Comments on: Our Love Affair with STUFF

By: Our Love Affair with STUFF | Adobe Tutorials

Our Love Affair with STUFF | Adobe Tutorials — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:25:19 +0000

[...] Never am I more aware of how much pull STUFF has than when I’m working with a family who are into it up to their armpits, or shopping with Alex. Maybe I’ve reached an age where stuff has lost it’s luster and that’s why I’m so unimpressed. Or maybe it’s because I’ve lost some stuff I thought was important only to realize how unimportant it really was Read the original post: Our Love Affair with STUFF [...]

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:33:57 +0000

Great blog, Gail! I just love watching your show!

A suggestion to Julie #2’s comment:
What about donating some of the toys that your family gives your daughter, to a charity? I’m sure there are tons of little girls and boys out there that would love to have new toys. Also, every year Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto holds a toy drive….you could go through some of your daughter’s old toys and donate them to Sick Kids toy drive.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:22:05 +0000

In June my daughters turned 7 and 4 years old and we have been stressing about the amount of ’stuff’ they have already acquired in their little lives. With their family alone (parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins, etc.) they would receive about 7 gifts each. Then they were both having a “friends” birthday party as well.
My husband and I felt that this was excessive and we started discussing the idea of charity with them. We researched some options in our town with the girls and they decided that the local food bank was where they wanted to donate.
On their birthday invitations they asked for a non-perishable food item in place of a gift. With the 2 parties we ended up collecting 2 full rubbermaid containers of food and baby items for the food bank.
The next week we took the donations in and the girls were asked to help put their items onto the shelves. There were people shopping for food at the same time and the girls saw first hand how important a food bank is in the community. My oldest was very shocked at how many people needed the food we took in and has been adding items to a box in our basement to donate again.
It was a very rewarding experience for our family and the girls didn’t miss the ’stuff’ but instead felt moved to continue to help others.

By: The basic necessities @ Saver Queen

The basic necessities @ Saver Queen — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:46:48 +0000

[...] about Gail Vaz-Oxlade’s blog post yesterday, Our Love Affair with Stuff, prompted me to share something that’s been on my mind for a while [...]

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:12:31 +0000

Such a timely post as usual Gail! I have been a “STUFF” getter. And now that I”m moving into an apartment to begin sharing my life with a man I love I’ve realized that our 1000 sq. ft 2 bedroom will be overrun by all my stuff!!

As most of it has been buried in my mother’s house since I’ve moved back from University (to start a career that at first didn’t allow me the income to get a small space in Toronto/Scarborough and afford it) It has been in the house untouched in quite some time. Having to pack up 2 places to move to one place has really brought to light that I have more than enough STUFF and I don’t need anything.

I am looking forward to packing it all up, unloading the essentials into the new place, and then having my first, very large Garage sale!! It’s funny that I am looking more forward to unloading my stuff than figuring out what I have and finding uses for it!!

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:35:33 +0000

Christy, what a beautiful post. Very well put, thank you.

I think this line is so true:
“it means looking for the things that make life rich that don’t involve stuff and more stuff. It’s a walk in the great outdoors, appreciating the beauty of sunlight dappling on water. It’s a game of pick-up road-hockey, a swim in the lake, a ride on a bike.”

What will make your life rich today, besides your stuff?

By: E

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:19:01 +0000

Maureen, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your two postings. Thank you for sharing with us.

By: Mike ARsenault

Mike ARsenault — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:17:44 +0000

Hello Gail, I’m a long time fan, first time commenter. Your post reminded me of a short film your readers might be interested in seeing. It’s called The Story Of Stuff, and it talks about where most of our stuff comes from and more importantly, what happens to all of it when we get rid of it. You can see it for free at http://www.thestoryofstuff.com, and for people who might be on the fence about taking a different approach to the acquisition of material goods, this movie is sure to help you make a firm decision. Our family has almost 100% given up on purchasing new things (other than food) due to this film and the recommended reading that goes along with. Please keep up the great work!!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:29:57 +0000

