A friend of mine that is still in the mortgage business called me today. He was upset about something that had happened at a closing last week and needed to vent. As he talked about the issues with his client, I realized that his description could have been any one of my clients when I was in the mortgage business. My mind then tied it into all of the clutter clearing that I've been doing as I work my way through the 28 day program.

One of the most common problems that people had when they came to see me as a mortgage originator was a large amount of consumer debt. Consumer debt means car loans, major credit cards, personal loan, lines of credit and store credit cards. This type of credit is a means to buy "stuff". The drive to buy "stuff" consumes us and we lose track of why we needed it all in the first place. Often, we become disenchanted with all of our "stuff" soon after we buy it and regret that we have gone into debt to obtain it.

I used to wonder why there was such a drive to buy the "stuff" in the first place since the glamour of it wears off so quickly. Lately, I'm learning that it is because we begin to identify with our "stuff". We allow our identity to become wrapped up in our stuff, we apologize to other people about the mess that our "stuff" creates in our home and sometimes we even apologize for the condition of our "stuff". For some, the accumulation reaches a point where we don't even know what we have! I say we because I've been known to get caught up in the "stuff" game.

We are more than our "stuff"! With or without "it" we have value. 

As I've eliminated so much "stuff"' this year I've felt great relief. I go shopping now for things that are needed and if I see something while I'm out that I might want, I take some time to think about it before I make the purchase. Is it something that I will use or love? Is it something that I must have immediately? If it is a large purchase I'm likely to leave the store without it to better determine if it is imperative that I have it. This sounds silly, but it prevents me from spending money that I don't need to spend on items that will one day only wind up on a yard sale pile. 

Here's to diminishing my "stuff"!

Cheryl