[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Thinking about de-accumulating stuff (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 9/11/2016 10:43:09 PM EDT
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Trying to keep it simple. The more stuff I have, the more time I have to spend looking after it. Do I really need multiple computers, TVs, etc.? I do have multiple guns and I should de-accumulate them as well, but I can't seem to part with the ones I have at the moment.
I just bought a Lenovo Yoga tablet/laptop and been trying it out. So far I really like it and for all intents and purposes, I don't need my older PCs and laptops. So maybe selling them off is in order. My goal maybe is to be able to fit all my consumer goods (including my guns) in a 5' x 10' storage space, or be able to pack them all in a pickup truck or van. I'm talking about clothes, electronics, mountain bikes, flashlights, knives, and other gear. Anyone here thinking about doing this or has done it? |
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I try to reduce the amount of excess stuff I have and go in phases of getting rid of things. Now, I said *excess* stuff...I'm not a minimalist doing these challenges of living with 99 possessions or whatever. I have a house that is furnished, have tools, outdoor gear, etc. But I try to get rid of stuff I'm not using or don't need. I do a fair amount of selling on Craigslist. I always feel better after getting rid of a batch of stuff I didn't need. It's easier to clean and organize and I feel like I have better use and enjoyment of my space and the things I do have. I am ramping up for another round of getting rid of stuff. I guess everyone has to decide the right amount for them. I still have a lot I can get rid of and still be happy and have everything I want and need. |
I have no f'n idea what you are talking about...
Just a load of 1974-1978 Honda Elsinore CR125 wheels going into a 40 foot shipping container I bought so I can get this shit out of my personal garage. I have most of the other parts that go with them too. 
But yeah, cleaned 24 years worth of stuff out of our attic back in December and recently cleaned out 24 years worth of kitchen cabinet clutter. So much crap... |
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I'm pretty much a minimalist, aside from ammo stash. Until I took up diving and have begun accumulating gear. My living room looks like a dive shop (I have a small condo with little storage space). Why do I have gear intensive hobbies? ;) Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted: After moving 3 times in 4 years I made two new rules: A, if I hadn't unpacked it since the last move it gets thrown out B, if my kids will dumpster it when I die just don't buy it (excludes tools, guns, clothing and food) I made room for my g/f and her two daughters to move into my house. I followed a similar approach, if it wasn't a specialty tool and I hadn't used in a year or two it went in the trash. Then I looked at what was left and though "if I died what would someone else do with this". If the answer was throw it out then that is what I did with it as well. |
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I have entered the "preparing to die" phase of my life, so I am trying to declutter and eliminate.
I procrastinate like a MOFO though so I started early. I'm 45  .
Frankly I just have too much shit to keep track of. I realize if I retired now, and worked every day all day, I'd get caught up on past projects when I'm about 60. The fact is with 4 kids, wife, job, millions of FSA to support, ARFCOM habit and motorcycles, I only have a few hours a week free and I'm usually so tired I am passed out watching TV with the wife or kids when I do. so I have started trying to throw away or unload stuff. Last fall I sold an old land cruiser and a bunch of junk and converted it to a bike that we could ride and enjoy. I think it's a normal phase of life. |
| Had a huge militaria collection I had nowhere to really display. Decided it was stupid to have all of it sitting in boxes filling up my Minnesota 2-car garage as our cars got snowed in every other day. Sensibly liquidated most of it on ebay, moved to Florida and used the proceeds for a downpayment on a house. Was well worth it....still got WAY too much stuff, though. |
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Cleaning out "stuff" is for heirs. Spent a year cleaning out my grandparents house....f**k that. I will never do that to my family. Honestly it's shameful to pass on penniless with a house that looks like a tornado hit it. As the bible says "a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children" |
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Quoted:
I'm pretty much a minimalist, aside from ammo stash. Until I took up diving and have begun accumulating gear. My living room looks like a dive shop (I have a small condo with little storage space). Why do I have gear intensive hobbies? ;) Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I don't wanna hear it dude - Shooting - drones - Scuba - Motorcycles - 4 Wheelers - Camping - Sports Photography (very gear intensive) my garage looks like some f'ed up version of REI Hoarders. |
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I don't wanna hear it dude - Shooting - drones - Scuba - Motorcycles - 4 Wheelers - Camping - Sports Photography (very gear intensive) my garage looks like some f'ed up version of REI Hoarders. Quoted:
Quoted:
I'm pretty much a minimalist, aside from ammo stash. Until I took up diving and have begun accumulating gear. My living room looks like a dive shop (I have a small condo with little storage space). Why do I have gear intensive hobbies? ;) I don't wanna hear it dude - Shooting - drones - Scuba - Motorcycles - 4 Wheelers - Camping - Sports Photography (very gear intensive) my garage looks like some f'ed up version of REI Hoarders. I'm one of the Arfettes. Not dude. ;) Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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This year I've been selling things I use little or not at all.
