Can You Live With Just 100 Things?

Submitted by Liv Greene

As consumers, we tend to consume a lot. I'm not just referring to food, either (though from all of those news stories about rampant obesity, I take it we do eat a lot). I'm talking about all of the things that we purchase as consumers: furniture, decor, games, car products, souveniers, music, movies, books, electronics, all of it. Not only do all these things cost us money, but they add to our carbon footprint as well. The environmental impact of just one of these items can often be staggering if we look at it closely.

Do you have clutter in your home, your office or your life? Chances are you do. At one point or another we've all had a moment when we realized the sheer amount of stuff we have in our lives. Well, there is a growing number of people that are doing something about this, and de-cluttering their lives. It's called the 100 Things movement, and the challenge is to reduce your possessions to 100 things (or less). Sound tough? It sure is. Not everyone accomplishes this goal, and of those that do, many fudge the numbers a bit (one woman designated her entire shoe collection as one item). Regaredless, these people are making a conscious effort to get rid of what they longer need, and make smarter decisions in the future.

Everytime you make a conscious decision to consume less, you help the environment. What you don't buy does not need to be produced. What you sell or donate does not need to be produced again. So give your unwanted to stuff to a friend, donate it to charity or list it on Free'N Exchange.

Beyond the environmental impacts of these decisions, many who have done it agree that it can have even greater impacts on your life. Cleaning out the house can actually give the feeling of a fresh start. Change is so necessary to a happy life, and getting rid of the stuff that was once a part of your life and is now just a part of your closet can be a way of accepting this necessary change.

Check out this article for more information on the movement. Even if you can't limit yourself to 300 things, it's worth the effort to try to reduce your consumption. Your mind, your wallet and the planet will all thank you.

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