My New Rules For “Stuff”

We all know that moving ranks up there with divorce and death as one of the top family stress and trauma inducers. Even when the move was planned with much eagerness.

One of my great takeaways from this harrowing move is my new determination – as a very conscious decision – to live with less stuff. This seems like an obvious and auspicious awakening in these times… Like, duh. In my defense, I knew all that already (see post), but this renewed, steadfast determination is prompted by the realization that we hauled stuff across three states that was not worth moving.

No more.

Here are my new house rules on stuff. And I will be a tyrant at enforcing them. Beware.

1. Furniture and decorative pieces: each had now better be heirloom/keepsake worthy or be of cannot-live-without-it usefulness, otherwise there is no room for them in our house. No more disposable furniture.
2. Stuff: it must have an immediate purpose. No hanging on to things “in case I need it later”
3. Multiples: if we buy multiples of anything, the product has to be highly consumable. Like toilet paper. I’m NOT buying two or more of anything just because it’s on sale. Sorry Costco. Hello Alice.
4. Groceries: only what fits in my fridge and pantry shelves. No more stacking goods to lose them in the back of the pantry, wasted away for years beyond expiration dates.
5. One-in/One-out: this rule is to be applied to everyone in the family (moi aussi) for clothing and shoes. Buy one? Need to throw out or donate its equivalent.
6. Craigslist.is.the.bomb: any object in our home with more than a $20 used-item value (I calculate 10% to 20% of new price) that has not lived up to its potential is to be listed pronto on Craigslist.com to find a new home. This is a great form of the “Reuse, Recycle, Reduce” motto and gets much better pricing than any garage sale.
7. If I don’t know where to put it, it probably doesn’t below in my house. I realize that most things that are lying about are so because they don’t have a “home”. I will find or create a storage space or toss the offending item.
8. Tchotchkies: are allowed only as long as they are HIGHLY sentimental and only as long as they remain so.
9. Gifts: my husband and I have decided to give each other experiences instead of tangible “gifts”. These will likely create more memories than any object could. I have, bien sûr, made an exception to the rule, indicating that there is always room for shiny gifts that come in tiny little boxes. Ahem.

I took a whole session of Feng Shui classes a few years ago. I don’t remember much besides the Bagua map and this primary rule: “Every piece of clutter represents a decision that has not been made”. It’s no wonder that the sight of a pile of paper gives me a serious stress attack. Every single sheet signifies an action to be taken. It’s called paperWORK for a reason. My rules on less stuff might not fix all the paper clutter, but I will make the rest of the house more manageable. Less stuff makes room for more living. And I’ll never even miss it.