It’s a generalisation, but I’m confident it’s true.
When I used to work for Telecom, installing DSL lines and what-not into all kinds of houses with all kinds of people, one thing that struck me is how much “stuff” we all have.

Garages and basements are the worst. They tend to be dumping grounds for all their excess belongings.
Pronounced “Garaahges” in the USA (“Garridges” everywhere else) are the permanant storage holds for dusty – but often like new – bicycles, extra TVs, camping equipment that gets used once every two years, sporting equipment that gets used, well, never, piles of books, shelving, cookware, et cetera.

You might think that it’s just you who has this collection of “stuff” (it works best if you screw up your face and say stuff it with a disgusted expression). I’ll bet you just tried it didn’t you?
Anyway, my point is that it’s not just you; your neighbour has all this stuff in their garage too; and so does their neighbour. I know this from more than a decade of climbing through cluttered garages.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not a nutjob who thinks we shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy our lives. There’s no law against having material possessions – and there never should be. However there does come a point when a lot of that stuff will simply be thrown out, ending up in a landfill – and that’s what I’m worried about.

We humans are a lazy bunch and I’m probably no exception. Chances are, when you finally get around to throwing out that box of children’s toys or outdated computer CDs, it’s not going to be recycled. Instead it’s going to end up in a landfill because you’ll just chuck it in the trash.

Disposable diapers (known as nappies in the rest of the world) are the worst. By the time your baby has grown up, studied, got a job, retired, then finally died from old age, those synthetic disposable diapers in a hole somewhere will not have even begun to decompose yet.
But diapers are a whole other story – let’s stick to your shed/garage/basement/guest room full of stuff for now.

Whether you use it or not, you’re most likely hanging onto your stuff because you think you’re going to use it again one day.
And who knows, maybe you will actually use your nephew’s skateboard sitting in that box – maybe even this summer? Or maybe next decade? Or perhaps the only time you’ll actually make use of it is when trying to elude Jesus’ henchmen when he returns for the rapture sometime in the future…

What I’m trying to say is you’re kidding yourself: most of that stuff is really just junk that you’ll never use again, ever. So my advice is to get rid of all that stuff – responsibly of course.

Tonight, go into your garage and write a list of what you have. Then after you’ve slept on it, and the enormity of your junk-pile has been digested, take that list and put every item into one of two categories.

Now this is where you have to be ruthless. No I mean it, really ruthless.

I want you to put a little tick next to every single item on that long list if you’ve used it within the last 12 months, and if you honestly believe you will use it again before this time next year.
On the other hand, put an “X” next to it if you haven’t used it within 12 months – and won’t use it again in another 12 months. Be honest.

That 3-person tent on the shelf for example. You didn’t use it last summer, and you have no plans to use it this summer – well, until you saw it of course, then you started creating reasons why you should keep it.
Don’t do it. Be realistic, then be ruthless and put an “X” next to it.

That table-tennis set folded up against the wall. Same thing, get rid of it. Again, be ruthless!
Same goes for that old TV, the unused computer printer that “just needs a refill”, the dead motorbike, the half-started car restoration from 3 years ago that’s become a shelf for more junk to sit on – believe me I’ve seen it many times – the list goes on and on. Be honest with yourself, and be ruthless

Can you sell some of that stuff with the “X” next to it? Good, do it. Then use the money to do something worthwhile such as a holiday, a hot-tub, or an electric car conversion.

The stuff you can’t sell, donate! Homeless shelters and charities will gladly accept useful items of clothing, shelving, furniture, sports equipment etc. Then of course, the stuff you can’t give away – recycle it at a plastics depot. If in doubt, ask your local council where you can drop it off. Don’t just throw in in the rubbish – remember what hasn’t yet happened to all those disposable diapers?

You’ll get extra cash, you’ll get your space back, and you’ll get something you can’t buy – a genuinely positive feeling that you’ve made a difference. So set the VCR/DVD recorder and record your favorite TV shows tonight, making a list of your stuff instead.
Don’t procrastinate, and remember, be ruthless!