Post: #1

Just curious because I'm going through the process of getting rid of a lot of things that I had come to realize I didn't need.

Anyone else do this before?

How did you feel afterwards and what did you do afterwards?

Post: #2

I've got some stuff stashed in storage (photos, books, a few childhood mementos) but apart from that for the last few years I have just owned the contents of a small suitcase.

I miss having more books and musical instruments, overall it's been a wash.

Post: #3

I passed a spartan existence once in a far off land, in a city where I knew no one and had no money. I was forced to spend three months there, biding my time until September, with only a couple pieces of luggage which fit some clothes and some books.

I didn't even have Internet access or a phone.

With enough money after rent to spend like $20 on everything else, including food.

I know that this is not exactly the same situation but for what it's worth, I really enjoyed it. You don't need much to be happy. You adapt.

However. The caveat is that though overall I was happy with less, I did genuinely miss certain things. I missed some of my nicer clothing, for example. I know that if I dumped pretty much all of my clothing now, my quality of life really would go down. And my camera. And books - really no one can ever really go wrong by having some good books around. Fan/AC, sound system and music collection, water kettle for tea.

Things that I was glad to do without: Computer, Internet, phone, TV (but only shitty stuff like cable/satellite - I genuinely missed being able to watch a film from time to time and would keep around a TV and some sort of non-Internet media player for films only), video games, lots of kitchen stuff (just ate rice and fruit at home, and had healthy lunches out every day).

Post: #4

(10-05-2014 06:08 PM)jariel Wrote:  Just curious because I'm going through the process of getting rid of a lot of things that I had come to realize I didn't need.

Anyone else do this before?

How did you feel afterwards and what did you do afterwards?

I had a garage sale before I moved out to Asia. There was a ton of stuff that I really wanted to hold onto, like a hat collection I had been accumulating for 5,6 years and other things like that but I just dealt with the feelings of attachment that you have for your things. I also sold some books that I grew to value a lot which was probably harder to let go of. I ended up making a measly $60 from my stuff and selling my car to my brother, but the amount of relief I felt afterwards was priceless.

Growing up my pops always held on to everything no matter what it was, I damn sure don't want to end up like that aha. His basement is jampacked with useless garbage

Granted it depends upon how much stuff you have, I personally didn't really have many things, but even getting rid of the few, almost useless things I did have felt pretty good.

Post: #5

Make sure you know the value of the item you're selling. Don't be like that dumb ass who sold an 160,000.00 diamond for $20 of weed

Post: #6

Yes.
Feeling afterwards was 'relief', since my quality of life there had been about 2/10.

It's better to do a bulk listing of your stuff on 'Craigslist' type websites, then people show up and buy, much less effort than any other form of sale.

Post: #7

(10-05-2014 06:08 PM)jariel Wrote:  Just curious because I'm going through the process of getting rid of a lot of things that I had come to realize I didn't need.

Anyone else do this before?

How did you feel afterwards and what did you do afterwards?

I have a bed with two nice set of sheets. Two nice button down shirts, two v-neck t-shirts, two pair of good jeans, two sets of gym clothing, socks and undies, one pair of black leaver shoes and one pair of casual shoes.

In my living room I have a meditation cushion of the floor and a desk with a laptop and a chair to work.

I'd love to get rid of the fridge and washing machine but food need to be stored and shit needs to be washed.

The car must go one day but I still use it to drive to the gym and back. That would be a fair bit of a walk otherwise.

That's it. Everything else is gone.

I've raised almost $5000 selling the shit of eBay.

Feels awesome.

It is only the first step though. The end game is to fit all my possessions in a medium suit case plus a messenger bag (NOT for traveling, just size wise).

Had mixed feelings about my library as I love to read and had some nice collection. Well, turned whatever I could into e-books and scanned some books I couldn't find.

Post: #8

I've been in China 10 years. A few years ago I took all the books, clothes, cds, electronics from my parents basement and gave that stuff to friends and cousins in the states. Every time I met someone I gave them a book with a short note in it, or clothes if they fit them, boots. I gave away my DJ set-up, technics 1200s, mixer to a friend, with some books and comics.

Im not using the stuff, give it to others, make their life better. Here in China if I dont use something, I put it out on a table. If I dont use it or want to put it away, I put it in a box and give it to someone else. Less shit is better.

Post: #9

(10-05-2014 09:21 PM)L M McCoy Wrote:  Make sure you know the value of the item you're selling. Don't be like that dumb ass who sold an 160,000.00 diamond for $20 of weed

Don't be like Days of Broken Arrows who sold off rare old vinyl records at $5 a pop, only to see things like the Velvet Underground bootleg turn up on eBay years later with a starting price of $100.

The only "purge" I'm into these days is that movie about girls with eating disorders -- or whatever the hell it was about.

Post: #10

I have a 500+ vinyl record collection and around 5000 books gathering dust in my apartment back home.

