Home > Blogs > Jennifer Fivelsdal > Dutchess County real estate | Dutchess County real estate agent

Get Rid Of All That Stuff!

By Jennifer Fivelsdal

Real Estate Broker/Owner with JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 10491201242

December 19, 2006 02:42 PM

Today I had to make a trip to the local Staples because I ran out of paper. To do this I had to take a deep breath. You see, I hate shopping this time of year; there are far too many shoppers.

Watching people stuff there shopping carts made me think of all the stuff we have all acquired over the years.

We have so much stuff that we have gone from the garage to the self storage units. Do you know that the self storage business is one of the fastest growing businesses. Just driving through Red Hook and Rhinebeck you will notice many storage units. I have clients who have units in several states. The fact of the matter is that most of us can't even remember the items we put in storage.

I am personally guilty. I moved six years ago and I still have boxes in the basement I never opened. I couldn't tell you what is in the boxes, and by now I really don't care.

So, while I was in the checkout aisle it hit me. How about a nation-wide self storage yard sale? Just think of the cash that could be raised and the money could be donated to a good cause, maybe helping someone find shelter.

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com

www.jfivehomes.com or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

Flickr | Facebook | Linked-in |Twitter |suscribe to Blog

Comments(16)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Gary Schmitz

USRED - Brentwood, CA

US Real Estate Directory

Great post Jennifer, I'm thankful that I have a wife that doesn't keep anything :) Sometimes it's gone before I'm even done with it ;)

Dec 19, 2006 03:10 PM

Michael S. Mackey

CENTURY 21 All Islands - Mililani, HI

REALTOR ABR, CRS, GRI, RSPS

I remember when I used to get rid of stuff, I would feel so much relief. It's been years since I've done that. I have closets that I don't even know what's in them. Thanks for the reminder, we don't need all that "stuff".

Dec 19, 2006 03:21 PM

marti garaughty

garaughty.com - Montreal, QC

a highly caffeinated creative type...

Jennifer, your self storage yard sale is an excellent idea to raise funds for worthy causes. What a great concept and such a nice gesture!

Dec 19, 2006 05:46 PM

Diane Rice

Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL

SFR, SRES, CNC

This was a GOOD post! In America there is just TOO MUCH STUFF! One can LIVE on the waste in America, and still have tons to give away. Your idea is SUPER....why don't you take it a step further, and BEGIN....in your neighborhood!!! After Christmas would be a great time to begin.....and you can make the first donation.....get your community newspaper involved.......girl! (I'm just going on and on huh? - getting carried away!)

My husband has been a collector for years, but guess what??? He recently announced that he was "no longer going to be known as Sanford & Son"!!!!! Thanks for this post Jennifer - and keep me posted if you DO IT!!!!

Dec 19, 2006 10:46 PM

Brett Mumaw

RE/MAX First - New Albany, IN

Your Indiana Move

I too think this post is spot on. Unfortunately, my other half has somewhat of a shopping problem. We always end up with two of everything somehow, but instead of getting rid of one, we just keep both. We haven't had to resort to a storage shed yet and this post will hopefully keep me from having to do it.

Dec 20, 2006 12:18 AM

Eric Bouler

Gardner Realtors, Licensed in La. - New Orleans, LA

Listening to your Needs

Man, you are right on with the stuff. The pods were a big thing in this area after Katrina. So much stuff got washed away,people seem to be happy with much less stuff. We do ot have basements here so a lot goes in the attic. Eric

Dec 20, 2006 12:32 AM

Val Allocco

Staged 2 Sell New York & Long Island - Northport, NY

HSE; ASHSR - Home Stager, for Manhattan, Brooklyn & Long Island

Jennifer, One of the Universal rules is that for every one thing that we bring into our homes, we must dispose of something that is already in our possession. Do we do that? I would guess that 99.9% of us do not!

I also know from personal experience that all of those items that are packed away, the ones that we think we can't live without, would never really be missed after all. We don't even remember what is in most of the boxes and if we haven't used the items in the past 12 months, chances are we never will!

As for the 'keepsakes' that we have accumulated over the years, I went through boxes of them last year when we moved and had a lovely time going down 'memory lane' (although I had kids' baby teeth that I never labelled so they could have belonged to any one of my 3 girls - what WAS I thinking?!), but then realized that it was a quick 'high', and that the really special memories are held in our hearts and not in boxes!

A word about all of those picture albums (or boxes of pictures that never made it into albums like in my case!), most people would agree that in the event of a fire the pictures are the most cherished of all of our possessions. For the past 3 years my intent has been to scan each picture (that is worthy enough to save) into my computer and store on disks (those small 'memory sticks' that you can carry on your keychain are also excellent). You then give different family members a copy to hold for you or keep for themselves (you can always get another copy made if necessary). In the event that something happens to the pictures, you will always have copies (ditto for home movies). Of course, once you have copies of all of the pictures and videos, there is no reason to hold onto all of the originals. I wonder if any of us would be 'brave' enough to let go of them?!

Dec 20, 2006 02:37 AM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Thanks again for all the comments, as a society we really need to do with less.

Dec 20, 2006 12:47 PM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Thanks again for all the comments, as a society we really need to do with less.

Dec 20, 2006 12:47 PM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jennifer, you said that you have boxes that you have not opened in six years, well I have boxes that I have not opened in about 25 years. Every time I try to throw them out, my wife tells me that they were wedding gifts for relatives. The way I look at it is, if they haven't notice that we haven't used these things in 25 years, then they are not going to care that I throw them out. Now I just have to convince my wife of that. OK like that is going to happen.....LOL

Dec 20, 2006 03:42 PM

Peter Andres - Lic. in FL & NY GRI,SRES,CNE

REALTOR - The Villages, FL

I plead, guilty. I have too much stuff and should get rid of them.

A nationwide self storage yard sale for charity, hum, what an interesting and creative idea. Spot on.

Dec 21, 2006 12:35 AM

John Klassen

M & T Bank - Kingston, NY

Didn't George Carlin do a skit on STUFF. Towns love self storage because they charge the commercial tax rate and don't put kids into the schools. They win.

Dec 21, 2006 09:52 AM

Ginger S

Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC - Wilmington, NC

Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~

Jennifer,

When we moved from NY to NC We got rid of a lot of stuff in our basement. It was a Godsend that our Parish was having a huge rummage sale and I brought a lot of nice items to them.

Things like 2x4' and boxes of nails were given to a carpenter friend.

Lawn furniture to a neighbor. etc,

It was soo freeing.

I love not having a basement to accumulate stuff.

I am not a pack rat, but do hold on to sentimental things like cards and letters from years ago. Roger is reluctant to throw things out like you know like the mystery stuff in The junk drawer that we just mught need one day. LOL

Nationwide storage unit sale is a great idea. Get Oprah on it!

Ginger

Ps Good to meet you. We lived in The town of Newburgh before we moved here!

Dec 21, 2006 05:34 PM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Thank you all for the comments, I hope we were all motivated to get rid of the stuff.

Dec 23, 2006 01:33 AM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Thank you all for the comments, I hope we were all motivated to get rid of the stuff.

Dec 23, 2006 01:33 AM

Lola Audu

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI

Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Jennifer, your idea of a nationwide garage sale is very inventive. The only thing I would be concerned about is that our stuff would just move around and redistribute itself somewhere else. :) You're right that this consumption and continual drive for more stuff is not healthy. Thanks for this link & your comment on my blog.

Mar 31, 2008 10:27 AM