Saying fairwell to a collection

Funnily enough I went through big periods of collecting things, nothing unusual, just the standard stuff, CDs, DVDs and books.  I held onto these items like family members.

Before I completely embraced the 100 Item Challenge I was mid way through clearing out the books. I have kept the reference design books that I use regularly for my home staging work, however when I looked at the book shelves and the vast collection of read once paperbacks, I thought 'why am I keeping these?'  I travel a lot for work and pleasure and it has been known for me to get carried away at the airport bookstore, getting a selection of paperbacks for the journey or holiday.  I now recycle all the books amongst friends and the ones they don't show any interest (I do have a bad habit for really trashy novels) they are dropped off at the charity shop.

DVDs and CDs I thought I had a more emotional attachment to them, a movie evoked feelings that were important to me when I first saw it, or a rollicking good story.  My DVDs were heading up to the 400 mark. I had a major cull in January, selling off all the ones I'd bought in part of the 'deals' the stores offer, you know the type, 3 DVDs for £20 or 5 for £30, always very tempting, and in most cases I succumed to the offers.  After the initial cull I said to myself for the DVDs I didn't watch in 6 months I would get rid of them.  So now I am down to 5 DVDs

28. Priscilla, Queen of the desert
29. Murials Wedding
30. Balls (German Comedy, yes they do do them)
31. Queer as Folk UK Series 1
32. Queer as Folk American Box Set

These are all DVDs that I'll watch over and over again. I think you can gather I am a gay man from the collection.

I went to digital music some time ago, and now download everything, so that is handily stored on  iTunes, and backed up on hardrives and on my iPod.  For our wedding our friends got us Vouchers from John Lewis, so we put them together and got a BOSE system, which is marvelous and sounds amazing.  The old system was sold, so now we don't even own a CD player, so the CDs were sold  and yet another space is created in the home.

The only other collection I had left was my large record collection, when I was with a previous partner he had a big collection of vinyl and I felt it was something we could share together, so started buying lots of it.  I didn't spend a fortune, but each weekend we would go out and look around the various record shops in town and come back with shared finds.  I only really created the collection to have a shared interest, I do enjoy the music (but this is now digitised) and the art word on a record sleeve but I've not looked at them or played them in over 18 months.  So, I've advertised the collection for sale, and today secured a buyer.  I have sold the lot, and another wave of relief has washed over me.

The last lot of individual ebay sales has been listed this week, if they're not sold then they are going off to the charity shop.  The next cull is the wardrobe... watch this space.

Clothes - Making Progress

I had a useful session this afternoon sorting through my shirts. I'm almost down to my target of 17.

I'm also now gearing myself up to tackling the guest room cupboard where most of my stuff is stored. I feel I've got some tough decisions ahead of me.

On a happier note, my first eBay auction ended today with most of the sale items going - all for more than I'd been offered by MusicMagpie. The second auction is now underway...

Pleasure from possessions?

Discussing the 100ItemChallenge with friends has revealed an interesting polarisation of opinion. It seems to be a concept that provokes a Marmite (acknowledgements to the trademake owner) reaction – you either love it or hate it. Or to be precise, you either get it or you don't.

The most extreme reaction was from one friend who utterly rejected the entire concept, stating “I like my possessions, I get pleasure from each and every one and none of them stop me from doing the things I enjoy doing”.

This has set me thinking about the pleasure that we derive from our possessions. As far as I'm concerned (for the purpose of the Challenge anyway), there is two types of pleasure – the immediate pleasure of acquisition and the ongoing pleasure of ownership. I've certainly felt the pleasure of acquisition, and I'm sure you have too. However the ongoing pleasure of ownership is a rarer beast.

A painting, a beautiful flower, or a piece of objets d'art will continue to reward the owner long after the pleasure of acquisition has faded. Other possessions must surely have a purpose in order to have a reason to keep it. For example I recently bought a new MacBook Pro, which gave me a huge thrill of excitement - particularly since there was a long time lag between deciding to buy and having the money to buy it. Do I still feel the same thrill, a few months later? No, of course not. Do I still get pleasure from it? Absolutely, as I use it every day and it makes this blog possible (curb your enthusiasm).

