Why I don't want stuff
sivers.org
Why I don't want stuff
1–10 of 332 posts
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#2I don't live quite like this, but I feel similarly about gifts: I far prefer them to be practical rather than decorative or frivolous.
I've realised that people can get slightly upset when I explain it to them. They want to buy me something fun, something I'll "enjoy". Chances are I won't, although I do of course appreciate the sentiment.
Equally, I find it more satisfying to buy a "useful" gift for others. And of course people don't always appreciate this, and some prefer a trinket instead of a practical item.
There's emotional context imbued in the act of giving, and some people embed that in the object itself.
So I'm learning to allow people to express their feelings toward me by letting them buy me whatever they want, although I will still hint at my preference if given a choice.
This can lead to clutter, which I hate, but I've realised some people love. I don't know the solution to this yet, but I suspect it's a combination of out-of-site storage and in-view display cabinet type arrangements. I have disposed of truly unwanted gifts, but I realise that's potentially hurtful so I don't enjoy doing it.
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#3I don't live quite like this, but I feel similarly about gifts: I far prefer them to be practical rather than decorative or frivolous. I've realised that people can get slightly upset when I explain it to them. They want to buy me something fun, something I'll "enjoy". Chances are I won't, although I do of course appreciate the sentiment. Equally, I find it more satisfying to buy a "useful" gift for others. And of co…
While I like the ideea of this lifestyle, I can't do it. I simply love my tools too much. And I have a lot of them. And lopts of parts. At a first look, some might looks superfulous, for example, I have this wierd star-shaped screwdriver. Most of the time, I don't use it, but boy, when I use it, does it save me a lot of time.
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#4I'm somewhat similar to this except furnished flats are rare where I live so I have some furniture.
That said my bedroom has a bed and a side table, my living room a sofa, computer desk and TV.
Spare bedroom has my road bike and my cycling gear (as a hobby it's unavoidable).
I have a (somewhat) strict 1 closet policy for clothing, once I fill it for each item in something has to go (easy this year as I dropped nearly 70lbs, virtually nothing I had fits).
I could pack and move my entire possessions in a day and with the exception of my computer gear/bike stuff replace everything for under a 1000 quid.
I can't even claim any asceticism or anything for this, I just don't buy stuff I don't need and get rid of stuff I don't use because if I don't use it why have to clean around it.
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#5I don't live quite like this, but I feel similarly about gifts: I far prefer them to be practical rather than decorative or frivolous. I've realised that people can get slightly upset when I explain it to them. They want to buy me something fun, something I'll "enjoy". Chances are I won't, although I do of course appreciate the sentiment. Equally, I find it more satisfying to buy a "useful" gift for others. And of co…
While I like the ideea of this lifestyle, I can't do it. I simply love my tools too much. And I have a lot of them. And lopts of parts. At a first look, some might looks superfulous, for example, I have this wierd star-shaped screwdriver. Most of the time, I don't use it, but boy, when I use it, does it save me a lot of time.
Nothing wrong with that, I'm fairly minimal in the stuff I own but I have a tonne of cycling stuff (all of which is used, UK climate means you have to change up gear a lot) and tools since it's just not practical to buy those when I need them.
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#6Every time I have a birthday I am terribly worried about receiving some gift that I won't like from people who don't know me good enough but want to give me some present. Receiving a gift that I don't like and having to avoid showing that I don't really like it is worse than receiving nothing. In fact I have enough money to buy anything I want myself, so there is really nothing I would like to receive as a gift.
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#7My family has taken to giving "expereiences" rather than "stuff" because we prefer to live with less stuff.
So we'll get each other cooking classes, surfing lessons, bungee jumping, skydiving, etc. etc.
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#8Every time I have a birthday I am terribly worried about receiving some gift that I won't like from people who don't know me good enough but want to give me some present. Receiving a gift that I don't like and having to avoid showing that I don't really like it is worse than receiving nothing. In fact I have enough money to buy anything I want myself, so there is really nothing I would like to receive as a gift.
In fact I have enough money to buy anything I want myself, so there is really nothing I would like to receive as a gift.
That sounds like a closed mentality to me, you never know really, someone might just surprise you.
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#9Every time I have a birthday I am terribly worried about receiving some gift that I won't like from people who don't know me good enough but want to give me some present. Receiving a gift that I don't like and having to avoid showing that I don't really like it is worse than receiving nothing. In fact I have enough money to buy anything I want myself, so there is really nothing I would like to receive as a gift.
In fact I have enough money to buy anything I want myself, so there is really nothing I would like to receive as a gift. That sounds like a closed mentality to me, you never know really, someone might just surprise you.
Give me the gift of recognizing my preference for no material gifts.
EDIT: Or toilet paper. I'll eventually make use of and need TP.
Re: Why I don't want stuff
#10My family has taken to giving "expereiences" rather than "stuff" because we prefer to live with less stuff. So we'll get each other cooking classes, surfing lessons, bungee jumping, skydiving, etc. etc.
Birthday Dinner. Either very fancy home cooked, or go out to a very nice restaurant. Its fun.