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Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by MrFoof on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @01:28AM (#1810129)
There's an old William Morris quote that I tend to live by: Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful.

In the past 2 1/2 years or so I have been slowly paring down my possessions. As a result my living space has decreased from 960 ft2 to 720 ft2, and now to 670 ft2. In 4 months, I could consider downsizing again, probably to 550 ft2 or so. Less space means I can get a nicer space for the same money (though usually less), in a better location. Maybe I'd consider staying put if I had a live-in girlfriend, as there's plenty of closet space for someone else's things.

It's amazing the amount of stuff you tend to haul around with you. What do I miss that I've gotten rid of? Not a thing. I now know where everything is. It's getting increasingly easier to get at everything Cleaning is simple. A smaller space means lower utility bills (i.e. electric going from $80/mo to $35/mo). Fewer clothes (that I never wear) means less laundry to do. I still have some useless things that have sentimental value, and it'll probably take considerably more time before I consider passing those along.

Though most importantly, it leaves more money available for the things you really care about. Money is ultimately a tool, and I'd rather have it available for more worthwhile things.

Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by sasmith on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @01:34AM (#1810143)
How does fewer clothes that you don't wear mean less laundry?
Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by MrFoof on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @01:39AM (#1810157)
Less closet space being wasted. It's nearly 2AM, so I'm not as coherent as I'd normally be. Though if you have an overly packed closet, it could result in some garments needing to be ironed more from being crammed together all the time.
Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by Sirlord on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @03:33AM (#1810379)
I think it's a bad example. More clothes mean you will do laundry less often but have bigger loads when you eventually do, while having fewer clothes means doing laundry more often.
Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by tome on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @06:25AM (#1810649)
The quote is "useful or beautiful" which is significantly different!
Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by tomjen3 on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @04:19AM (#1810453)
>“To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.”
Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by forensic on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @06:06AM (#1810617)
That's an outdated perspective based on mechanical invention.

My inventions are informational. I do need a pile of junk on my harddrive and servers, though.

Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by yardie on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @09:06AM (#1811002)
Mechanical invention is outdated? So who's going to create all the really neat steampunk?
Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by forensic on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @07:06PM (#1813518)
There are more forms of invention now. So the maxim doesn't apply as much as it once did.
Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by nodata on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @02:46AM (#1810301)
Did you blog this? Got a link?
Re:Stuff Costs More Than You Think by MrFoof on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @12:02PM (#1811705)
Unfortunately not. Work tends to take over my life, so I've little free time to myself. Except for now, where I got sick of work taking over my life and I've placed myself back on the market.