There are other things I use less often but still enjoy. For example my digital camera, definitely one of my 100 items, records the life experiences we're enjoying and I wouldn't be without it. But do I get pleasure from all my other possessions? Can I legitimately claim to enjoy something I haven't used for five years? For ten years? I certainly have an emotional attachment to some, but that usually manifests as guilt when I'm thinking whether to get rid of them.

Do they stop me from doing things? Not now, in any direct sense, but the money I spent on them could have been used for something else. For example the £200 I spent last year on the digital camcorder - that I used once - could have paid for a fantastic meal or a weekend away.

So although I respect anyone's right to disagree with me, ultimately I simply don't believe that real enduring pleasure can be derived from physical possessions. The pleasure is in the experiences, especially the shared experiences, that we create for ourselves.

100 Item Challenge, what it's about

100 Item Challenge, is just what it says, 100 Items that you chose to have in your life.  The 100 Item Challenge is being introduced to the UK by Jonathan Welford and Rob Hardy, they had their attention grabbed by American Dave Bruno, who set about the Challenge in the USA and wrote a best selling book on the subject.

Jonathan and Rob, looked around their home and decided they had too much 'stuff,' wardrobes filled to capacity with clothes that were never worn.  it is a fact that 20% of your wardrobe is worn 80% of the time, so they decided to start on that.  In honesty a man only really needs 17 shirts, a combination of work wear and casual wear, Rob's was hitting over 50! some of which had never been worn.  By setting the challenge, they are now wearing clothes that were allocated for best and disposed and re-homed the worn or unloved items.  The 100 Item Challenge is not a principle to stop spending money on expensive items, in fairness it would be better to spend more on something that will be used and will last a few seasons rather than cheap clothes that are worn a couple of times and relegated to the back of the wardrobe because it has lost the shape or look.

Jonathan admitted he was a previous shop-aholic, every time he went out he wanted to have something to come back with, along the lines of the caveman 'hunter and gatherer' instinct.  Shopping had become a hobby, instead of spending times with friends and family, a trip around the shops was a replacement, the heady trip of picking, taking to the counter and getting a new bag with your purchase replaced other more wholesome pursuits.   Since embracing the challenge Jonathan commented 'In Mainland Europe the shops are closed on Sundays, and yet the streets are full of people meeting up with friends and family and enjoy time together, I want to get back to that type of feeling'

They have not included kitchen equipment and furniture in the challenge, as these items are used daily and they are not resolving to live like monks, far from it!  Although some of the useful 'must have' gadgets and complicated coffee machine that requires a Phd to use it have been re-homed.  The 100 items challenge is the personal possessions, DVDs, CDs, Books and clothes.  The boxes of endless photographs have been scanned in and digitally stored.  The creator of the 100 Thing Challenge works for a university and uses his books frequently and it was a passion, so the books were classed as one, a library.  Some people may think this is cheating, however the purpose of the 100 Item Challenge is to set priorities to your consumerism.  Jonathan and Rob have focused their attention on spending time with friends and family, so much so in September they are booked up every weekend with activities with friends and family up until Christmas.  Rob says 'It's made me realise that the best thing to spend money on is experiences and shared experiences at that, a trip to the theatre, a walk in the countryside with friends.  Even kicking back in a coffee shop with friends chatting together, I am feeling so much more full-filled'

Jonathan and Rob have set up a website 100itemchallenge.com to chart their progress through this experiment, so far so good, they have written about issues about sorting through a box of items belonging to a Grandparent that passed away, the items had sentimental value to the grandparent, but a year later looking at the china and other knick knacks the question had to be asked 'Will I use or display any of this in my home?'  the answer was no, and the decision to either keep a boxed sealed in a cupboard all their life or find a new home for it.  It's an emotional journey, but a thought provoking one.

Rob a self confessed 'gadget boy' who always loves to have the new technology has taken a look at his boxes of goodies that he bought, played with for a weekend and then boxed up again, never to been seen again.  A camcorder bought out and used once and then relegated to the box again.  Rob was impressed and had the gut feel 'must have' for the new ipad, however he held off, calendared the thought for a month and then went back to it, after a play with it in a shop he decided against it as he's just replaced his laptop and it did the same job.  This is the key principle to the 100 Item Challenge, it allows you to think 'do I want it?' or  'do I need it?'  Conversely if you have not used something for a year and it's been boxed away not touched or even thought about, it's time to chuck it out or find a new home for it.

