{"id":6028,"date":"2009-09-07T05:00:13","date_gmt":"2009-09-07T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/getrichslowly.org\/blog\/?p=6028"},"modified":"2019-11-24T22:49:43","modified_gmt":"2019-11-25T06:49:43","slug":"further-adventures-in-my-war-on-stuff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/further-adventures-in-my-war-on-stuff\/","title":{"rendered":"Further adventures in my war on stuff"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long-time readers of Get Rich Slowly know that I’ve been waging an ongoing battle against Stuff<\/a> \u2014 the clutter and crap I managed to collect during 20 years of wanton spending and debt. Though I’ve managed to curb my spending (and have slowed the influx of Stuff<\/a>), I’m still surrounded by constant reminders of my old habits.<\/p>\n

Last week, Colleen wrote to ask for an update on this seemingly-endless war:<\/p>\n

I was wondering if you would update us soon on your battle with “Stuff”. I, along with others I’m sure, struggle with this, and reading your blog has been a great help. I’m curious how you’ve progressed since the last post when you decided to clean the workshop.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’m pleased to report that over the past two months, I’ve launched a number of successful campaigns to take control of clutter. There’s still much work to be done, but I can finally envision a future that isn’t filled with useless Stuff. Here are a few examples of my progress:<\/p>\n

<\/span>Guarding the Guest Room<\/span><\/h2>\n

On Saturday, Kris and I spent several hours cleaning our “guest room”. I put guest room in quotes because for the past two years, it’s been incapable of housing guests. Instead, it’s been a home for my photography equipment, Kris’ cooking magazines, my board game collection, upcoming Christmas gifts, and more. It’s just a holding place for Stuff.<\/p>\n

This weekend, we decided we’d had enough. We sorted and purged. We cleaned. We re-arranged the furniture. The toughest part for me was culling my board game collection. I had to admit that although we used to play games once a week (or more!), we’re now lucky to play them once a year. I don’t need 50 board games. In fact, I’m sure that next September, I’ll be wondering why I kept 25<\/i> board games.<\/p>\n

After a few hours of work, we’d managed to turn a dumpy useless room into an actual guest room. (We also managed to move all of the science fiction books and comic books into the guest room, freeing up space elsewhere in the house.)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Conquering the Closet<\/span><\/h2>\n

In June, based on a GRS reader suggestion, I set up a year-long experiment. I moved all of my nice shirts and sweaters from the hall closet to the guest room closet. Whenever I need something, I go to the hall closet first. If what I need is there, I wear it. If not, I pull it from the closet in the guest bedroom.<\/p>\n

After I’ve worn something (and it’s been cleaned), it’s hung in the hall closet. After a year has elapsed, the guest bedroom will contain a bunch of clothes I have not worn for twelve months. I’ll take these things to Goodwill.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/b><\/i> There’s a subtle side-benefit of doing this. When I can’t find what I want in the hall closet, checking the guest room closet is very much like shopping. This may sound crazy, but it’s true. Same feelings.<\/div>\n

This trick is awesome<\/i>. It’s surprisingly liberating. When I open the hall closet, there are only a handful of shirts \u2014 the eight shirts I wear most often. This makes me realize that most of the other 25+ shirts hanging in the guest room are nothing but clutter. (I can’t evaluate the sweaters yet because the cold weather hasn’t arrived. Still, I think it’s safe to assume I don’t need 19<\/i> of them.)<\/p>\n

<\/span>Waging War in the Workshop<\/span><\/h2>\n

My biggest victory so far \u2014 one that I hope to finally achieve later today \u2014 has been the reclamation of my workshop. When we moved into this house five years ago, I had dreams of learning carpentry in the shop. Or converting it to a photo studio. Or something.<\/p>\n

Instead, the workshop became a dumping ground for all the crap I’d managed to accumulate. (And continued to accumulate.) At the beginning of this summer, the building was packed to the gills with computer parts, record albums, magazines, and boxes of useless junk. After weeks of slow progress, however, I’ve managed to reduce the mess to a single bench. It will take me several hours to sort these last few difficult piles \u2014 but once I do, the workshop will be a homey place to pursue my hobbies.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Fighting the Good Fight<\/span><\/h2>\n

Though I’ve achieved some major victories in recent months, my war against Stuff is not over. There are some tough battles ahead. But I’m a veteran now. I’m confident that I’ll emerge victorious.<\/p>\n

It seems like I always end these posts with a list of lessons learned. Today is no different. Here are some of the things I’ve been thinking about lately:<\/p>\n