Do you own stuff, or does stuff “own” you?

[Dave2002]

I wonder how many of us here spend time trying to keep “stuff” in order. If we didn’t have it we wouldn’t have so much to do. Would that be better?

[Serial_Apologist]

I wonder how many of us here spend time trying to keep “stuff” in order. If we didn’t have it we wouldn’t have so much to do. Would that be better?

For me, catalogueing and filing has always been important for keeping on top of things - and I speak as an inordinately untidy type of person who can seldom lay his hands on anything when needed. With stuff no longer available or even accessible on line it's important, to me, to have a record of how events and people were reported (on), and for future comers to get a feel for what life was once like and what people thought, summed up in that term "the zeitgeist". I'm never sure the world is not at risk of historical re-writes, the present day seeming especially prone, and one likes to think one has an archive of collected wisdoms to pass on for the benefit of future generations. Not that this is likely to happen, of course - images of refuse collection and house clearance vehicles gathering - but I like to think the one item surplus to requirements here is the occupant!

[Dave2002]

“Stuff” can include many things - houses, gardens, cars, boats as well as collections of pictures, sculptures, antiques, medals, cutlery, ornaments, plates, guns, books, maps, musical instruments, CDs, DVDs, photos, tools - you name it ....

[french frank]

“Stuff” can include many things - houses, gardens, cars, boats as well as collections of pictures, sculptures, antiques, medals, cutlery, ornaments, plates, guns, books, maps, musical instruments, CDs, DVDs, photos, tools - you name it ....

I don't think either really. Every so often I have a good turn out and chuck it, give it away or, rarely, sell it. I get fed up with stuff.

[Richard Tarleton]

My sister and her partner are great fans of Airb&b (of which I don't approve for various reasons) but it does make me wonder how people can allow total strangers to live, unsupervised, in their homes or apartments, full of their stuff? I couldn't do that. So does that answer the question ?

[Dave2002]

My sister and her partner are great fans of Airb&b (of which I don't approve for various reasons) but it does make me wonder how people can allow total strangers to live, unsupervised, in their homes or apartments, full of their stuff? I couldn't do that. So does that answer the question ?

I don't think that answers the question, but it does suggest that some people don't care so much about the "peripheral" "stuff" - though they presumably do care about their home/apartment and/or the revenue which it can bring in, otherwise they wouldn't do Airb&b. It may also be that some people have enough stuff, and possibly a spare house/apartment that they can afford to do that.

[Richard Barrett]

If you've moved yourself and all your effects to different countries five times like I have you quickly learn to let go of "stuff". I could fit all the stuff I really need into the back of a normal-sized van. I hope I could anyway.

[teamsaint]

We have spent quite a bit of the last few years clearing out stuff we no longer needed, the legacy mostly of three teenagers,as well as my own belief that things may well come in handy one day. The hospice shop in Salisbury took everything. In fact I was a bit concerned at one point that it would end up looking more like our house than our house.

Anyway, those things that aren’t even fit for charity shops go to Romsey tip, where they sell, very cheaply, stuff which people leave and which Romsey being quite posh, can be pretty decent. Anybody taking up golf needs to get down there, they have loads of sets of clubs.
Last weekend, we took a few bits of rubbish down, and came back with 6 pristine fold up Ikea chairs with matching cushions, which were not only £15 the lot, but were exactly what we needed for a very big crowd coming for xmas.

Talking of Vans, as a student, I had the luxury of a mini countryman, which it turned out was perfect for me, a suitcase, my hi fi, and all my records Proper car, that.

[Boilk]

I wonder how many of us here spend time trying to keep “stuff” in order. If we didn’t have it we wouldn’t have so much to do. Would that be better?

These last few years most of the "stuff" I spend time trying to get rid of is recorded radio broadcasts and TV programs - digital decluttering of my PVR to keep on top of things. In the physical realm there is still, however, the long-procrastinated-over big project of going through 500-odd cassettes of music accumulated through the 1980s and 90s.

[gradus]

This is a question that I find myself asking increasingly. I enjoy auctions - country auctions mostly where prices are generally low but the junk quotient high. Part of the appeal is the range of characters that turn up.

[Bryn]

These last few years most of the "stuff" I spend time trying to get rid of is recorded radio broadcasts and TV programs - digital decluttering of my PVR to keep on top of things. In the physical realm there is still, however, the long-procrastinated-over big project of going through 500-odd cassettes of music accumulated through the 1980s and 90s.

Been there. Doing that.

[muzzer]

It’s the books, I can’t say goodbye. Anytime I’ve let one go, I’ve wanted or needed it later. Honest.

[Dave2002]

It’s the books, I can’t say goodbye. Anytime I’ve let one go, I’ve wanted or needed it later. Honest.

I believe you, but you need to think what want and need really mean.

I suspect I'm worse than most of you, though. So far my "solution" up to now is to buy bigger houses, or more storage, but that strategy is going to have to come to an end. Also, if "stuff" can be passed on to family, descendants or friends that might help a bit, but only if the "problem" isn't huge.

Houses are also a difficulty, as they require maintenance, as do gardens, cars and all the other "essential" stuff.

[Serial_Apologist]

We have spent quite a bit of the last few years clearing out stuff we no longer needed, the legacy mostly of three teenagers,as well as my own belief that things may well come in handy one day. The hospice shop in Salisbury took everything. In fact I was a bit concerned at one point that it would end up looking more like our house than our house.

Anyway, those things that aren’t even fit for charity shops go to Romsey tip, where they sell, very cheaply, stuff which people leave and which Romsey being quite posh, can be pretty decent. Anybody taking up golf needs to get down there, they have loads of sets of clubs.
Last weekend, we took a few bits of rubbish down, and came back with 6 pristine fold up Ikea chairs with matching cushions, which were not only £15 the lot, but were exactly what we needed for a very big crowd coming for xmas.

Talking of Vans, as a student, I had the luxury of a mini countryman, which it turned out was perfect for me, a suitcase, my hi fi, and all my records Proper car, that.

The local tip flogging off stuff - what an excellent way of raising even a bit of cash for local services! I don't think ours does that; I've often wondered if they'd mind people helping themselves - I've often been tempted, just never dared!

[cloughie]

The local tip flogging off stuff - what an excellent way of raising even a bit of cash for local services! I don't think ours does that; I've often wondered if they'd mind people helping themselves - I've often been tempted, just never dared!

Maybe you’d be granted permission like the presenters of ‘Money for nothing’ and then again.....
A few years ago our local tip did sell stuff but now no longer does - I think something to do with change of contracts or maybe it was when Cornwall became a unitary authority. Anyway, the wife of a friend of mine used to complain that he always returned from the dump with more than he took there!