AlittleBetter.net

Have More Own Less

May 21, 2009

Photo courtesy of Batega

There are a number of movements in which for different reasons people are choosing to own less. Sometimes they are guilted in to it by seeing others less fortunate than them. Some of us choose this as a part of religious practice. Some people choose this path as a form of activism against corporate enslavement. Many get rid of stuff to simplify their lives and de-clutter.

Whatever the reason chosen it can still be difficult to know where or how to start. So often we define ourselves by what we own, and getting rid of stuff ends up feeling like getting rid of part of ones self, (or re-inventing ones self). I have been and still am going through this process. Some days I do better than others, but I can honestly say that I own less now than I did a year ago, and I am getting much more out of it.

I want it clear that there is nothing wrong with owning stuff. If you worked hard for something, or somebody else who worked hard wanted you to have whatever it is, it is okay. If you hold on to something because it reminds you of a loved one or a value or improves the quality of your life, it is okay. You do not need anyone’s permission to see value in what you own. I will however ask you to examine what you value. This should be about getting more out of what you own; it should not be about guilt. With that said, lets begin.

Make it a lifestyle.

I do not mean “go ye and move to a buddhist temple” or “go ye and become a health fanatic”. What I do mean, is constantly ask yourself the following questions about everything you own, or are considering buying.

Will I take care of it?

There are things that are always out of place or are always left in cruddy shape. Owning anything that you are not going to have the time/energy to take care of is a hassle. It becomes just another piece of clutter in our already cluttered lives, or another thing to do on our already packed to do list. Taking care of something means making sure that it is well-maintained and out of the way of your everyday life. If the answer to this question is no, do not buy it. If you already own it, sale it on e-bay, give it away, or throw it out. If it is worth owning than it is worth taking care of.

Does it (will it) improve my quality of life?

Owning a car that gets good mileage, a few dishes, or even a quote plaque hanging on the wall all fall under this category. For me, my laptop and a good internet connection allow me to learn new things, and store information in a compact setting. My mp3 player has made it so that I was able to get rid of my bulky CD collection. So those two expensive and often considered luxury items really do make my life easier. If the answer is no sale it, give it, or throw it away. If you were only thinking about buying it you just avoided adding unnecessary clutter to your life, and saved money, congratulations.

Is it worth it?

This applies more to things you are looking at buying than to things you own. When you trade money you are trading a portion of your life. Keep this in mind when you are shopping and do not trade more of your life than is appropriate for what you are trying to obtain.

When was the last time I used it?

This does not apply to tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, means of self-defense or first-aid kits. Though you can ask yourself if those things are stored in the places they are most likely to be found when needed. If it has been in the closet so long that you forgot you had it, than you obviously did not need it that badly. If it has been six months or maybe even a month since you last used it than give it to someone who will use it, sale it, or throw it away. Be brutal when answering whether you will use something or not. If you don’t have a toddler anymore you are not likely to use a toddler chair for the car. If some one in your family wants it for later use than make it their responsibility. If you haven’t played a game for a year, and are not likely to soon sale it.

Do I actually like this?

This one hits me the hardest when it comes to wardrobe. I used to own a lot of clothes that I actually would avoid wearing. I finally realized that if that is how I felt about them I should get rid of them and make a trip to goodwill. I then resolved to only buy clothes that I would wear with pride. If it won’t make my favorite outfit list I won’t buy it. I have found this also applied to movies, video-games and books. I sold what I could and donated the rest.

What would my life be like without it?

I’ve found that more often that there are somethings that I can not just live but thrive without. As an experiment I got rid of TV and went with just DVD’s and some video-games for a few months. Turns out that all the shows that are worth seeing end up online anyways. The time that just keeping my tv off made for me has been not only good for my budget, but I like that I now set my own entertainment schedule, and there are way less advertisements.

Set an occasional throw out day.

I do this about four times a year, you can do it more or less, just set aside a day, where you go over the stuff that you own, and ask all of the questions on this list. (This does not have to be done all at once) Get behind the couch. Hit the closet. Look through the areas that you normally leave alone. Leo Babauta author of Zen Habits wrote a great post listed below on how to create a minimalist home.

In review

Don’t do this for anyone but yourself. Owning stuff is not bad. Just make sure you own only the things that you really want or need to own.

Promised Zen Habits Article

Entry Filed under: organization. .