Could You Live with Just 100 things?

**redhead68** · 06-17-2008, 04:46 PM

I found this article in Time fascinating. A man in southern California has decided to pare down to only 100 personal items for his 37th birthday and maintain it for a year. He's a modern day Thoreau.

So, what could you remove from your life? What would be essential to keep?

Here's a few things that I could live without:

* 50% of my clothes. I live with a pretty spare wardrobe, but I could probably whittle it down a little more.
* Our wedding china, and probably half of our everyday dishes.
* 90% of my crafting/art stuff. I'd rather read.
* 75% of the holiday decorations I've collected or been given over the years.
* 99% of my books, since there is a great library within walking distance.
* 50% of my toiletries. When IS the last time I wore make-up, much less painted my nails?
* My car. Yes, really!

Things I couldn't live without:

* My flute. Music feeds me.
* My computer.
* My bicycle.
* My comfy chair & reading lamp, where I peruse all those wonderful library books.
* My very worn-in Keen sandals.

What about you?

**FrugalMomof3** · 06-17-2008, 05:12 PM

I dont know if I could do this to be honest as I love all my items but my major things I would have to keep:

My Primitives
My Primitive Furniture
My Computer
25% of my clothes
My video game consoles, games and DVD movies
My Makeup (OMG I have over 100 makeup items alone!)
My Crafting Supplies (I paid alot for them)

I dont think I could just keep 100 items but I could vow to pare down and not purchase anything new

**redhead68** · 06-17-2008, 05:29 PM

This was a very timely article for me, as my husband and I are currently packing up for a move. It has inspired me to take time and really ask myself whether or not a particular item is worth keeping before I put it in a box. As I pack, I'm finding that my house is filled with beautiful things that I've kept not because they're useful or beloved, but because they have strings attached (e.g., someone important gave it to me, I spent a lot of money on it, it represents an idealized me rather than the real me, etc.).

I'm not sure I'd ever be able to get down to only 100 things, but the article certainly inspired me to do some serious whittling of my belongings. Of course, it also helps that we're down-sizing our house, so I couldn't take it all even if I wanted to!

**Marie78** · 06-17-2008, 05:50 PM

I would have to pretend that I was starting over from scratch. Here are the things I would keep as my 100 items:

Make up bag (with a few pieces of make up, toiletries, etc...)
Cell phone
Contacts
Glasses
Flat Iron
Hair dryer
2 pillows
1 blanket
1 sheet set
2 plates
2 mugs
2 bowls
2 spoons, knives, forks
1 pot
1 pan
1 baking sheet
1 mixing bowl
1 mixing spoon
1 Can opener
14 outfits
6 pairs of shoes
2 coats
microwave
kitchen table
2 kitchen chairs
couch
bed
coffee table
night stand
dresser
Sewing box
Box of pictures
computer
computer stand
2 lamps
1 box of sentimental things
TV
TV Stand
DVD Player
Calculator
4 Purses
1 portable file container for my paper files and banking
Cat litter box
10 of my favorite books
2 cat dishes
1 box of seasonal decorations
Hope Chest
5 DVD's
scale
5 Plants
Coffee Maker
Crock Pot
Throw Blanket

**TheRootedNomad** · 06-17-2008, 06:02 PM

I don't know if I could do it or not. Maybe, but I wouldn't want to. I'd miss more certain things that I'd have to give up to get down to that number because of nessecities I'd have to keep. Case in point --- I'd have to keep at least one bra to function in society. In order to keep that hated item I'd have to give up something else. Hate the bra - love my canisters.

That said I do try and live by the "have nothing in your home you do not believe to be beautiful or useful". I could definately could give up more and probably would if the two packrats that I live with would make more of an effort to clear out some of their stuff or at least wouldn't fill the space back up.

I'll ponder what else could go and what couldn't.

**cab54** · 06-17-2008, 06:04 PM

I could SOOO do this if it weren't for my thing-loving dh.

But my OWN stuff--yes! I could do with a lot less things. I could pare down to 100, easy.

**emily_hope** · 06-17-2008, 06:07 PM

Very enlightening article. I read a story once about an elderly lady who had passed away. Everything she owned fit in the trunk of a car. The story told that she wasn't interested in things, but the people in her lives. It was a very inspiring story. I have a lot of things I could live without.

