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Post by paulao on Jan 8, 2024 15:23:10 GMT
I’ve always been able to buy what I wanted. My parents could buy what they wanted. Fortunately they didn’t want much. But everything was good quality. My mother didn’t want “good” china or fancy jewelry. But she had a cashmere coat that she wore for decades. I’m 66 and am using kitchen items I remember from my childhood. In my 50s I realized that I’m like my parents. Whatever stuff I have best be quality and useful. I’d rather have one pair of lined wool trousers than 5 pairs of polyester that pill. Crass conspicuous consumption is not for me and yes, I will judge people who pay $300 for a pink Stanley cup. What will the next fad be? I don’t know, but I do know I won’t be buying it.
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Post by smasonnc on Jan 8, 2024 15:33:12 GMT
Can we start by making a New Year's resolution to carry reusable bags so we don't have to take single-use plastic ones? We can't all be ecology warriors, but if everyone does a little, it adds up.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 8, 2024 15:39:03 GMT
I also am careful with food and waste. I compost what spoils (very minimal now) and make sure to use items to their full potential (tops, ends, etc of produce and bones to make stock then that is composted). This is my next move. We are beginning a compost this spring as we are intending to have a garden for the first time this year. I'm so excited about this!
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wellway
Prolific Pea
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Jan 8, 2024 15:41:22 GMT
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 8, 2024 15:41:41 GMT
I do think about consumption, but not really from an ethical standpoint, but from a self-awareness, self-growth perspective. In the sense that I became aware a long time ago, that I was shopping and buying things to fill some hole that can never be filled by stuff. I love this. And I think it's all related/companion issue. I think when you are trying to do something good environmentally/ethically, it is normal to really question what you need and don't need. To learn to be very discerning. I think this might be an after effect of taking the first steps. But it is totally relevant.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 8, 2024 15:42:19 GMT
I agree that this is an issue too, especially in my brain. It is mostly with kitchen utensils that I have this problem. Haha... No, but seriously there was a thread probably six months ago where people were shaming someone because of their yarn stash. It was pretty hard core. But then this one woman spoke up and said that she over-bought for years and years. She said she was even secretly ashamed of the size of her stash. Then her husband had a stroke and was disabled in a way where he couldn't work anymore. Their income sank significantly to the point where she could no longer afford such luxury yarns. And she had been knitting her stash for 8 years! I think about that woman relative to this issue. This is partly why I am not sure it's really an all or nothing issue. I look at my scrapbooking stash through the lens of “look at how many of these companies have gone out of business in the years since I bought this stuff!” And it’s astounding. Back in the day when I was buying that stuff for my business 20 years ago, there were so many great small companies to buy from and it was for the most part very high quality product. Now many of those companies have either gone out of business or were swallowed up by bigger companies and the quality isn’t the same, or all the indie stores that sold those products are gone and all the chain stores carry are their house brands which are nowhere near as nice in terms of design and quality. So while I don’t really NEED 15 cubes of 12x12 patterned paper and cardstock, I know that if I get rid of it I won’t ever have access to anything quite like that again. Yes, there are places to buy patterned paper and cardstock today, but none of it is as nice as what I already have. And now that scrapbooking and paper crafting in general seems to be less trendy than it once was, even the chain stores have scaled WAY back on what they carry for their house brands because all of this stuff is cyclical and they’ve moved on to the next new trend.I purged my supply years ago and whittled it down, but still have a TON. Recently, a friend has mentioned wanting to do a few mini albums, and kid school albums. It got me excited again and I feel like now I won't (hopefully) have to buy much except adhesive to get started bc I have so much now!!!
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 8, 2024 15:44:06 GMT
Can I add an extra idea? Reusable bags are the norm here but I also have a foldable bag that clips on my handbag or will fit in a coat pocket. Really handy if you have popped in somewhere and your main reusable bags are in the boot of the car. I have a little foldable one that folds up to like a 5x5 square. Luckily I carry a pretty big purse, so I keep it with me all the time too.
