sextonseven said:

I could never do this. I'm a homebody so I need lots of things at home to entertain me like music, film and print.

Having said that, a recent trip overseas I took, I found to be extremely satisfying and enjoyable so there will be lots more of those (hopefully) in my future.

I'm a homebody too, but I get MUCH MUCH joy from getting rid of things - much more than acquiring things. I love to put piles of things on the EXPEDIT in my hallway that I intend to give to various people, and when it's all cleared of stuff I feel great

I do like the suitcase life too, when I get home I usually clear out the rest of my wardrobe to the essentials

ZombieKitten said:

people are happier when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects, when they relish what they plan to buy long before they buy it, and when they stop trying to outdo the Joneses.

I'd agree with this and:

If Money Doesn't Make You Happy Then You Probably Aren't Spending It Right

In fact, scholars have found that anticipation increases happiness. Considering buying an iPad? You might want to think about it as long as possible before taking one home. Likewise about a Caribbean escape: you'll get more pleasure if you book a flight in advance than if you book it at the last minute.

I don't agree with this. "Stuff" makes me happier because I can enjoy the things I love again and again and again. Most experiences are finite in duration and when they're over, they're over. What if the experience doesn't live up to billing - and you don't enjoy it as much as you'd hoped? You spent all that money and have nothing to show for it.

You know what I remember about most of the experiences I've had in my life? What I was wearing. That tells me that, at least for me, the clothes (material objects) are at least as important - if not more so - than the experience, itself.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

Genesia said:

ZombieKitten said:

people are happier when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects, when they relish what they plan to buy long before they buy it, and when they stop trying to outdo the Joneses.

I'd agree with this and:

If Money Doesn't Make You Happy Then You Probably Aren't Spending It Right

In fact, scholars have found that anticipation increases happiness. Considering buying an iPad? You might want to think about it as long as possible before taking one home. Likewise about a Caribbean escape: you'll get more pleasure if you book a flight in advance than if you book it at the last minute.

I don't agree with this. "Stuff" makes me happier because I can enjoy the things I love again and again and again. Most experiences are finite in duration and when they're over, they're over. What if the experience doesn't live up to billing - and you don't enjoy it as much as you'd hoped? You spent all that money and have nothing to show for it.

You know what I remember about most of the experiences I've had in my life? What I was wearing. That tells me that, at least for me, the clothes (material objects) are at least as important - if not more so - than the experience, itself.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

That's me too! What I was wearing and everyone else too.

Shoewhore said:

Genesia said:

I don't agree with this. "Stuff" makes me happier because I can enjoy the things I love again and again and again. Most experiences are finite in duration and when they're over, they're over. What if the experience doesn't live up to billing - and you don't enjoy it as much as you'd hoped? You spent all that money and have nothing to show for it.

You know what I remember about most of the experiences I've had in my life? What I was wearing. That tells me that, at least for me, the clothes (material objects) are at least as important - if not more so - than the experience, itself.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

That's me too! What I was wearing and everyone else too.

Me too!

Clothes are a very important part of my life, for a lot of reasons.

ZombieKitten said:

sextonseven said:

I could never do this. I'm a homebody so I need lots of things at home to entertain me like music, film and print.

Having said that, a recent trip overseas I took, I found to be extremely satisfying and enjoyable so there will be lots more of those (hopefully) in my future.

I'm a homebody too, but I get MUCH MUCH joy from getting rid of things - much more than acquiring things. I love to put piles of things on the EXPEDIT in my hallway that I intend to give to various people, and when it's all cleared of stuff I feel great

I do like the suitcase life too, when I get home I usually clear out the rest of my wardrobe to the essentials

I do go through a paring down process every other month where things get sent to a new home on ebay. It is a good feeling knowing stuff that I consider to be excess have been removed, but more importantly have made someone else happy. I don't even care about making a profit on ebay, it's more about giving those things to someone that actually wants them instead of throwing them in the dustbin. That gives me great satisfaction.

Genesia said:

ZombieKitten said:

people are happier when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects, when they relish what they plan to buy long before they buy it, and when they stop trying to outdo the Joneses.

I'd agree with this and:

If Money Doesn't Make You Happy Then You Probably Aren't Spending It Right

In fact, scholars have found that anticipation increases happiness. Considering buying an iPad? You might want to think about it as long as possible before taking one home. Likewise about a Caribbean escape: you'll get more pleasure if you book a flight in advance than if you book it at the last minute.