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 06-17-2008, 06:11 PM

This is a good article for me to keep close by. I got rid of alot of my material possessions several years back and I really want to downsize even more. I do not know if I could stop at 100 things though. I could at our summer place because it is a 37 ft trailer with an expando. My home here is full of enough stuff for two households and I feel so overwhelmed by it all. It is never cluttered or dusty though because everything has it's place and I keep it clean. I feel very relaxed at the trailer. I doubt that I even have 100 things there. It's a breeze to keep clean and so much less stuff!

The things that I would have to keep are the sentimental things....

Pictures of family members
homemade crafts from my children
jewlery from DH.
My singer sewing machine from my best friend who passed away
my quilts

necessities would include my...
limited clothing
limited shoes
bed
bedding
a few antique furniture pieces
a lamp
one loveseat
two chairs and a table
a few makeup items and blowdryer, comb, brush
hmmmmmm...does this include the personal care items too?
a bath towel
a few pots and pans
vitamix
5 cherished books and that includes my bible
a few plants
two candles
two forks
two spoons
two knives
one chopping knife
two plates
two bowls
one large mixing bowl

Boy, I am getting up there now.

**emily_hope** · 06-17-2008, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by TheRootedNomad

That said I do try and live by the "have nothing in your home you do not believe to be beautiful or useful".

This is my philosophy, also. I think I got it from FlyLady. She says if it doesn't make you smile get rid of it... Don't keep things just because someone gave it to you or because it was a hand me down you received. My DMother has a hard time with this one, but I know recently she did purge many items that she wouldn't have in the past. I kept saying don't keep it if you don't love it and it doesn't make you smile when you look at it.

**redhead68** · 06-17-2008, 06:22 PM

The more deeply I ponder the implications of what 100 things I would want in my life, the more I find myself questioning who I am and who I want to be.

For example, I have a huge dining room table, but I never entertain. Do I want to be someone who entertains? Or is that what I want people to think about me when they see my huge dining room table?

Why do I keep certain books, but not others? Why do I keep clothes that I never wear? Am I clinging to an out-dated version of myself or are they an expression of my idealized self?

Who would I be if I released all of these things? Who COULD I be if I released all these things?

**angelbumpkin** · 06-17-2008, 07:44 PM

I think I would miss a few things but I think I could get by with just 100 things.

**Buc-O-Mama** · 06-17-2008, 07:59 PM

I could survive with very little but it's not something I'd choose. 100 items would be the two silverware drawers in my kitchen. What sticks with me from that article is that stuff can weigh us down and crowd our minds as well as homes. This might push me to finally get rid of the snowcone maker that we never use.

**Dancing Lotus** · 06-17-2008, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by redhead68

The more deeply I ponder the implications of what 100 things I would want in my life, the more I find myself questioning who I am and who I want to be.

For example, I have a huge dining room table, but I never entertain. Do I want to be someone who entertains? Or is that what I want people to think about me when they see my huge dining room table?

Why do I keep certain books, but not others? Why do I keep clothes that I never wear? Am I clinging to an out-dated version of myself or are they an expression of my idealized self?

Who would I be if I released all of these things? Who COULD I be if I released all these things?

WOW! Your insightful words have really put my thought into motion. I too have a large beautiful dinning room table. But now that I think about it , I don't want it.

And the clothes, I know why I keep them. They are an outdated version of myself who just doesn't want to let it go.

I thought I had purged a lot but I guess not enough.

**Suzy** · 06-17-2008, 08:24 PM

I could do this.
I have only 2 pair of jeans, a few shorts and t-shirts. I am a SAHM so that is really all I need. I do have make-up but just the essentials- foundation, eye shadow(3 basic neutral colors), liner, mascara, blush, powder and lip gloss) I do have a spare set of bed sheets but for some unknown reason when I wash our sheets I just end up putting them back on the bed. I could do without the extras. Same with the kid's sheets. Towels and wash clothes-I am already at the bare minimum due to not having enough space to store extra. Same with dishes. I would want to keep pictures for sentimental reasons- especially my wedding pictures of my first marriage. My Daddy was in alot of them. DH understands.

**kettlecorn** · 06-17-2008, 10:21 PM

I think that would be hard but I probably could do it. Now if it was 100 items pp then DH, DS and I would be just fine. Some of my items to keep would be:

Pictures
Crockpot
Makeup bag
Toiletries
DH's grandmother's dresser
Dishes from DH's grandmother
couple lamps
shower curtain
couch
2 televisions
washer/dryer
couple dishes, glasses and silverware
clothes (don't have many now so it wouldnt be a big deal. DS has a ton though!)

All DH would need:
A Playstation
A TV
A fridge

I think he could survive on those 3 things!