A problem I think we all face.

I still think it goes back to the issues of entitlement and lack of general adult skills.

"I need this" "I deserve to have that" "it's on sale" "so-and-so has this item" blah blah blah  And coupled with that entitlement mentality is just an overall failing in general skills (other people will take care of it for you don't you know) like basic responsibility and time management. It's not a "problem" that we're facing, it's "excuses" that people won't stop making. It's never their fault, it's just an epidemic that they have no contral over.

People have too much crap because they've fooled themselves into thinking they needed it, and people don't have time for anything because they are lazy. They may not enjoy that new deck but I'd bet my last dollar they have time for facebook. Our culture is a sea of morons. I'm obviously just speaking in a broad sense, but these studies just piss me off.

I guess it's just how I find the information presented that gets to me. We've all got clutter somewhere in our lives (either tangible or mental), but the study makes it sound like it was out of our control in accumulating.

I think the toy issue is largely overwhelming when you have younger children. I remember the play rooms (yes, plural - rooms) that DD would have and we could barely keep them organized. Okay, we didn't keep them organized. When I packed to move I resigned myself to never finding the pieces to all the games - because I had tried so many times before - and just chucked multiple garbage bags of flotsam that I'd pick up from the floor.

At one point in our lives, hubby did give up his half of the garage to storing his electronics stuff but he is a hoarder. Now we don't even have a garage so no worries there.

This house does have an amazing lack of storage. Between that and decluttering for the move, we pared down a lot. My biggest bug-a-boo is Christmas stuff. Even as much as I've trimmed and scaled back, it takes up an amazing amount of space (at this point a corner in my dining room).

I think electronics have helped us scale back. I no longer have a calendar hanging on a wall. DD no longer has a need for a multitude of toys (she plays on-line games). She doesn't even need a TV in her bedroom because she downloads videos to watch on her itouch. She does have boxes that she hasn't unpacked yet. We're still looking for bookcases for her bedroom so she can organize her craft supplies. She needs bedroom furniture in general.

But back to electronics. Right now I haven't unpacked any of the books. I have maybe 6 boxes. I have never before imagined ever living in a house where a bookcase - a whole library was always my dream - didn't make a major element in my room design. But right now with e-readers, I'm questioning every book purchase and reconsidering whether or not I even want to keep the few precious ones I already own.

We aren't in the backyard, not because we don't have time, but because it is so darn hot right now. When the weather is with us, we're outside more. As a matter of fact, we normally take a walk after dinner and go hiking on the weekends.

I have to say clothes are #1 in the clutter category. Have you ever noticed that you can buy clothing anywhere? Go grocery shopping and they have clothes for sale. Pick-up a prescription or just cough syrup and they have clothes for sale. Go to a sporting event - more clothes. Go to an amusement park - more clothes. What do you see most in any thrift store? Clothes. They overwhelm us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen1985 

People have too much crap because they've fooled themselves into thinking they needed it...

I think we've fallen into the trap of thinking we can "buy a lifestyle". If we have a nice BBQ and pretty patio furniture, we'll have the kind of quiet life where we go outside and spend family dinners together.

The TV show "Portlandia" did a spoof on this. The couple had an impulse to go hiking. Next thing they're researching on the internet stuff they need for a hike - specialty water bottles, daypacks, shoes, etc. They're making a trip to REI, etc. By the time it is late in the day, they have everything they need to go for a "hike" but they only have time for a simple walk around the block.

I'm glad we don't have this problem.  I keep the house organized and don't have the need to go shopping for sport.  I go shopping when I run out of something.

Despite dd being in swimming most weekdays, we eat dinner together.  I take her to practice, come home and fix dinner.. dh picks her up and brings her home for dinner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookie2 

I think we've fallen into the trap of thinking we can "buy a lifestyle".

That is the PERFECT way to put it.

Having a zillion toys doesn't mean your kids are happy.

Having camping gear doesn't mean you are outdoorsy.

Having a million cookbooks doesn't mean you are Julia Childs.

Having an elliptical doesn't mean you are in shape.

It's just a complete facade of satisfaction. I'm a big fan of "if you haven't used it/worn it/watched it/read it/etc in one years time, get rid of it" It doesn't matter what intention you had when you brought it into the house, or what you planned on doing with something, you can obviously live without it and have blissfully done so for a pretty lengthy amount of time.

I think they have a good point about TV taking away toy time. Toys seem more like clutter when your kid would rather sit on the couch than play with them.

Garages full of stuff always astound me. I have plenty of clutter, yet we park both of our cars in our garage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by swishina 

I think they have a good point about TV taking away toy time. Toys seem more like clutter when your kid would rather sit on the couch than play with them.

 

Garages full of stuff always astound me. I have plenty of clutter, yet we park both of our cars in our garage.

I walk in a neighborhood across from the YMCA and am always astounded at how many cars are parked outside the garage.