I don't agree with this. "Stuff" makes me happier because I can enjoy the things I love again and again and again. Most experiences are finite in duration and when they're over, they're over. What if the experience doesn't live up to billing - and you don't enjoy it as much as you'd hoped? You spent all that money and have nothing to show for it.

You know what I remember about most of the experiences I've had in my life? What I was wearing. That tells me that, at least for me, the clothes (material objects) are at least as important - if not more so - than the experience, itself.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

certainly some objects do bring us happiness. I love a good pair of shoes, too, or a guitar, or whatever

I think a lot of people make the mistake of buying things they don't need because they are feeling incomplete in some way, where really they could put on their favorite shoes and play guitar with friends and it might bring a few hours of joy that would spill over into the next day.

Clearly we need some possessions, but sometimes they can act as more of a distraction from using the ones I love in situations that will make me happy.

I guess it's about balance.

retina said:

Number23 said:

retina said:

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully it will mean a fresh new chapter with new opportunities.

Pizza and chronic masturbation.

NDRU said:

See, it´s true that some materialist things may bring you joy over a longer period of time. For example, a great album will always bring you joy listening to it. A beautiful piece of clothing will always make you happy wearing it.

But I agree that in general, maybe about 50% if stuff that people have at home are useless and just make a mess. Of course, sizing it down to just 100 items is extreme, but I think there are many things to think about. I can imagine that it may be harder for those who have everything enjoy the little things in life. And I once read that by cleaning out your environment, you´ll clean your mind as well. I think it´s so true as well.

sextonseven said:

ZombieKitten said:

I'm a homebody too, but I get MUCH MUCH joy from getting rid of things - much more than acquiring things. I love to put piles of things on the EXPEDIT in my hallway that I intend to give to various people, and when it's all cleared of stuff I feel great

I do like the suitcase life too, when I get home I usually clear out the rest of my wardrobe to the essentials

I do go through a paring down process every other month where things get sent to a new home on ebay. It is a good feeling knowing stuff that I consider to be excess have been removed, but more importantly have made someone else happy. I don't even care about making a profit on ebay, it's more about giving those things to someone that actually wants them instead of throwing them in the dustbin. That gives me great satisfaction.

it's nice to find a good home for your stuff - someone will love it much more than you do. I had a print of an angel in a frame that I sold at our garage sale. The guy that bought it was IN LOVE with it!!! I was so happy! because I hated it

Don't get me wrong, I regularly clean out the house and always donate anything the local shelter run secondhand store will accept (which is usually everything). But I'm not down with the whole money and possessions don't bring you happiness nonsense. If you're unhappy to begin with, maybe they don't. But I'm generally a pretty happy guy. And buyin' stuff with my money only makes me happier.

Cerebus said:

Don't get me wrong, I regularly clean out the house and always donate anything the local shelter run secondhand store will accept (which is usually everything). But I'm not down with the whole money and possessions don't bring you happiness nonsense. If you're unhappy to begin with, maybe they don't. But I'm generally a pretty happy guy. And buyin' stuff with my money only makes me happier.

ZombieKitten said:

sextonseven said:

I do go through a paring down process every other month where things get sent to a new home on ebay. It is a good feeling knowing stuff that I consider to be excess have been removed, but more importantly have made someone else happy. I don't even care about making a profit on ebay, it's more about giving those things to someone that actually wants them instead of throwing them in the dustbin. That gives me great satisfaction.

it's nice to find a good home for your stuff - someone will love it much more than you do. I had a print of an angel in a frame that I sold at our garage sale. The guy that bought it was IN LOVE with it!!! I was so happy! because I hated it

I need to do that soon! I want to have a "Naked Lady" party, where girlfriends get together and bring their old shoes and accessories, put them in a big pile in the middle of the room, and then find "new" things to take home, while discarding their old things.

UnbeWEAVEable said:

ZombieKitten said:

it's nice to find a good home for your stuff - someone will love it much more than you do. I had a print of an angel in a frame that I sold at our garage sale. The guy that bought it was IN LOVE with it!!! I was so happy! because I hated it

I need to do that soon! I want to have a "Naked Lady" party, where girlfriends get together and bring their old shoes and accessories, put them in a big pile in the middle of the room, and then find "new" things to take home, while discarding their old things.

I used to ALWAYS call my computer "Naked Lady" so that when there was a printing queue at work, it would say Naked Lady was printing

I think I have been to a thing like that, I gave someone all my Seal CDs and came home with a mop