were left on Ebay and sold them there. We took a bunch to Goodwill, too. I don't throw things away. That just contributes to an even bigger problem. Instead, I sell or give things away. Recycling, in a different way. It's nice to make space and clean out. It's refreshing. It's good for my soul, my girls, and my marriage.
Phil and I have really changed our spending habits in our 4 years, too. We rarely buy anything we don't need. And if we do, we almost always buy second-hand or on sale. I'm pretty sure the only brand new things I bought for the girls were their take-home outfits to wear out of the hospital. Most of our extra money (which doesn't exist now that I'm staying home with my girls) was spent on adventures - dinner at the river, roadtrips to somewhere exciting, ingredients for a fancy meal, etc. The only debt we have is a tiny student loan and the jeep we bought last fall.
Anyway, I'm no expert on money. Spending and saving is not my cup of tea, not at all. But I have learned about simplifying. I have learned the difference between wants and needs. I have learned to say no to things. I have learned to live on love.
I'm curious, what's your opinion on things? Do you collect? Do you purge? Do you have rules for your house about the things you buy? I'd love to hear.
-L
We love to collect them. Keep them. Save them. Display them.
But sometimes, things overtake. Things become distractions. Things inhibit and trap. Things become clutter. Things start arguments.
Think about the amount of things you buy each month. Don't count your groceries or things that disappear by the end of the month (like trash bags, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc.) Count the things you wear, display, use, etc. Do you replace things you already had? Meaning, when you buy a new pair of shoes, do you get rid of an older pair? Or you just add on to the things you already own?
Phil and I have lived three different places since we were married. On each moving day, I became amazed at the "growth." Each move, we had twice as much as before. Some of the growth was necessary - like having a child and what not. But most was just stuff we bought because we could. What else is funny (perhaps that's not the best choice of words) is that we also have 2 or 3 boxes that have still not been unpacked. From our last move. Which was 2 years ago this month. Yikes.
I often get frustrated as I'm riding around town, because if you look, nearly EVERYTHING is something you can buy - a service, a product, a "need." I know our economy is built on this, but it makes me sick. People spend their lives working, to buy things. I once read somewhere that America was the only place where garage sales existed and thrived. I'm not sure if that's true, but I think it's a testament to our problem with things. I mean, there is a menu of shows on TV now about this issue - Hoarders, the storage unit ones, auction shows... It's clearly a problem.
Recently, I've been purging. Our house is always a mess. There isn't a place for everything, which is why my purse is on the couch, shoes are at the front door, books and toys are everywhere, etc. We have so many things we don't wear or use or need, so it's time to simplify. We had a garage sale where we sold several things. Then, I put a few of the nicer things that were left on Ebay and sold them there. We took a bunch to Goodwill, too. I don't throw things away. That just contributes to an even bigger problem. Instead, I sell or give things away. Recycling, in a different way. It's nice to make space and clean out. It's refreshing. It's good for my soul, my girls, and my marriage.
Phil and I have really changed our spending habits in our 4 years, too. We rarely buy anything we don't need. And if we do, we almost always buy second-hand or on sale. I'm pretty sure the only brand new things I bought for the girls were their take-home outfits to wear out of the hospital. Most of our extra money (which doesn't exist now that I'm staying home with my girls) was spent on adventures - dinner at the river, roadtrips to somewhere exciting, ingredients for a fancy meal, etc. The only debt we have is a tiny student loan and the jeep we bought last fall.
Anyway, I'm no expert on money. Spending and saving is not my cup of tea, not at all. But I have learned about simplifying. I have learned the difference between wants and needs. I have learned to say no to things. I have learned to live on love.
I'm curious, what's your opinion on things? Do you collect? Do you purge? Do you have rules for your house about the things you buy? I'd love to hear.
-L
