A less cluttered life seems to hold a lot of appeal these days.
People are paring down their possessions for all sorts of reasons: retirement, relocation, a now-empty nest.
We asked our Reader Network members to talk about how they did it and why. Dozens responded.
| This story uses information from The Herald’s Reader Network, a group of Snohomish County citizens who have agreed to be contacted by e-mail for their views on important topics.
If you want to join the hundreds of people in the network, go to www.heraldnet.com/readernetwork and fill in the online form. You’ll be asked for your address and other basic information to help us select which people are the most appropriate for particular questions or to help highlight differences based on demographic factors such as age, race or ZIP code. Your information will never be shared with anyone outside our newsroom, and we’ll immediately honor any request to be removed from the list of participants. |
Readers shared how getting rid of the extra baggage made them happier and life simpler.
Some warned about how the desire to collect more stuff only leads to debt and overflowing closets.
In some cases, learning to buy and keep only what was needed allowed readers to gain financial security for the first time.
One man talked about the simple joys and occasional frustrations of living out of what he could carry on his bike as he traveled across the country.
Linda and Jack Grouell of Everett had to downsize his parents’ belongings and move them into a retirement community recently.
The experience was an eye-opener for the entire family, the Grouells said.
The couple wanted to share what they learned from the experience. Among the their tips for helping his elderly parents downsize:
* Keep everyone involved informed. These are your parents’ possessions and represent their lives and memories, Linda Grouell said. If items need to be stored elsewhere or gotten rid of, let them know. “We’ve gone through several cases of them not being able to find things and assuming that we threw it out or gave it away,” she said.
* Make it easy for them to make decisions by listing and categorizing items. Offer suggestions but let them make the decisions, she said.
* Ask other family members if there are specific items they would like, if appropriate. People value different things from their past and elderly parents may not realize an item is coveted, she said.
The Grouells recommended Bette Filley’s “How to Dispose of Your Stuff: Heavenly Uses for Earthly Goods” published in 2003. The book gives ideas for how to donate items to charitable organizations that need them.
Here are some answers from other Herald readers:
“About 10 years ago I read a book called ‘Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things that Really Matter.’ (Published in 1994 and written by Elaine St. James). One of the suggestions was to pack up items you didn’t really need, put a date on the box and in six months if you hadn’t looked for anything in the box, donate it to charity.
“There were many other good ideas in that book which caused me to reevaluate my life. I decided that we had way too much stuff and began to follow the advice in the book. As a result, we sold our house and bought one half the size. We got rid of tons of stuff and it was so cathartic, we’ve done it several more times.
“I think we’re happier when not tending to so much room and so much stuff. We also have more time for the things we enjoy.”
Cathy Reese, Mukilteo
“I am in my mid-50s and would give anything to go back to when I was 25 years old.
“When we were younger, it was all about gathering things we considered essential. My husband and I want to retire but because of some of our choices, we will have to wait a few years. We are downsizing now and saving some extra money instead.
“What would I say to a young person? Live as small as you can. With each big purchase think ahead. Take time to think about the long-term effects.”
Janet Koglin, Stanwood
“After visiting our daughter in Kentucky, we saw how they only keep the things they need, and their house doesn’t have a lot of clutter. We decided to do the same.
“We are having a garage sale and anything left, we will donate. We are going through our camping gear, closets and drawers and getting rid of all the things we don’t need. We took all of our daughter’s things back to her. Now it’s our son’s turn. We are putting the things we want to keep in plastic bins and labeling them.
“It feels so good to see space on a shelf.”
Kathy Hoff, Lynnwood
“In addition to pruning material possessions, perhaps we need to think about simplifying our lives. We do not need to do everything and rush about. Perhaps then we could feel less of a need to be such fast drivers or we could take the time to know our neighbors.
“Simplification of our physical and emotional lives might make life more enjoyable.”
Bob Webb, Lake Stevens
“Downsizing, like upsizing, happens in degrees. Later, you realize you never needed stuff to remember your life so now it’s just so much waste that needs to be hauled away.
“My advice for young couples is to budget your life and try to live off two-thirds your net income. Save for the big stuff and for hard times. Don’t be in a hurry to get into debt; it’s just not worth it. Something newer always comes around the next year. Be content borrowing your friends’ stuff for a while.”
Paul Ecklund, Everett
“There is one simple rule I follow and would recommend: If you haven’t used it in the last three years, throw it out.
“This works for everything: clothes, books, trinkets, spouses. Your imagination is the limit to what this will cover.
“If there were only some way to get prevent certain things from reproducing around the house, such as magazines, junk mail and copies of The Herald. It seems if you leave just one of these lying around them more appear in the same place.
“If only I could get that to work with dollar bills, I would be set.”
Tom Jones, Everett
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