In praise of stuff

What a stupid thing. A death clean. Sorry but they will have to cope, as well as arrange my funeral. I like my things, I'm still here and enjoy them, I don't want to be in a sterile environment waiting for the grim reaper, I want my things I have accumulated over the years, so sorry if the house isn't cleared ahead of my demise.

We have too many books, although I did declutter quite a few recently. I can live with that, and my children can put up or shut up (they don’t live here any more).

Where they do moan at me is about the numerous CDs and DVDs we have. Apparently I should stream all the films and join Spotify or similar.

I do both, as it goes; but I am not getting rid of my ‘stuff’ in case Amazon or whoever owns Spotify decides that instead of £8 a month, they are going to charge £80. My way means that I have a significant library of entertainment to fall back on if I can no longer afford the subscriptions. I will not be a hostage to fortune like that.

Unless stuff is usefully distributed while alive the majority of it ends up in dumpsters once dead- From there it's hauled away to landfills-

A small portion goes to charity shops, many of which have compacting dumpster out back to compress donations that don't sell or were junk to begin with-

Cleaning out houses after hoarders die is no easy task- Frequently there's rodent feces, layers of dust and mold to contend with, rendering what might have had value at one time completely worthless-

Best of all Maw you didn't go 'baaa' and follow the 'on trend' ideas.

I have a dear friend, 20 years my senior and when you walk into her house you don't find room to place even a pen!

But every single knick-knack, photo, plaque and ornament is part of her history and that of her long-ago lost husband.

I'm very much a minimalist but I wouldn't begrudge her, or anyone, the lovely memories. Those wallies who pop up on Radio 4 deserve to be ignored.

I would get rid of, I would say, about 50% of the "stuff" we have but my husband is the opposite to me. Why do we need plastic bags containing bed sheets which haven't been used for years, shelves full of towels? Kitchen cupboards piled high with dishes, jugs, etc etc., loft room full of books that never get read? It is so difficult to find and extract something from great mounds of "stuff". Life could be so much simpler and relaxing.

We have too much clutter.
On the plus side, the house is insulated by all the books and furnishings.
On the down side, I tripped over somethings just this evening while searching for something else and in places the clutter is deep like the wardrobe to Narnia.

Not a nice look and hard to keep clean.

I yearn for a more minimalist world and wish I had a magic wand and could spirit the clutter away.

I had a good drawer clear out a year ago but they have filled up again now. No idea what with. DH's pants take up a lot of room. More than mine do.

I like looking at my stuff in my living room. I sometimes sit on the sofa and just look round at it. Some of it was presents from kids/granddads. A lot of it I choose and bought myself. Mostly on holidays.

Stuff is good.

I admit Canadiangran, I do have several drawers of wool, I’ve just started a throw of many colours to use up some of the odds and ends, but I’ve done this before, and end up buying more to finish it!

I do try, but DH and I have managed to fill our house over the years. He is pretty good at organizing and decluttering, however he is after me to get rid of my knitting stash.

I absolutely refuse; I intend to knit like mad when I retire! He reminds me when I do start a project I usually find a pattern on line, and purchase new yarn. "Never-mind" I say, perhaps the patterns in Vogue knitting 1986 will come back in fashion. I have a few bee-hive patterns from my mother printed when I was a babe in the 60's. And I have just the right alpaca yarn purchased some time in the 90's for the project!

I live with a hoarder; he has items dating back to his childhood and he won't think about getting rid of them. apparently when he's gone we will be able to sell them and raise lots of money. personally I would rather sell them now and enjoy the money together. And what if I pop my clogs first? Our kids won't want to have to sort through all of it.
I would rather have less and do more.

I don’t like ornaments, or bits and pieces everywhere, I hate a cluttered kitchen or bathroom, but I too love all my clothes and shoes and scarves, I do have a sort out every season, but I’m not brutal.

My house is full of books in every other room, built in bookcases, freestanding ones, I do occasionally take a bag to the charity shop, but not very often! They are just books I’ve read and don’t want to part with, nothing intellectual! and they’re in alphabetical order through the house.

