Attics or addicts

Don't be an attic junkie, or a basement hoarder, or a closet stuffer. Spread that joy around!

Holding on to things that are stored away is not frugal. A junk room is not cool, it's an addiction to another way of life.

People used to keep everything, old string, old dishes, old clothes, even old cars. But those people used those things. They didn't go out shopping, they went to the attic or chest and remade clothing for themselves and their children, They scavenged parts of whatever they had to fix, or make new appliances for themselves. They gave the mismatched dishes to the newlyweds who didn't have used stuff to scavenge from yet. Buying stuff was not a realistic option.

This is not today's world. Newlyweds want new things. Kids prefer second hand stores to patched old clothes and many of us don't sew. We throw appliances away and buy new ones because most of us don't know how to tinker in any useful way. It is easier to buy another spool of string or thread than to take the time to unravel an old garment. Some people even use paper plates and cups or paper diapers now.

Good or bad, we live in a throw away culture, only some people haven't figured that out. 

Some people continue to save things they no longer want or need. If you don't want it you can give it to a second hand store, or a neighbor, or your kids, but if none of them want it? Throw it away! I suppose you can put it up for sale and if you can sit on it until the right buyer comes along, sell it, but you will probably be shocked at what it is not worth.

Saving things with the idea that some day some one will need or want it is just an excuse. If no one wants it now what makes you think they will want it later? And the same thing is true of collections. All that hype about the future value of most collections is truly only hype. It's only worth something if you can sit on it until it sells. If you truly love it enough that you keep it out and look at it and thank yourself for buying it, maybe it is a good thing, but don't count on other people sharing that love. It will simply be something to dust, clean, and fret over, or God forbid, store!

Storing stuff takes up space. It costs to heat and cool that space which still collects dust and mold and bugs.

If you absolutely love something, buy it, keep it, use it. Chances are the things you truly love will fit into your life for a very long time. People tend to keep many of the same color preferences and ethnic preferences most of their lives. When something you adore no longer fits your lifestyle, it can often be altered to fit in some other way. Paint it, restructure it, reimagine in some other way and if you can't? Do not keep it. Find someone else who will appreciate it, but get it out of your house!