# How do you manage your 'stuff?' **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-manage-your-stuff/576511 "2011-03-30T15:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-manage-your-stuff/576511/21 "2011-03-30T20:57:50Z")
You have to be merciless. I learned that from my mother, who attached sentimental value to very little. Stuff begins to own you, otherwise. If you haven’t looked at it or used it in the last year, there’s a good chance that you never will. Off to goodwill. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-manage-your-stuff/576511/22 "2011-03-30T21:02:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You have to be merciless. I learned that from my mother, who attached sentimental value to very little. Stuff begins to own you, otherwise. If you haven’t looked at it or used it in the last year, there’s a good chance that you never will. Off to goodwill. Unlike my mom, who after I left my wedding dress at her house with the intention of cleaning it and giving it to goodwill, had it pressed and put it one of those boxes you save wedding dresses in. Then, when I was uncluttering, she saw it in the pile of stuff to go to goodwill and brought it home with her. Once a year, when she cleans out her basement, she asks when I want it back. I tell her to throw it out. This has been going on for five years now. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-manage-your-stuff/576511/23 "2011-03-30T21:04:51Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Don’t forget to go UP for storage. A lot of people don’t use their vertical space which is necessary in smallish places. Look into floating shelves to go on the wall if you’re not into bookcases or furniture shelving. Amusingly, I do try to store up. However, I am both short and scared of heights to the point where I won’t get on a step stool. There are a lot of things that I have to wait for my husband to get home to use. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-manage-your-stuff/576511/24 "2011-03-30T22:18:10Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > Unlike my mom, who after I left my wedding dress at her house with the intention of cleaning it and giving it to goodwill, had it pressed and put it one of those boxes you save wedding dresses in. > > Then, when I was uncluttering, she saw it in the pile of stuff to go to goodwill and brought it home with her. Once a year, when she cleans out her basement, she asks when I want it back. I tell her to throw it out. This has been going on for five years now. My ex-wife still has crap from when we were first married 41 years ago. I’m talking broken small appliances and other useless stuff. A true packrat. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-manage-your-stuff/576511/25 "2011-03-30T23:03:17Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > Clothes (other than the kids’ clothes since we have to constantly get rid of whatever doesn’t fit) aren’t the problem. My husband and I share a 6 foot wide closet rod and we have room to grow. Nothing in there is older than a year (with the exception of formal wear and my funeral suit). > > In fact (other than toys), we just don’t have a lot of stuff. All the people I know think we are insane for: > > 1. Living in a house so small. > 2. Not having much stuff. > > So, you say, what is the problem then? I am constantly worrying that even though we do not accumulate stuff: > > 1. My house will still become too small for us and we will have to move. > 2. That I am somehow depriving my children for helping them keep their stuff in check. > > I think it is mostly the vibes I am getting from everyone around me that are really worrying me. It’s especially hard when I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a large home, lots of stuff or both. > > Sometimes when I am the only one with a particular mindset, I begin to think that maybe I am the one who is wrong here. I think I posted this in the other thread, too, but when my husband and I moved two years ago, everyone’s first question was, “Did you get a bigger house?” and our answer was always, “No, we didn’t need a bigger house.” I think your attitude is just fine; it’s not a prevalent attitude, but I see that change in the wind as we all have to learn the lessons of reduce, re-use, recycle, and quit buying so goddamned much _stuff_. ---
**Author:** ![tpatsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tpatsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tpatsfan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-manage-your-stuff/576511/26 "2011-04-08T15:51:54Z")
Well the thing you hope to have is one person who will be the bad cop and throw stuff away and one who will be the good cop keep what needs to be kept. In our relationship I’m the keeper I have tons of clothes and things from when I was just a little kid and our apt isn’t small small nor is it big. And luckily my soon to be husband will throw away almost anything. So when we moved in together he couldn’t believe I actually had that many clothes and shoes!! A women needs her shoes. But point being we went through all the stuff and threw away bags and bags of stuff from when I was a kid and clothes I would never wear again. Papers from college and high school. And magically we had tons of space. ``` You just need to decide that space is more important than that thing you had when you were a kid or some thing your aunt gave you that you hate. And only keep the clothes that you will actually wear if you will actually ever fit into them again big or small. ``` [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-manage-your-stuff/576511.md?page=1)