I also have probably hundreds of framed photos, the only other clutter I allow are flowers and candles.

I don't like junk but I like my 'stuff'. So junk gets put out and stuff stays.

My mum has been death cleaning all her life. All my childhood things went, some beautiful toys and some gorgeous fairy tale books with illustrations by Arthur Rackham. I'd get home from school and mum would say 'Oh, I saw Mrs X today. I gave her your dolls house for her daughter, as you don't want it more, do you?' . I live in fear she'll throw away all the family photos before she's done.

I do agree, MawB. We are by no stretch of the imagination drowning in clutter, but neither are we remotely minimalist. I really don't like the minimalist look - often so cold, sterile and soulless. As far as I'm concerned, Marie Kondo and her ilk can FOTTFSOF - as they say on Mumsnet, (Don't ask - it's very rude!)

I expect we'll get rid of some of our masses of books at some stage - we did ditch the old videos some time ago - but there's nothing else that's going to go any time soon.
Clothes and shoes, I don't have masses anyway, never have.

As for children having to clear it all, dds already know about anything valuable - for the rest, they're welcome to get the house clearance people in.

I have gone off stuff. I used to like browsing shops and online - but now I just feel that stuff has become entirely meaningless to me. I buy food and occasional plants and kindle books, but that is it now.

Gillt57 and therein lay the problem ,both sellers were used to teh English system.So the second one just took his house off the market and then sold it privately to a guy he worked with.The estate agent IS trying to get what they believe they are due for the advertising etc so they want their commission.He has apparently left the country .

There's a happy medium here, neither drowning in clutter nor empty and bare! I am always thinking what else I can get rid of which has no significance or reason to keep it. I think books, CDs, DVDs and clothes are easy for the children to clear really. They can just flick through them and then donate to a charity shop. It's all the paperwork that needs tidying and organising so the important stuff is all together. I don't want the children to have endless paperwork to look through and I don't want them to miss anything important. I also think you should mark family heirlooms or they may be thrown out, and write names and dates on the back of photos. There is a lot that needs doing!

Oops! ‘It was only I’!
Apologies Gabriella!

Thanks for this Maw. I thought it was only me who regarded Marie Kondo and her ideas as some sinister apparition

There has to be a happy medium with stuff though. I like to keep some things around me but don't want to be cluttered up with it. I'm not sentimental so only keep a few of everything, books, photos, cards etc. I read a lot but donate most of my books just keep those by very favourite authors.
I do seem to collect dogs though and have three so better give myself a talking to.

I too love my many piles of books everywhere. Only the bathroom remains without.
They are my friends, my joy, my solace. My world.
I am actively reducing though because I need to move and it will be impossible with so many. Also I can't find a book when I want to because I have gone from order to chaos but I am removing unwanted novels slowly. Most will remain

I am thinking of a Kindle for some novels to reduce the physical load.

Otherwise I find minimal homes feel empty and barren. I like a bit of clutter.
I like it when a person's home shows their personality.

Stuff is lovely. Warm blankets on the chair arms, books, magazines, sewing, knitting, things the children made or gave us. The list is endless. A warm ,friendly and cosy home. The more stuff ( tidy) the better

Paddyann I thought that the Scottish conveyancing and house purchase system meant that the chain couldn't break as easily as with the scary English system? You have been unlucky

Yes, I like stuff too Maw but sadly in my spare room I've got stuff all over the floor.

A house without any stuff at all has no personality and is soul-less.

I gave all my books to the local school when its library burned down.I was pleased that they would be going to a good home.I'm currently clearing out ...again.In hope of moving.We've been let down twice in the past 4 years ,had offers accepted than the seller changed his mind the first time and sold to his friend the second time .Fingers crossed it all goes well this time ! I wont be parting with my 2000 CD's though .I've passed on the wee ones cabin bed and furniture to a young family locally and have chucked out toys she's grown out of that cant be passed on ,mainly because she "customised" them .I dont have any problem getting rid of things .My husband is a different matter ,its like prising precious things from his hands to even clear out his wardrobe ,as for his tools and car parts etc etc ....we need to downsize to a house with a lot of storage !!