I have been reading old threads and it is interesting to see who is how sentimental. I am curious whether it is related to how much history you keep track of or whether is is just personality. I remember where everything came from - a blessing and a curse. I certainly will never re-gift something to its giver (unless to offer something possibly back before getting rid of it), but it does make it hard sometimes to part with even things I do want to get rid of. Sometimes I will go through a get-rid-of box with dh and as he says, "yup, fine, yeah, we can get rid of that too" I feel obliged to ask if he wants to know its story, history or source before it goes. Luckily for him he has little such baggage! You?

I pretty much know the story of things in our home but I can also be ruthless about getting rid of things that I don't LOVE. We have moved alot and one of the requirements of keeping things for us is that it needs to be things that we really like.

I know the story, and the price. LOL! My mom always used to say that I had a price tag on everything... but I think it just fell into the story of my stuff for me. ;)

Val

Unfortunately, I don't know the story of everything but I do know the story of things that mean a lot to me. When I'm cleaning out my closet and find clothes that still have tags on them and have never been worn, I know I have way too much!

See, often I wish I didn't remember everything about everything. It would be so much simpler to just get rid of things without having to say a heartfelt goodbye or retell its story one last time or even take a photo. I see nothing wrong with not knowing that stuff!

I agree... sometimes it would be easier. I can think of many things that have hung out at my house for far too long because I knew them very very well.

I know the story and the price as well. I also know where I have purchased every article of clothing we own. :lol:

I am not a pack rat (although I do have a lot fo stuff...maybe less than some, but more than the rest of the world!), but I know where I got my towels, my yarn, my cooking stuff etc. I have some antiques and I know which side of the family it's from, or where and when I bought something. I also do not keep gifts that are not needed by us. I have given away plenty of wedding, b'day, christmas etc gifts. If I don't like it, don't need it, I don't keep it in the house. I am pretty clear in telling family members that I do not want them to spend money on me, and that I am hard to buy for. My parents just give me money or GC now. My MIL has always only ever given us money. My mother asks what she should buy the children.

I don't think I've upset people, I think people get it.

I think. :eyes: I hope they don't think it's witchy.

I even know where we've gotten all our books.

I don't know what thay says about me, but it sounds kind of quirky.

I pretty much know the story of things in our home but I can also be ruthless about getting rid of things that I don't LOVE. We have moved alot and one of the requirements of keeping things for us is that it needs to be things that we really like.

Me too! But honestly, I think ruthless is *good*. What we do not want can be a treasure to someone else. Why deny others the thrill of finding our discarded (but serviceable) stuff at a thrift store? I love to give things away as well. I gave away an entire living room set to a newly married couple and it felt wonderful!!

I have been reading old threads and it is interesting to see who is how sentimental. I am curious whether it is related to how much history you keep track of or whether is is just personality. I remember where everything came from - a blessing and a curse. I certainly will never re-gift something to its giver (unless to offer something possibly back before getting rid of it), but it does make it hard sometimes to part with even things I do want to get rid of. Sometimes I will go through a get-rid-of box with dh and as he says, "yup, fine, yeah, we can get rid of that too" I feel obliged to ask if he wants to know its story, history or source before it goes. Luckily for him he has little such baggage! You?

Yep!

I have had little ceremonies in my head for things I discard. When I was finally giving away the last of the baby things, I pressed my face into a pile of little t shirts and thanked the universe for the experience of having small children. When I gave away my furniture that no longer suited us, I thanked it for serving us well and for surviving little children jumping all over it. I sat down on each piece and patted it goodbye. When I have given away gifts that I cannot use or do not appreciate, I say a little thanks in my heart to the giver for thinking of me, and caring about me.

Not needing something any longer does not mean you don't respect the thought of the giver, the use it once had in your life, the joy it once gave you, or the warmth it provided. Letting things go allows them to be used or cared about by someone who now needs it and/or will better apprecite it. Imo, that is better than items sitting unused and unloved in a closet or damp basement until it's moldy or worthless.

I know where everything has come from, who gave it to us, for what reason, etc etc. I get so guilty dumping stuff that has a real meaning to us, even if the stuff itself is useless. I am working hard on getting over that!

I know pretty much all the stories of all items in my house...weird, but even DH always jokes about it.

Since I am so extremly sentimental about clothing for excample....I have now started a bin with those items that I will make into quilts for the kids so that they can both have their individual memory quilt (first outfit, certain pcs of clothing that they wore in special pics...and I will incoporate the pictures in those quilts). This way I get rid of clothes....but keep the memories and can hand them down to the kids as a keepsake.

i know the story of every item in our house. I am very ruthless in getting rid of stuff.

Nice to know I have company :) I always thought I was a weirdo for remembering where we get evertything from. I also remember the price and any othe pertinent details.

We have moved 4 times and have owned five homes since Gabe was born. After moving out of the first house with double the items we moved in with I decided to get diligent about decluttering. We now own about 1/3 of what we used to and I don't think there is anything in my main living floor that I don't love (other than my furniture which is functional and in good shape but not my taste).

My neighbors are always wowed by the fact that I can cook from scratch, be so involved with the kiddos, and keep a very clean home. They can't seem to understand that lack of stuff frees up alot of time for me to do the above.

We are taking a minimalist approach to belongings and I wouldn't have it any other way :)