The Cost of Stuff

“I love my stuff” – A famous comedian George Carlin did a hilarious routine about “people and their stuff”. It was not only funny but profound. People all need their stuff around them. They become emotionally attached to their stuff, whether they bought it or inherited it from a loved one. We keep mementos from our family and friends. Name it, we become attached to it. It’s our stuff!

When you think about the cost of your stuff I'm sure you're thinking about dollars, but what other costs are there? Think about the cost of having stuff and most people think about the emotional, physical, and relationship cost.

Let’s break it down:

How much do you really love it?

This is where you have to be completely honest with yourself. Do you LOVE it, or do you just love it? On a scale of 1 – 10, how much do you love it? When you start to compare what you have, my guess is each item won’t be a 10. This step is necessary to gauge what is kept, sold, given to loved ones, or donated.

Home inventory:

Everyone should have a home inventory. In case of a catastrophic event like a fire, burglary or flood, your insurance company will want an inventory to help you rebuild. You will need it when you elect to downsize, or de-clutter your home. Having one is only helpful AND it costs very little!

Why not take it a step further and rank your possessions at that time? Home inventory software programs are lifesavers when the crisis strikes. Imagine your possessions on a spreadsheet that looks something like this:

Your inventory file will help you to evaluate your emotional attachment to items in your home and begin to weed out the least desirable ones.

To have a home inventory is to have peace of mind. It is more likely that unplanned events will happen than not – so it’s not usually a matter of “if” there is a crisis, but more likely a question of “when.” That may sound pessimistic, but when you consider the multitude of life events that would trigger the need for an inventory (fire, flood, divorce, bankruptcy, medical emergency, etc.), an inventory is not only prudent, but seemingly necessary. Times of crisis are the least-effective times to think through complex decision-making. Any work you do in advance will not only lower your stress levels, but will also lower the event’s financial impact. Making a home inventory is an optimistic choice: it is about seeing yourself as calm and effective in the face of a crisis and having the right tools at hand.

If you do not have a home inventory, contact us at Project Move Up to schedule your assessment and get started on your inventory today.