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pantsonfire
Pearl Clutcher
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
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Post by pantsonfire on Jan 8, 2024 16:02:42 GMT
I also am careful with food and waste. I compost what spoils (very minimal now) and make sure to use items to their full potential (tops, ends, etc of produce and bones to make stock then that is composted). This is my next move. We are beginning a compost this spring as we are intending to have a garden for the first time this year. I'm so excited about this! I use the cities compost program but my aunt composts for her garden and it really helps! Our city garden programs also ask for food scraps to make compost. They turn around and offer free baskets to those who need fresh produce.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 8, 2024 16:06:20 GMT
I use the cities compost program but my aunt co posts for her garden and it really helps! Our city garden programs also ask for food scraps to make compost. They turn around and offer free basks to those who need fresh produce. This is a very cool thing your community does. I love this. At some point, maybe when I feel a bit more steady on what I'm doing, I can work with my community to try something like this.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Jan 8, 2024 16:15:14 GMT
The reason why so many companies destroy all that stuff is because they know people will pull it out of the dumpster (or in the case of donating it to a charity) or find it and resell it online for a huge profit. It undercuts the manufacturers and the retailers selling the stuff in the first place, and kids in need won’t ever end up getting them. Plus they really don’t want people going through their trash bin and potentially getting injured. In addition, it isn’t cost effective to pay to ship unwanted clothing, shoes or other items to low income countries where people truly in need could use them, so that’s why that doesn’t happen either. It doesn't help that we are such a litigious society, so manufacturers have to consider someone taking these items and then turning around to sue them for some reason. Then you have the issue of people taking the things and trying to return them to retailers for refunds (fraudulently). Over the past 10 years several retailers have changed their generous return policies because they were being abused. LL Bean and Talbots are two that I am aware of and I'm sure there are others.
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Post by myshelly on Jan 8, 2024 16:16:09 GMT
I digress - although I can't identify what made the Stanley cups popular, it is a good thing if it reduces landfill waste, microplastics and encourages hydration so finally, a fad that has positive benefits. I agree I'd rather see a reusable product used. I was just shocked to read on Twitter that people were using them as a fashion accessory. I am all about reusable containers, though. Ok, Stanley as an accessory girl here. It actually shocks me to read that people *don’t* see them that way. I mean, it’s something you carry with you and hold up against your outfit, so of course it should match. Why wouldn’t it? When I think of ethical consumption I think of disposable, single use products - paper plates, plastic ware, plastic water bottles. Until we get a handle on that I’m not going to feel bad about my Stanley collection or anything else 🤷🏻♀️
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Post by myshelly on Jan 8, 2024 16:18:24 GMT
And OP, since you mention being out of the social media loop, there’s a whole section on TikTok about overconsumption, which I think is more what you’re addressing here.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 8, 2024 16:28:00 GMT
myshelly, overconsumption is part of this issue. The same way Stanley as an accessory is to my Fiesta accessorizing my dining table. It affects all of us, including me. I'd like to see everyone doing what they can to help the issue as not all things are going to be possible for all people. No one is going to be perfect. But I won't agree that until everyone stops using single use products, we should just not do what we are capable of doing. Little actions, working together are what make our society better. I'm not asking you to give up your Stanleys if it's that important to you. I'm just asking if you take any action at all before choosing what to bring into your home and consume.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 8, 2024 16:31:08 GMT
And OP, since you mention being out of the social media loop, there’s a whole section on TikTok about overconsumption, which I think is more what you’re addressing here. I'm really not interested in TikTok, although I appreciate the suggestion. I like ideas and such but I'd rather stick to books and print media (and peas, I appreciate your suggestions and discussions too).
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Post by scrapmaven on Jan 8, 2024 16:44:53 GMT
I do put more thought into single use consumption, because that's so apparent. I don't want plastic utensils and please package my takeout in recycle containers or green can. In my community we have 3 cans each week, green can for yard and food waste, recycle and regular trash. So, I'm mindful of that sort of thing. peano and I have similar thoughts about wardrobe. I'm in the last trimester(however long that may be) of life and I don't need to be trendy or hip. I can't wear anything fitted, anyway. So, I dress for comfort and yes, I like to look cute, but I don't have to have the latest and greatest. Growing up we were taught that we should buy one item from a really good store, rather than 5 from a cheap store. That's how my mother was raised and she raised us that way. My biggest issue is that I don't like to spend money on myself, so I often bought cheap stuff to wear. Now, I'm going back to only buying one really good item. Having said that, I have way too many purses and anyone who knows me IRL will tell you that I use purses to spiffy up my outfit. In my defense, they're mostly gifts that I have received. I have other things that I'd rather get rid of. So, I do that. I purged a lot of other things this year. They say that you spend the first 50 years of your life accumulating things and the last 50 getting rid of things. We're at the getting rid of stuff phase of life. Dh was a packrat, but he's now able to let stuff go, largely due to my influence. I do think that we need to take our environmental hazards seriously and do what we can to protect our planet. As far as the Stanley cups, I don't like the idea of clearing out a shelf in order to resell it for a lot more. If you want to go into the tumbler business then get a resale license and go into the tumbler business. Don't be greedy. That's jmho.
