Comments on: Decluttering and Purging

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:33:48 +0000

Even though I’m trying to cut back on some pack rat tendencies. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point where I can sell off my comic book collection.

By: Ileen

Ileen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:22:41 +0000

I have seen on some of those decluttering shows where they make people get rid of books they haven’t looked at in a while. It shows a total lack of understanding about how beautiful a room full of books is. I would be showing them the door. I do pass on books that I know I won’t reread to friends but anything else on my shelf is a treasure. I could get rid of most of my stuff but I must keep my books.

By: Bret

Bret — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:01:22 +0000

Great response and comments!
The less material items you are responsible for, the more freedom that can come with that…but this depends on what kind of lifestyle you choose – say if you tend to pick up and move from place to place more (simplicity does not necessarily mean you are stationary). I know that a house that has very few things in it feels open and I enjoy moving around in it more…a cluttered home feels more confining because the space is taken up by things.
On the other hand, if you are throwing away stuff that you occasionally need, it does not make it more simple for you if you have to go out and buy it again.

By: another amy

another amy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:36:49 +0000

It’s funny that I used to want so many things, whereas now I’m totally annoyed by having random items that I would never use. How this change came about, I am really not sure but once I started throwing things away it became kind of fun & liberating. Now, if something cute in a store catches my eye, I just think “Oh, that’s adorable and someone will really enjoy owning that. Just not me!” It’s a feeling of freedom for some reason. Your money adds up while your chores (Cleaning, dusting, repairing) go down, so it does make life a bit simpler in that sense. But, if you don’t feel the urge to purge, then just skip it!

There are still a few items in my home that serve no other purpose than “I like it. I want it”. And that’s pretty simple right there.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:27:06 +0000

Well, purging just to purge is silly, but I’ve found that when I’ve had to leave most of my stuff behind for a while (living abroad for 3 years, for instance), I did find that I really didn’t even miss those things I thought were meaningful. Fact is, we are freer with less and less, however much we want to hold on to stuff.

(and simple ≠ simplistic)

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:44:57 +0000

I agree with you here. I am all for purging stuff that doesn’t add value to my life but there are things that I will not get rid of – whether they fit the “bare minimum” or no – because they are important to me, well-used or well-appreciated, and add value to my life. To me, getting rid of them would not be simplifying. As my mother keeps saying, “It makes no sense to get rid of something if you’re going to replace it or need it.”