Sold two kayaks, a canoe, a bunch of old car parts and made a few thousand off of stuff sitting around. Now I'm working on vehicles. Traded a diesel f250 in for a Z06 vette. Now I have an M3, two boats and a motorcycle to get rid of. Plan is to just have a 4x4 and the Z06 for nice weather. |
| 15+ years of 200-250 nights a year in Hiltons and I've noticed that my condo even looks like a hotel suite. Everything I need and nothing I don't. Everything in its place. I could pack everything I care about in my four door Tacoma in 15 minutes and drive away and not look back. Stuff is just stuff and it's literal and figurative baggage. |
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Quoted:
I made room for my g/f and her two daughters to move into my house. I followed a similar approach, if it wasn't a specialty tool and I hadn't used in a year or two it went in the trash. Then I looked at what was left and though "if I died what would someone else do with this". If the answer was throw it out then that is what I did with it as well. Quoted:
Quoted:
After moving 3 times in 4 years I made two new rules: A, if I hadn't unpacked it since the last move it gets thrown out B, if my kids will dumpster it when I die just don't buy it (excludes tools, guns, clothing and food) I made room for my g/f and her two daughters to move into my house. I followed a similar approach, if it wasn't a specialty tool and I hadn't used in a year or two it went in the trash. Then I looked at what was left and though "if I died what would someone else do with this". If the answer was throw it out then that is what I did with it as well. And if you're not sure, give it to goodwill. |
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Quoted:
Trying to keep it simple. The more stuff I have, the more time I have to spend looking after it. Do I really need multiple computers, TVs, etc.? I do have multiple guns and I should de-accumulate them as well, but I can't seem to part with the ones I have at the moment. I just bought a Lenovo Yoga tablet/laptop and been trying it out. So far I really like it and for all intents and purposes, I don't need my older PCs and laptops. So maybe selling them off is in order. My goal maybe is to be able to fit all my consumer goods (including my guns) in a 5' x 10' storage space, or be able to pack them all in a pickup truck or van. I'm talking about clothes, electronics, mountain bikes, flashlights, knives, and other gear. Anyone here thinking about doing this or has done it? Get divorced. You may end up with less than a pick up load. |
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As one who is dealing with going through my parent's lifetime accumulation of stuff, I won't be leaving things that way - unless I die before getting finished unloading my excess. Too much stuff is a pain to move, store, clean, and find things when needed, because there's too much stuff to leave out where it can be found. |
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Quoted:
I'm pretty much a minimalist, aside from ammo stash. Until I took up diving and have begun accumulating gear. My living room looks like a dive shop (I have a small condo with little storage space). Why do I have gear intensive hobbies? ;) Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile My living room looks like a gun shop, but it kind of is. |
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I like reading about people who go full time in recreational vehicles. Many times they wind up needing a storage unit cause they can't part with some stuff, but don't have the room or weight capacity to take it with them. Generally in a year or three they realize they don't need the stuff in the storage unit and with the rent cost they could have bought whatever was in the unit that they did need. Family heirlooms are one spot I can see having an issue with. I am currently at an all time high in some areas. But got some messing around to do with some stuff and decide what I prefer and the rest can go on down the road. Now as a gun owner who went through the awb years of clinton, I don't really have an issue with having a few extra firearms packed away. A footlocker of mags packed away. And ammo. Well if I were to travel I would not do it with a half ton truck cause of ammo. Would do it with a one ton or better. It took me a long time to get to where I don't care what someone thinks about my stuff. If my stuff works for me that is what matters. If I can't make my stuff work for me, then it is not for me. I don't care if someone is an awesome shot with X. If I can't work the thing well or it just does not fit me then it is not for me. One thing I really like lately is the power laptops have, but I still don't trust laptops very far cause I hate working on them. And amazon prime for my music streaming and streaming shows. A good laptop and smart phone could replace a lot of stuff I have right now. Not sure if I will do it or just keep stuff til it dies. Tools and firearms weigh a lot and I will have issues paring things down in those areas. Gonna wait til november for the gun stuff anyway. Tools I mostly just need to be realistic about what I am willing to work on in my middle age. As a younger fella I tore into about anything. Not so much anymore. We have threads on paring down firearms or everything in the house about 3 or 4 times a year at least. And there are lots of books on it. Heck, all the people doing that small house thing are kind of running away from stuff. I want to be able to survive a 4 day power outage in the winter caused by an ice storm, without having to go out if I do not wish to go out. I want to not be seriously affected by something like the clinton 10 year awb I experienced when I was just getting into firearms. I want to have the tools to work on my own stuff if I choose to do so, cause paying someone to do it and not being happy with their quality of work just sucks. And at the same time, I got a lot of stuff. In ending this post I will remind everyone to run a search on what the great george carlin had to say about stuff. |
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Quoted:
I'm pretty much a minimalist, aside from ammo stash. Until I took up diving and have begun accumulating gear. My living room looks like a dive shop (I have a small condo with little storage space). Why do I have gear intensive hobbies? ;) Next, you should take up ham radio...
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Quoted:
After moving 3 times in 4 years I made two new rules: A, if I hadn't unpacked it since the last move it gets thrown out B, if my kids will dumpster it when I die just don't buy it (excludes tools, guns, clothing and food) That's pretty much how we live, minus my wife's sowing stuff. |
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Been working on this for a while now. I have put several massive piles of trash out for the last couple weeks. At the same time I have been filling boxes for garage sale/goodwill. I was amazed at just what I have been holding onto everything from tax filings from 2001 to two handfulls of useless A2 grips.
I havent even made it out to the garage to go through junk tools and boxes/stacks of scrap wood and other stuff. |
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Quoted: Been working on this for a while now. I have put several massive piles of trash out for the last couple weeks. At the same time I have been filling boxes for garage sale/goodwill. I was amazed at just what I have been holding onto everything from tax filings from 2001 to two handfulls of useless A2 grips. I havent even made it out to the garage to go through junk tools and boxes/stacks of scrap wood and other stuff. Been trying to toss out a pile every trash day. Taking scrap to the yard even though prices are down. I want my garage and basement back! |