This conversation keeps reminding me of the two different times in my life when
Granma's cremains were in a baggie and the baggie was in a box.
Now both the boxes have been buried in the plots where each Granpa's coffin is. One in SanFrancisco and one in Detroit.
Anyways, seems there is always a box involved somewhere.

Dave, I can visualize a mummy wrapped in plastic bags, ice cream containers on hands feet and head, and private parts of course.
Sure wish we could all have a box exchange, and go through each others boxes, and only save 2 items from each box, more if it is solid gold.
While out in garage, remembered all the hours I spent cleaning, painting, and organizing that area. Since I did not label cupboards, most are still empty, and stuff is in boxes and counters, waiting for a permanent home. I need things labeled, to know where to put similar items. While out there, saw I still have way too much stuff.
The journey continues.

And for your humor today, I'm thinking about containers and going into elevated stress levels thinking about not having any plastic bags with me in my coffin! (Seriously! and I guess that gives a suggestion about a ways I have to go yet.)

Hmmm.......
So for my tombstone---- His final container? :)

it was so great reading your posts on here, haven't looked at this for quite awhile. Dave, great description of how important it is to save containers, you state things so wonderfully, very entertaining.
Last year at this time, I was working in garage, and no one would take my Christmas stuff for donation, so I put it up in loft of garage. I got some down in fall and donated, but not the ones in the back. Since then while working on roof repair, stepped on weak part and foot went though to bags. Then it rained, so put a tarp on that part of garage roof. Reading your posts, made me remember how silly it was to store stuff up there, it is an old piece of junk garage in the first place. More importantly, once stuff goes into a box or bag and is tucked away, it is forgotten. By the time I finally get it down, it may be full of spiders, or who knows what. Good lesson in tossing stuff. Much of what I think needs to be donated, everyone already has too much of. We really have too much of everything in this country, and poor people don't want my old junk anyway.

What's in my boxes, bags, and containers?...
it is partly the way i grew up... poor... where it was "waste not, want not" and "use it up wear it out, make do or do without." and my mom was the last of seven children and 7 yrs younger than the next oldest. They babied her, and with a mother, and 4 older sisters she didn't learn much cooking and housekeeping. that and the fact that i was in college and a biology major in the early sixties when ecology was a BIG DEAL. so that pretty much translates as don't throw anything away. i have boxes of clothes and fabric that i just need to alter or make something else out of. bags of grocery bags, cottage cheese containers, yogurt containers, QT cups and lids, mcd coffee cups etc. etc. because it is "wrong" to waste money on fabric, trash bags, containers for left overs and disposable cups when you can reuse what you already have. the big 3 Rs: Rethink, Reuse, Recycle... Then add in an appreciation of and PASSION for making things and creating something unique. especially "new" from "old". So now I also have boxes of books, paper work, craft supplies, sewing kits (which I can't find), etc. and files and files of sites and ideas from the internet. Anyway much of this probably should be on the why I hoard thread. my computer files have all kinds of cross references because of this. I am going to post a couple things on there that are recent examples of why I hoard and am a pack rat.

Working on some living room boxes to get space for Mrs Dave. The place she gave me to just transfer boxes to is almost full. so guess what I found? Plastic Bags!!!!!! And plastic Ice Cream buckets!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And 1 fleece glove. (But no socks in the current group of boxes. There were 2 pair in another box 2-3 weeks ago.)

I recycled about half the plastic bags. I saved the ones that I had sorted out in the past and folded neatly and 3-4 large ones for kitchen trash bags.

I started those boxes with the firm intention that I would discard the plastic ice cream buckets that would turn up. They sure looked handy though when I found them. Some were different than the current crop at the store, just translucent plastic without any printing on them. And the lids are a record of the different kinds of ice cream. There is a neat pile of buckets and lids next to a leg of the dining room table. (Not ON the table.) Separation anxiety? (Just so you have the complete picture, there are two stacks of plastic ice cream buckets and lids in the basement that are each at least 2 feet high.)

I will keep the glove at least for a little while to give the other one a chance to turn up. they are the same color as a fleece vest that I am going to keep. I apparently took them out of the vest sometime in the spring and then they got separated.

as a 29 year old homemaker even I can see the logic in that Barb, I'm trying to get our stuff reduced so my kids can see how much we really don't need to be happy. materialism has truly gone too far in our society.

My parents drove me to college the weekend before I was to begin classes. I had one suitcase and a brand new bedspread for my bed. That was it. My little transistor radio, alarm clock and dictionary were tucked inside the suitcase along with my clothes and one set of towels.
We were shocked to see the large trailers pulling up outside the dorm. Other parents were busy unloading stereos, TVs, and small refrigerators and hauling them up in the elevators.
I live in a university community. Today the amount of stuff the kids bring is unbelievable. And the amount of stuff left behind at the end of the school year when students move out is even crazier.
When I grew up in the fifties and sixties, we had a national ethic of sharing resources. We supported public parks, public libraries, public pools, etc. Everyone had access to recreational and educational opportunities.
Now we have a different national ethic. "I want my own." And we all, rich and poor alike, have way too much stuff.

This was a great video! It was short and concise, just like what we need to live happiest.
The first, purge ruthlessly, is still difficult for me, I like the word ruthlessly in this context, will help.
Makes me appreciate my living space.
Very aware how much time has been spent with stuff.
Feel great I have stopped bringing stuff home unless I need it.
I instantly went to garage boxes. What is in those boxes? well I do not know and it doesn't matter, so why keep them. Only need what is currently being used.
I think I will try his method for 15 minutes today.
Thanks so much for posting this video.

so glad you posted this! It's completely reaffirming to see that the thoughts that have wandered into my head lately are spot on about how i view the objects in my home.

Wonderful video! :D

I got sidetracked reading the replies.
A lot of people missed the point and felt that the main point should be the "why" people keep so much.
Really, the "why" doesn't matter. We can all change our mindset.
Other comments were focused on the photo he showed of the high tech apartment.
They did not like the sterile look and could never afford such a place anyway.
That was not the point, the featured apartment was just an example of how we can function in a small space.

Any regular poster here can tell you that this link shows my dream home.
Small but very functional and creates almost no carbon footprint. :D

tiny homes

Great video!
My brother went to school in Boston. Grants and scholarships and working two jobs paid for school but apartment fees, even with roommates, are very expensive. He found a small butler's pantry to rent. Being very handy with tools, he built a loft bed with desk underneath, and shelves for books, clothes and food. It was neat and tidy and had everything he needed to live. He did have access to a bathroom in the building and got one meal at the restaurant where he worked.
We can live very simply when we have to.