Jonathan and Rob have been ruthless, DVDs and CDs have been sold on, there are websites out there that will buy them off you and even collect from your home.  Gadgets have been pared down and sold on.  However charity shops are crying out for items to sell on, so with Christmas just around the corner embrace the 100 Item Challenge, donate unwanted items to Charity.  They are actively asking Charity shops to display the 100 Item Challenge in their windows to raise awareness and increase donations.  Take on the 100 Item Challenge, change your life and make other lives benefit by donating unwanted items.

www.100ItemChallenge.com

Family items, learning to let go

Well tonight I have gone through an emotional journey, my grandmother passed away at the start of 2009, we had a very close relationship, more along the lines of Mother and Son.  So clearing out her home was quite distressing.  I held back a few items of furniture, two carver chairs and a floor lamp my grandfather bought for her as their first gift when they set up home together.  These have been remodeled and have a prime position in my home.  The small amount of photographs have been scanned into my hard drive for prosperity.  I have a plastic box of small ornaments and knick knacks that were personal to my grandmother. 

I have gone through this box and have kept back the Rabbit Money Box, but all the other Royal China, commemorating the Royal events like the coronation and the silver jubilee are going.

I still have fond memories of my grandmother, but these are now just items.  There is no attachment to them any more.  It reminds me of a business guru, he came up with the concept if you see something you want, put the idea in a diary system and if a month later you still want it then it may be the right thing to get.  My principle is similar, if you are not sure if you still need an item, put it in a box and a year later if you have not used it, looked at it or done anything at all with it, then time to chuck it out or sell it on.

So tonight there are a few more items on ebay.

How many shirts?

How many shirts should a man have? I suppose the obvious answer is how many shirts do I wear a week? And how often do we do laundry?

I need work shirts and casual shirts, and we obviously don't want to be washing and ironing every other day!

Thomas Fink, in The Man's Book suggests that the number of shirts required for any specific purpose is equal to the square root of the number of days involved. That would mean 19 shirts in total. 15 would be work shirts, and as I change when I get home that would mean 34 shirts in total - eeek! But I don't necessarily put on a clean shirt every day (is that bad?) as I work in an air conditioned office, so maybe I can get away with 7 work shirts, and 10 casual shirts?

At least trousers are simpler...

Wardrobe task could be daunting...

Well I have just come back from lunch and a peruse around the shops with my best friend, Paul, I have really surprised myself by not buying anything.  I was explaining the 100 Items challenge to my pal, and he was nodding and then perked up by saying that he already lives like that, he only buys quality clothes and wears them until then need replacing.   He's a librarian, so music is borrowed from the library, he's got a vast collection on hard drives. His weakness is books, he's always bringing books home from the library but he does go a bit crazy in the book shops.  We did venture into Waterstones so I could get some tickets to the Armistead Maupin book reading in November, but even Paul who was sorely tempted with a few of the new releases held himself at bay.  So I may well have a convert.

I've taken a look at the wardrobe and it's going to need a bit of a cull, we both have a substantial amount of clothes.  Photos attached, inventory to follow.

Shoes the big clear out

Right, first phase of the 100 Item Challenge,  my shoes, when we moved back into our apartment I had a clear out before I escaped from the suburbs back to the city.  But I still bought some items that I didn't need and had been boxed up since... well forever.

So the inventory

1. Brown Pair of size 11 (45) Prada leisure shoes
2. Cream Pair of size 11 (45) Prada leisure shoes
3. Blue Pair of size 10.5 (44) Blue Harbour leisure shoes
4. Black Pair of size 11 (45) Firetrap trainers
5. Black Pair of size 11 (45) suede slip on shoes
6. Silver Pair of size 11 (45) Nike Trainers (disco shoes)
7. White Pair of size 11 (45) Nike running trainers
8.  Black pair of size 11 (45) leather leisure shoes
9.  Black pair of size 11 (45) Leather Business shoes
10.Black pair of size 11 (45) German Leather Army Boots

Okay now what to get rid of.... I think both pairs of Prada shoes can go, I had an ill faited romance with a Romanian Cancer Surgeon, and went on a designer brand spending spree, spending around £4000 in one month on designer clothes and shoes that I didn't really need or want.  The German Leather Army Boots can go, another story about an ex there... I went out with a German Teacher and he was into the leather & rubber gear and that whole scene, I have a leather shirt and a couple of harnesses kicking around (which can also be disposed of)  I am spotting a theme here, I went on shopping sprees to buy the accessories to impress a partner, perhaps now I have found my true soul mate I can actually live the life I determine and not trying to become someone else to please others.  Any how I am rambling, so I am down three pairs of shoes. 

