While stuff may be the most vague word in the English language, I think everyone knows what I’m talking about.  Stuff is usually accumulated over time, we get stuff in the form of event t-shirts, “stocking stuffer” gifts, good deals we can’t say no to, hand-me-downs, or my favorite “stuff we hold onto in case we might need it again someday.”  In many instances this “stuff” triggers a memory which makes us feel attached to it.

I tell you this because I accumulated a lot of stuff in my life.  In fact my mother encourages it, she calls them “memories,” and she refuses to throw anything of my “Memories” away.  Regardless, I never really thought I had a problem until I got rid of it all.  This magical day came when I packed up my stuff after College graduation.  There was no way I could get it all in my truck so after much debate (and the fact that I was broke) I sold all my furniture, donated all of my “stuff” to charity, and packed everything else into my truck.  At that point in time I had never felt more free in my life.  I didn’t feel like anything was tying me down, I could drive anywhere I wanted to and start anew.  I got a rush from that feeling, and so I’ve chased that feeling.

Now that Mary and I own a house, this is a much harder feeling to chase, because, as a matter of fact, I am tied down.  But as a result of my moving experience, I’ve made a conscious decision not to accumulate stuff we don’t need.  I don’t want to become one of those guys who can’t even park his car in his garage because the garage is used for storage of stuff.

Here are some basic steps that I’ve found helpful in getting rid of stuff, making a few bucks in the process, and avoiding the accumulation of stuff:

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