Is My Stuff Worth $10,000?? – a Listener’s Story

Since I last listened to you, I have taken up sewing and quilting as a hobby. I have a stash of fabric that is getting out of hand. I have great ideas, and then a strong urge to make them happen. Problem is, I have so much fabric and so few completed projects. I’m great at shopping and accumulating. I finally quit shopping for *most* things (trinkets, housewares, clothing) in 2019, after buying a house with my then-BF/now-husband.

The house is 1500 square feet, but seems much larger. The master bedroom is huge, and the other 2 bedrooms are tiny. There’s a huge living room with odd layout of dining room and kitchen has made me reconsider shopping for most things, but fabric has been a problem since I’ve taken up this hobby (late 2020).

Why I’m writing: I am finally catching up to your 2023 shows and #351 hit me HARD. In it, you asked the question of value for space vs stuff. You asked “what would you pay to keep this space tidy?” I have been a follower of your work and methods for so long, and this was like my “holy cow!” moment.

If a genie said I could have my house in a state of manageability forevermore, I would give him ten thousand dollars. That is what I’m willing to exchange for a harmonious home. $10,000 is a LOT of money. It’s a decent chunk of my salary. It’s a used car. A kitchen remodel. It’s a romantic vacation for 2 to Hawaii. more than I’m allowed to contribute to my IRA.

But at the same time, it’s not a lot. I broke my leg last year, which required surgery–I wouldn’t have thought twice about paying that much for surgery (because that’s one of those things that just costs what it costs). I wouldn’t be angry at my husband for spending that of his own money without consulting me. If a very necessary house repair cost 10k, I’d pay it in a heartbeat. But most of all: I’m certain I’ve spent more than that chasing a deal and then overbuying out of a scarcity/availability mindset.

So, in continuing to listen to the show and reflect on what I’m doing and what I’m willing to part with, I just keep repeating to myself, “ten thousand.”

I’m still not ready to get rid of all the brand new fabric. I’m still struggling with art supplies and other hobbies. But each collection of things can be repurchased for far less than 10,000. Heck, I could probably get rid of everything I own (outside of furniture, basic clothing, and dishes–bare necessities), and rebuy these unnecessary “toys,” for way less than ten thousand bucks.

There are, of course, some things that are harder to get rid of. It kinda sucks that I’m into vintage stuff! But they are things that I don’t think I can find again. 1930s plus size dresses that fit like a dream. Depression glassware. Treasures from my grandparents’ houses that are irreplaceable. Those make sense. But then there’s the silly things: Wii games (can you even buy those anymore??). Physical media (CDs and DVDs… am I really going to pay Spotify and Apple and Amazon and Netflix and Hulu and and and? But it’s not like I still have a CD player!). Books (as if libraries don’t exist). Puzzles (which are expensive, but do you ever do them more than a few times?). Games (gotta have Taboo and Scattergories and Telestrations to entertain!). And you know what? I was trying really hard to make a list of things I can’t let go of, and that’s pretty much it. These are all toys for adults.

So that is my huge DUH moment. Or Oprah would call it an AHA moment. Ten thousand. Would I be wasting 10k by getting rid of stuff? No. It’s more like I’m putting that much value into my house by not having it.