The ones I definitely need to keep are the Business Shoes, essential for formal meetings, no matter how rare they're needed.  I am normally found in jeans, polo shirt and trainers.  The casual leather shoes need to stay, they're just so comfortable and a bargain buy from my last visit to Florida in December.  The white trainers need to be kept, just for the rare trip to the gym or if I decide to pound the streets jogging at some ungodly hour in the morning. 

The disco silver sneakers are fab, but I very much doubt I will wear them again, so ebay will have a new visitor.  The firetrap trainers and suede slip on shoes can be set free too, they're getting a bit ragged.  I think it's wise to have another pair of shoes so the Blue Harbour leisure shoes it will be.

So what I am keeping is

1. White Pair of size 11 (45) Nike running trainers
2.  Black pair of size 11 (45) leather leisure shoes

3.  Black pair of size 11 (45) Leather Business shoes
4.  Blue Pair of size 10.5 (44) Blue Harbour leisure shoes

This is the first logged 4 items, in my 100 Item Challenge

Jonathan

Down to one car.

We're now a one car family. Hurrah!

Recently I was bought out of a Letting Company that I was a partner of, so now it's only Rob that requires a car to commute to work in Liverpool.  He'd happily get public transport, however his workplace is not ideally situated for an easy commute without having over a 2 hours commute each way.   I don't particularly need a car, I write a weekly column for Urban Life and a variety of lifestyle and property magazines in the UK.  Any time I will require the car for a client visit then I'll either drop Rob at work and then go onto my appointment or alternatively use the www.citycarclub.com where I can hire a car for £3.96 per hour (available at most large cities across the UK), they use one of the parking bays across the city and the nearest to us is just behind our building.   If anyone joins to get 4 free hours type in promotional code 'FRIEND Jonathan Welford' while completing the on line application.  There is an annual fee of £50 and there are a variety of car choices you can choose from, if you are moving home, you can have a van, hatchbacks for a quick journey, even the eco family car the Prius Hybrid.

As we live in the city centre of Manchester we are easily catered for food shopping, we get our heavy essentials delivered from a choice of chain supermarkets, and all our entertainment is on the door stop or within a quick rail journey.  Our apartment doesn't come with a parking space so we have let our next door neighbor take over one of our rented car parking spaces saving us £1080 per year, and around £2000 in running costs (insurance, tax and servicing).  This cash saving can be invested in more worthwhile life experiences, travel plans are afoot.

Choosing the car to go wasn't a difficult choice, we kept the newest one with the lowest mileage, so the family car is an old faithful 2003 Volvo Estate, the 2002 Ford Focus with a zillion miles on the clock was sold off.  We thought about advertising privately however in the end went with the new on line service www.webuyanycar.com, so long as you have all your documentation, you simply input the car details into their website, mileage, MOT length, license plate and condition etc and they will give you an offer there and then.  If you are happy with this then you just make an appoint to take it in.  We did just that, within 30 minutes the car was assessed by one of their chaps and we were driving away in the last car left. Job Done!

With the money we have made from the car sale we are investing in doing a TEFL course, this is a course to Teach English as a Foreign Language, we are investing in ourselves and for our future, plus it looks like a fun weekend course.  Now booked for October, and fortunately it's being held 3 minutes walk from where we live in a local hotel.

The Start

Well this is the start, my husband and I are about to set about the 100 Item Challenge.

We are Jonathan and Rob, a recently married gay couple from Manchester in the UK.

Our philosophy for the '100 Item Challenge' was that our lives were being ruled by our possessions and this was slowing us down, we wanted to create more life experiences and by reducing the burden of owning possessions and setting a priority of what is actually important to us.   We are reducing our possessions down to 100 item each (this is excluding furniture and kitchen equipment, we're not Monks by any stretch of the imagination!)

This has been inspired by Dave Bruno the American creator of '100 Thing Challenge'