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Post by Linda on Jan 8, 2024 16:45:53 GMT
We have reusable bags in the boot of each car and I have a string bag in my handbag for those small unexpected purchases - mine came from Aldi but I remember my mum having string bags when I was a kid
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pantsonfire
Pearl Clutcher
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 4,762
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jan 8, 2024 16:56:51 GMT
I have been using reusable grocery bags for 17 years now. The moment my grocery store started to sell them, I woukd buy 2 a week until I had 10. I then switched to their insulated zipper versions and they are awesome!
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pantsonfire
Pearl Clutcher
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 4,762
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jan 8, 2024 16:57:23 GMT
I store my bags inside 1 bag and on the side compartment of the trunk.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 8, 2024 17:41:26 GMT
I don't feel like any of the options in the poll really apply to me. I do pause my spending because I think I have too much (although I need to pause even more) but my first thoughts are that I don't have space for the item, am trying to reduce the amount of stuff we have, and don't want to spend the money. The environmental aspect is just a tiny part of that. But I do think about if I bought something, would I have a place/use for it already or would I need to get rid of something else. If the latter, would I want to get rid of that item or would I have a hard time with not keeping it? And if I got rid of it, what would happen to it? I have a much easier time letting things go if I know they will be used rather than thrown away.
I do have a problem with perfectly good items being trashed by stores after they have been returned. There has to be a solution to that. I know after it was posted here that Target throws away all of their clothing returns I asked a customer service person and she said that wasn't true. She said all food items had to be tossed, even if unopened (which I still think is horrible, even if understandable on some level) but not the clothes. There is also a place here that has opened up that seems to have contracts with stores like Target and Costco and they sell items at very low cost. I don't know if they are scratch and dent or just regular returns or clearance.
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mich5481
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Oct 2, 2017 23:20:46 GMT
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Post by mich5481 on Jan 8, 2024 17:57:12 GMT
I do have a problem with perfectly good items being trashed by stores after they have been returned. There has to be a solution to that. I know after it was posted here that Target throws away all of their clothing returns I asked a customer service person and she said that wasn't true. She said all food items had to be tossed, even if unopened (which I still think is horrible, even if understandable on some level) but not the clothes. There is also a place here that has opened up that seems to have contracts with stores like Target and Costco and they sell items at very low cost. I don't know if they are scratch and dent or just regular returns or clearance. Is it a Dirt Cheap? I liked that Dirt Cheap is Target's yard sale.
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pantsonfire
Pearl Clutcher
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 4,762
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jan 8, 2024 18:05:19 GMT
We have a few businesses that work with stores and sell, at a good discount, items that dis not sell.
We also have 1 that works with Disneyland.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 8, 2024 18:05:40 GMT
I do have a problem with perfectly good items being trashed by stores after they have been returned. There has to be a solution to that. I know after it was posted here that Target throws away all of their clothing returns I asked a customer service person and she said that wasn't true. She said all food items had to be tossed, even if unopened (which I still think is horrible, even if understandable on some level) but not the clothes. There is also a place here that has opened up that seems to have contracts with stores like Target and Costco and they sell items at very low cost. I don't know if they are scratch and dent or just regular returns or clearance. Is it a Dirt Cheap? I liked that Dirt Cheap is Target's yard sale. I don't remember what it's called. I saw an online article about a local couple who started the store (or something similar) awhile back, and last week saw a post in a FB group saying that they had new arrivals from Costco and Target. For example, the air fryer that I just bought from Costco for $110 on sale had a $40 sticker on it in the pic.
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maryannscraps
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Post by maryannscraps on Jan 8, 2024 18:13:10 GMT
I totally came in here to find out the links between hockey and sustainability.
