Need vs. Want

In the past few years I have moved more times then I'd like to think about. This weekend I moved, yet again. After finishing my masters degree and hanging out for a couple months, I moved back home. I have no idea how long I will be here as I anticipate more changes in the new few months but for the time being I must change the "home" address in my GPS.

One of the bright spots about moving at least once a year (most of the time twice!) is that it prevents you from being a hoarder. In this last move I donated two car loads to Goodwill, got rid of my furniture, and gave a ton of things away to people I know. It is quite liberating to know that my possessions fit into two cars. 

How long has it been since you've been through your stuff? Most of you reading this probably have WAY more than you need. Westerners often have an excess of "things" as we live in a world of materialism. We often use the word NEED instead of WANT. I bet if you really thought about it a lot of the things you say you need are really only things you want. We buy the newest thing when the one we have still works (whats the old saying- if its not broken don't fix it). We buy multiples of the same item when we only need one of them. We hold onto clothes thinking one day we will wear them and a year later we still haven't.  

Go through your closets, drawers, basement, garage. Get rid of stuff you don't use anymore. Find someone that can use it and give it to them. If you NEED the money sell the stuff, if you don't just give it away. Give things to consignment shops, shelters, etc. 

Think about what you really need in life and what you want out of it. Try to adjust your mindset and word choice. Live with less and experience more.