Ive been meaning to do this once I get back. Ill pack them all in boxes and sell them off for $5 each. Im doing a sieve, and keeping only arouns 100 books and perhaps 50 records. I dont read or listen to them anymore, as I read on my Kindle and listen to music on my computer or phone, a few books Im keeping for sentimental reasons (like a couple signed copies and some poetry my friends wrote) and a few records for show. Everything I cant sell im giving away, and everything thats left is going to the trash.

It has gotten to a point where its encroaching on my living space. I have a small one bedroom apartment, and I have around 10 or 12 boxes of books in my tiny living room, plus a couple more in storage.

Post: #11

(10-06-2014 08:14 AM)Days of Broken Arrows Wrote:  Don't be like Days of Broken Arrows who sold off rare old vinyl records at $5 a pop, only to see things like the Velvet Underground bootleg turn up on eBay years later with a starting price of $100.

I thought of that too, but reasoned that if I had wanted to sell them, I should have done that already, and frankly, I have more need of $5 right now than holding on to my useless possesions for years on the remote chance that I might get $100 from them in the future.

Post: #12

While not exactly a complete purge, I had a weekend-long garage sale that was disappointing financially as it was a ton of work and I had to give shit away that was easily worth $20-$40 bucks, but my peace of mind, and the lack of complete clutter in my garage leaving me enough space to park my car was awesome. The garage sale was after I'd got rid of a bunch of stuff in my place by putting it in the garage to be sold.

I gave away a ton of shit. I was sad briefly about some of it. Mostly it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders (especially going minimal in my main living spaces). It also helped my financially because I was better setup to sublet my place for short vacation rentals which were lucrative.

I gave away or sold my childhood teddy bear. I listened to it's music box one last time, smiled, and handed it over. What am I going to do with it, really? The only things I didn't get rid of were boxes of stuff I needed to sort. Round 2 will be happening this winter after I sort all the stuff in those boxes. Then I'll be down to just the functional/useful stuff.

Next will be the closet and my bedroom. I'm looking forward to it.

Post: #13

I am going to sell a bunch of things in my apartment that I have no use for. I don't have the time or patience to sell all of it so I am paying someone to sell everything on ebay in exchange for a percentage.

Post: #14

I've been meaning to clear a bunch of my stuff out, but I don't have a garage and we don't have the same culture of a garage sale here in Scotland anyways. Car-boot sale places nearby are done for the season as well since it's starting to piss it down with rain every other day. The thought of listing a hundred individual items on ebay to make maybe $1 off each just seems too time-consuming, but I guess it has to be done.

As a few others have said, the thought of reducing my possessions down to a suitcase or two of clothes and essential items would be ideal. I think I'd always have one box or suitcase in a storage locker somewhere though, a few childhood memories and medals, and unique items from my travels that I'd be loathe to get rid of completely.

Post: #15

try to be minimal but its tough unless you are really rich and can just rent everything or live a life of a spartan hipster that spends most of his time in coffee shops and bars.

Work clothes - Work in a winter environment outside. A couple coveralls, one good sweater, one good pair of sweats, a cover all type parka for cold slow days, lots of socks, gloves, hard hat, boots (winter and summers), cheap shirts, shitty underwear, eye wear. Thats a suitcase in itself. I try to be pretty minimal, most guys have 4+ pairs of pants and 3+ sweaters

Motorcycle gear- gloves, shoes, helmet, jacket, all pretty bulky and space filling

Tools - Dont have a lot, but I think they are necessary if you are a man and work on your own shit

Wanted to pick up mountain biking or fat biking but thats a whole nother set of gear plus 1k up for a bike. the expensive and annoying part of every hobby I noticed is not the main gear but the accessories which clutter things up and have much lower resale value (motorcycle I sold for $100 less after a year, but insurance was like 2k for that year, diy tool can be sold same price if bought used but always left over nails, parts and glue and stuff that you keep around)
In the end I try to buy quality used or new so its easy to get rid of. Some stuff especially technology wise its tough cause it will loose value and be obsolete anyway within a couple years.

Edit, as for books, I pick up most second hand or at book trade places, I keep around interesting ones I think people might enjoy reading and give it to them if the situation arises. Library and ebooks these cover my reading needs, dont see a reason for holding on to them.

Post: #16

I moved to China a bit over a month ago and only had a small sports bag of stuff with me. That was everything I owned except I had a small box of personal belongings at my parents house.

It is liberating. Now I already have bought tons of stuff here but here it is so cheap that when I need to give up all this stuff, I don't think I will have any problems.

Post: #17

I did right before I moved to South America. My furniture, truck, dog, bunch of clothes, computer, gym equipment, everything save a few momentos and my antique library collection. Everytime I felt myself getting sentimental over something I thought of Indiana Jone's father telling him to "Let it go". It's for the better in the end. Feels great afterwards. I liken it to taking a good detox.