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,600
Oct 2, 2017 23:20:46 GMT
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Post by mich5481 on Jan 8, 2024 18:23:00 GMT
Is it a Dirt Cheap? I liked that Dirt Cheap is Target's yard sale. I don't remember what it's called. I saw an online article about a local couple who started the store (or something similar) awhile back, and last week saw a post in a FB group saying that they had new arrivals from Costco and Target. For example, the air fryer that I just bought from Costco for $110 on sale had a $40 sticker on it in the pic. Probably not Dirt Cheap then - it's a chain in the Southeast. They had those Target designer dresses for the collaboration with Neiman Marcus years ago. I think the dresses had been $99 at Target, and I'm pretty sure I got them for just a couple dollars at Dirt Cheap. I wound up donating them later on, because when I did lose the weight to fit into them, I didn't like the way they looked on me.
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Post by katiekaty on Jan 8, 2024 18:31:30 GMT
I buy what I need. We generally use everything we have, a lot more frequently than some stuff. I have become more conscientious about food consumption however and over the years really been keeping to my meal planning and rotating through the pantry and freezer. I have started more gardening than just my herbs and shared with friends and neighbors this past fall. As far as other things, the clothes is the closet have been pared down, I have used some of my older cotton dresses in quilts and as pillow tops which was a way to hang on to them but still use them. A lot lot of stuff in the closet that I really liked but knew I wouldn’t wear again was given to various organizations along with all the shoes—either to he dress for success or some thrift shops. The garage is emptying out to. The craft and sewing stuff is a no touch zone😁 but I am going to try to reduce by giving away some of it or selling on eBay or marketplace but not in a hurry. We aren’t glutinous people-we don’t do major travel ( only to grandchildren once or twice a year for the ones up north and every other month for the closer one). I will drive my car till it pretty much dies. We are all very satisfied and happy with our stuff and each other, so really not big spenders.
i think one of the things that made me more aware of food waste was watching some of the Japanese documentaries on their country’s waste and how the country was trying to reduce it. And they showed how much other countries were wasting foo. It kind of made me realize that I should me more careful!
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Post by melanell on Jan 8, 2024 18:37:31 GMT
We are so in the habit of using things until they simply can no longer be used by us. We either use items until they can't be used any longer by anyone or we pass them on to someone else when we're done needing/wanting them. I'm currently wearing a fleece shirt that I've had for 2 decades now. "Fast fashion" is not part of my lifestyle. (Actually, my oldest creates art with found objects, so even broken items are often used to some degree, because we save broken items for him, and we have a few family/friends who do as well.) Plus, we buy a lot of items second hand. (And I can't tell you how often buying second hand still ends up with us having a brand new, never used product, so that says something about consumption in general in itself, I think.) Either to save money and reduce waste, or because in some cases we find older items to be better quality or to fit the style we prefer---such as furnishings. So, I don't really think very much about consumption when it comes to me & my family. We're just not consumers in that way. Now, we do have exceptions, of course. I do have a decent amount of scrapbook supplies (although I did get some of those second hand as well), and my kids love Lego, which is harder to find second hand, so we tend to buy new. BUT, I know we still purchase far less Lego & craft supplies than many, many other people. I am far more likely to think of consumption when I see other people mention or show their shopping habits. And it's not just in a "Oh my gosh, they're buying so much stuff!" sort of way, but also thinking about the fact that in order to keep that much stuff you need to keep buying/building/owning larger & larger homes, and that's something I think about quite a bit, living in the US, where house sizes are so much larger on average than they used to be.
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Post by melanell on Jan 8, 2024 18:43:02 GMT
Can we start by making a New Year's resolution to carry reusable bags so we don't have to take single-use plastic ones? We can't all be ecology warriors, but if everyone does a little, it adds up. We always use reusable bags to carry our groceries, but we also own a set of cute little super lightweight mesh bags that can be tossed in with our kitchen linens in the wash, that are perfect for produce. When we go to the farmers' markets, people tend to particularly notice & smile about those. And to bring back up one of my favorite things---the local Buy Nothing group---people are in the habit of offering up huge bags full of used grocery bags, and people snap them right up. (Some want them to reuse when putting items out for others when they give their own free things away.) So it's good to see the bags already in circulation being reused. I know our local library re-uses them as well.