This is so true. A member of my immediate family is obsessed her with stuff and is a hoarder. She shops to feel good and get the temporary high, but her home is so filled with crap that you can’t even open the front door. Our family has not been to her home in years because it is uninhabitable. Yet, every time I talk to her, she is hitting a sale or shopping somewhere. Sadly, if you ask her what the most important thing in the world is, she will say her family…unfortunately she is alienating us with her hoarding and excessive spending. Actions speak louder than words, so clearly the things and the shopping are more important to her at this point. Too bad she doesn’t read Gail’s blog!!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:03:52 +0000

I thought I was moving earlier this year, so I finally sorted through 18 bags of “stuff” and got it sorted into one bag of paper and things to keep and then 5 bags of books to give to my local book swap place and 12 big garbage bags of things to give to charity.

I also boxed up my “spare” shoes, bags, linen, cd’s and dvd’s and took them to my parents. Well, it’s been a few months now and I haven’t missed anything I stored with them, so in a few weeks I will be heading up to their place to arrange for everything to go.

I don’t have the patience or follow through for eBay, and am happy for someone less fortunate than me to get these things for free or very cheap. I just want them GONE!!!!!

It is so freeing as well to know that I can have spontaneous visitors and have them into any room of the house and not have to move things around or stop them going somewhere.

Sarah (Australia)

By: Amber

Amber — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:51:24 +0000

I am in a purging stuff mode. The problem is that with 2 very young children the stuff just keeps piling on in spite of my efforts. I’m hoping that if I get in the habit now, though, eventually it will pay off. I won’t need diapers and potties and car seats and high chairs forever, right?

By: Have I permanently damaged my computer by doing this? | How To fix Registry

Have I permanently damaged my computer by doing this? | How To fix Registry — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:43:55 +0000

[...] Our Love Affair with STUFF « gailvazoxlade.com [...]

By: Lexi in Victoria

Lexi in Victoria — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:46:11 +0000

Experiences can cost money too. That is my particular debt problem.

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:44:53 +0000

I love the idea of giving “consumable” or experiential gifts for Christmas!
I know my mother hates Christmas shopping and has been looking for ways to stop the madness. (although I have to admit I love to shop for the perfect present!!). I think she will take this idea and run, so I will borrow your idea Pol and put it to my family. Thanks.
The last Christmas we had with my older sister in 2007(she was dying of cancer) we simply put together book wish lists and everyone picked a title from your book wish list. That was fun for all ages and less costly and less time consuming.

This week I have cleaned out closets because my neighbour wants a garage sale. I was slightly ashamed at the amount of clothing/stuff I have amassed. Some will go to the garage sale or Sally Ann, other stuff is certainly nice enough to go to the consignment shop.
So maybe I will recoup some of my idly spent cash after my sales!!

By: Risa

Risa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:48:37 +0000

As someone who recently changed her email signature to “Less stuff. More experiences.” this post strikes a chord with me.

Some things we’ve done with our kids (7 and 4.5) and “stuff”:

-purged, asking them if they would buy a new “X” from their allowance money if this “X” went missing. If the answer is no, pass it along.

- explained that our small-by-today’s-standards house is out of space, so if you want new things (cool toys, books, DVDs, shirts, whatever) that means other stuff has to be passed along

- put a limit on our Xmas shopping. For our boys, hubby and I do one “thing” gift (physical, concrete item) each, and the rest are “experience” gifts: zoo passes, tickets to children’s theatre, a homemade coupon for a trip to the dinosaur museum or swimming, etc. They don’t have to cost money–a coupon to teach my eldest how to make pancakes was also well-received. They get enough stuff from other relatives and friends, in all honestly, and have better memories from the things we do together than from THINGS themselves.

- take the family away for a birthday weekend instead of a traditional children’s party. We did this when my son turned 7 this year, staying overnight in Drumheller and visiting the Tyrrell (dino) museum. This was his choice rather than a party this year, and he loved it.