A Simpler Life Series 7: Cutting Back on Excess

Every time I think about buying something new, I have to ask myself:  where will I put it?  There’s a certain point where our amount of stuff becomes so great that it turns into clutter.  That tipping point happens a heck of a lot faster in a small apartment.  Today as you and I look at creating a less complicated life in our Simpler Life Series, I thought I’d attack the issue of stuff – specifically shoes.

germany-hallway

You’ve seen our hallway before.  We keep all of our shoes under that bench.  European stores have the cutest shoes, and I would love to take home a few more pairs.  But I can’t.  I have room for exactly five pairs of shoes.  We do not have a closet to tuck away extras.  They’re either on that shelf or in our way.  So as a result, I do not buy those cute European shoes.  I may stroke them a few times, but I do not buy.

I haven’t always been this way.  Before we moved to Germany, I never had to worry about shoe storage spaces.  Between flip-flops and boots, I know I accumulated well over twenty pairs of shoes that now sit in some storage box.  One of these days, I’m going to have to go back there and get rid of all those extra shoes.  Since I obviously can’t do that in time for today’s challenge… would you hate me forever if I urged you do it with your shoes instead?  

I’m convinced that the secret to enjoying a simple life (or a small home) is learning to live with less stuff.  I get the most incredible feeling when I walk in the door of our house because we are training ourselves to be happy with what we have.  Sometimes it’s hard.  I find so many beautiful things online and see so many people buying amazing things for their houses.  But overall?  I’m amazed by how fulfilling a life with less has become.  I never would have expected that.  The key to happiness probably isn’t more stuff.

Now I can’t wait to attack that box of shoes (and all those other boxes to be honest).  Here’s the approach Martin and I have been working on for keeping down our clutter.  Walk up to where you keep your shoes and try it (or a strategy that works for you):

 

1.  Think about all the shoes you have.  Then think about the shoes you used in the last year.  

2.  Sort shoes into two piles:  the keepers and the ones you could do without.  I always have to pick a magic number in my head and tell myself I won’t quit working on this problem until I have either (1) a certain number of shoes ready to say farewell to or (2) a magic number I want to keep.

3.  Donate those extra shoes that are in good shape.  Shelters for women and children, local programs that help victims of abuse, and foster care programs are my preferred places to offer donations to first.

4. Recycle the run down shoes.  Nike has a fabulous worldwide athletic shoe recycling program called Reuse a Shoe.  You just drop off or mail your old shoes to them, and they sort the shoe parts into three types of raw materials.  These materials become basketball courts, track, field, and playgrounds.  Some are even made into new shoes and clothing.  Nike has drop off centers all over the US, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.  There’s even one in Berlin.  To date, they’ve recycled almost 23 million shoes.

 

So think you can do it?  Report back here and tell us all how you do.  Now I seriously need to stop talking about this or I’m going to want to start eliminating shoes.  And since I’m very attached to my five pairs, I’m going to have to find another person’s stash.  Martin?