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Post by melanell on Jan 8, 2024 18:51:58 GMT
Beyond consumer waste and larger homes, as someone who has now cleared out the homes of several different older relatives, if you fill your home to the brim with "stuff", eventually someone you love will have to deal with it all. And it's exhausting. And I know I still have more instances when I'll be the one clearing out. And that makes me really look differently at what we already have and what we need to keep.
Right now, we still have kids at home, so you know, a lot of what's here either isn't mine, or I can't just give it away without asking others how they feel about it. But I can go through my own stuff.
I keep papers---not scrapbook papers, but greeting cards, programs, school papers, etc., etc. and I have goodness only knows how many plastic totes of papers. So while I didn't buy any of those things, they are definitely a resolution for me this year. They need to be pared down SIGNIFICANTLY. Because that kind of thing will either just all go in the trash when I'm gone, or it will be a nightmare for my kids, depending on their personality, available time, & feelings when that day comes.
In the meanwhile, though, any furnishings with any sort of history, I have been writing up little sticker and placing them in hidden areas of each item to give a brief idea of how old the piece is and where it came from, in hopes that will help them some day in deciding what they wish to keep/sell/donate. And I've told the kids that I'm doing that.
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
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Apr 26, 2017 6:14:47 GMT
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Post by snyder on Jan 8, 2024 19:01:29 GMT
I have thought more about it in the last few years than ever, but I contribute that to being more informed through various meadia outlets.
I've always been pretty conservative with my buying and I do try to buy quality over price so that the items I do buy last. My sister would replace her furniture ever 5 years. That blew my mind. Of course I couldn't afford to do that, but I just didn't see the need to do such thoughtless spending. My sofa is 30 years old. Its the living room one and doesn't get the use like the family room one, so it has lasted. I researched a few years for it and I found one that I fell in love with and to this day, I still love it. People have told me I need to get rid of that old thing. Old? It looks new to me. Not worn, sagging, faded etc, so why replace it for the heck of it?
I appreciate companies that give me the opportunity to partake in good enviromental practices. Just one example is one resturant has switched out from the plactic type take out bowls to a fiber made bowl. I cringe when I place a take out bowl and lid made of plastic in the trash. I have saved several for reuse, but I also have Tupperware to store things for reuse. The Tupperware is old! Like 40 years old. Again, buying quality so that it lasts, but do admit to buying some new Tupperware recently, but it was because I didn't want to buy some off brand that would only last me 5 years vs 10+ years. (Tupperware is not the same quality it was 40 years ago)
My city sucks are recycle opportunities. I also feel like I should not have to pay to recycle and if one didn't have to pay, then maybe more people would reycle. Surely a recycle company makes profit off the items they accept as recycle. Maybe I need to learn more about that, but so is was not so expensive to recycle. I think its $10 a tv to drop off at one of our recycle places.
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Post by Merge on Jan 8, 2024 19:17:15 GMT
Beyond consumer waste and larger homes, as someone who has now cleared out the homes of several different older relatives, if you fill your home to the brim with "stuff", eventually someone you love will have to deal with it all. And it's exhausting. And I know I still have more instances when I'll be the one clearing out. And that makes me really look differently at what we already have and what we need to keep. Right now, we still have kids at home, so you know, a lot of what's here either isn't mine, or I can't just give it away without asking others how they feel about it. But I can go through my own stuff. I keep papers---not scrapbook papers, but greeting cards, programs, school papers, etc., etc. and I have goodness only knows how many plastic totes of papers. So while I didn't buy any of those things, they are definitely a resolution for me this year. They need to be pared down SIGNIFICANTLY. Because that kind of thing will either just all go in the trash when I'm gone, or it will be a nightmare for my kids, depending on their personality, available time, & feelings when that day comes. In the meanwhile, though, any furnishings with any sort of history, I have been writing up little sticker and placing them in hidden areas of each item to give a brief idea of how old the piece is and where it came from, in hopes that will help them some day in deciding what they wish to keep/sell/donate. And I've told the kids that I'm doing that. Yes. We did this when my parents died. My mom was a huge keeper of papers. Forty years’ worth in that house. And she never got rid of any clothes - any item we had ever worn was packed away neatly in the spare room closet or the attic. Such a nightmare. I won’t leave my kids a mess like that.
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