What if you had to make a list of everything you own. How long do you think it would take? How much stuff would you discover you have that you don’t need?
I recently set myself this challenge for my last move. I didn’t move within London or even within England. I moved out of my flat and into six months of nomadic living.
My wife and I are making our way across the United States and Canada on a road trip in search of where we want to live next.
Because I would literally have to carry on my back everything I wanted to bring with me, I needed to trim down my possessions to as few as possible. To help with this decluttering, I decided to take before and after photos of all of my possessions.
Here are the photographs of everything I owned in London before the move:
- External monitor x 1
- Scanner / printer x 1
- Shredder x 1
- Apple iBook x 1
- Apple MacBook Air x 1
- M-Audio Mixer x 1
- Microphone x 1
- Bamboo pen tablet x 1
- Wireless keyboard x 1
- Mice x 3
- Computer CDs x 25
- Power cords x 17
- Ethernet cord x 1
- Firewire cords x 5
- iPod wires x 2
- USB wires x 10
- Unknown wires x 1
- Telephone wires x 1
- Audio cables x 3
- Serial to USB adaptors x 1
- External monitor adaptors x 3
- Ethernet to USB adaptors x 1
- Telephone wire splitters x 1
- Power adaptors x 11
- USB to Firewire adaptor x 1
- Headphones x 4
- External hard drives x 3
- Jeans x 10
- Dress pants x 17
- Exercise pants x 3
- Pajama pants x 1
- Coats x 2
- Jackets x 5
- Collared shirts x 21
- T-shirts x 22
- Exercise shorts x 3
- Exercise shirts x 6
- Scarfs x 4
- Fleeces x 3
- Bathrobe x 1
- Sweaters x 3
- Turtleneck x 1
- Shoes x 5
- Moccasins x 1
- Boots x 1
- Sock pairs x 57
- Underwear pairs x 32
- Hat x 1
- Ties x 9
- Tie rack x 1
- Belts x 4
- Towels x 2
- Light jackets x 2
- Large envelope pack x 1
- Origami paper packs x 2
- Letter envelope pack x 1
- Index card packs x 3
- Post-it note pack x 1
- Full-size notebooks x 4
- Pocket-size notebooks x 14
- Binders x 10
- Books x 70
- Powershot A series camera x 1
- TI-89 calculator x 1
- Rechargeable batteries x 19
- Battery chargers x 2
- USB key x 1
- Book light x 1
- Bluetooth headset x 1
- AMOD GPS tracker x 1
- Casio calculator x 1
- Cell phones x 3
- iPods x 2
- Apple remote x 1
- Tape recorders x 2
- Invisible clock timer x 2
- Pens x 24
- Scissors x 1
- Letter opener x 1
- Grip strengthener x 1
- Cord organizers x 3
- Keys x 3
- Warcraft III CD x 1
- Days ago timer x 1
- LED flashlight x 1
- Standard flashlight x 1
- Sunglasses x 1
- Prescription glasses x 2
- Glasses cases x 3
- Candle dish x 1
- Ruler x 1
- London bicycle maps x 4
- Wired magazines x 8
- Shoelaces x 1
- Watches x 2
- Magnifying glass x 1
- Oyster cards x 3
- Wedding ring x 1
- Playing cards x 1
- Clipboard x 1
- Dice set x 1
- Picture frames x 2
- Tool set x 1
- Go set x 1
- Chess set x 2
- Wallet x 1
- Chess clock x 1
- Space heater x 1
- Umbrellas x 2
- Hole puncher x 1
- Popcorn maker x 1
- Clothes hangers x 19
- Inbox x 1
- Speakers x 1
- Moisturizing cream x 1
- Aftershave bottles x 2
- Shampoo bottles x 2
- Paper holder x 1
- Bowls x 2
- Mugs x 2
- Desk lamp x 1
- Razor x 1
- Toothbrush x 1
- Body soap x 1
- Body soap sponge x 1
- Hair gel bottle x 1
- Aleve bottles x 2
- Deodorant bottle x 1
- Shaving bottles x 2
- Electric shaver x 1
- United States passport x 1
- Republic of Ireland passport x 1
- London A to Z x 1
Things I forgot to photograph:
- Powershot S series camera x 1
- Wireless mouse x 1
- Bike x 1
- Folder of original documents x 1
- Business card box x 1
You might notice that there aren’t any big items on this list. I was able to cheat slightly: because I lived in a furnished apartment, there were an enormous number of things that I used but didn’t own, such as furniture and kitchen implements.
Even given this cheat, I was still horrified at the number of things I possessed. 31 pairs of pants? How did I end up with so many? I know I didn’t regularly wear more than 5 and I certainly wasn’t using this pair that I found:
Starting from that list, I did my best to get rid of everything that wasn’t absolutely vital. (My wife disagreed strongly with me over the number of ‘vital’ clothes — I wanted to walk out of the house with only the clothes I wore.)
For the move, my life fit into one carry-on bag and one suitcase.
- Powershot S series camera x 1
- Computer CDs x 3
- MacBook Air x 1
- AMOD GPS tracker x 1
- External hard drives x 3
- Power cables x 3
- USB key x 1
- Wireless mouse x 1
- Ipod x 1
- Bamboo pen tablet x 1
- Cell phone x 1
- USB wires x 4
- Ethernet wire x 1
- Ethernet to USB adaptor x 1
- iPod wire x 1
- Headphones x 1
- Nikon battery charger x 1
- Nikon 55-200mm zoom lens x 1
- Nikon D5000 camera x 1
- Clipboard x 1
- Underwear pairs x 2
- Pairs of socks x 2
- T-shirts x 5
- Collared shirts x 2
- Ties x 2
- Exercise shirts x 2
- Exercise shorts x 2
- Turtleneck x 1
- Shoes x 1
- Suite x 1
- Light jacket x 1
- Wallet x 1
- Hat x 1
- Business card box x 1
- United States passport x 1
- Republic of Ireland passport x 1
- Folder of original documents x 1
In the end, it has been a surprisingly satisfying process to get such a detailed understanding of the things that I own. It’s good to know that everything I own now is vital — that I’m at a minimum of things to own and still have a reasonable life.
I think I’m going to make this a yearly process. Even with a fairly disciplined living style, it’s too easy to let clutter start to fill up your life.
Desperate to help yourself declutter? Why not start a project like this to help get rid of the unnecessary things. I’ve put up my photographs on flickr with the tag ‘everythingiown. Why not add to it?
Fascinating, really fascinating. And very brave too. I’ll probably re-read this post a few times. Minimising and de-cluttering is so hard.
I was wondering about furniture and kitchen stuff. I am really impressed, but I am also curious about you, your life and lifestyle. i think i might have more stuff in my camper van than you do now that you’ve decluttered!
Where did you decide to live next? did you get more stuff?
@The First of Many
I haven’t decided where to live next. As I write this, I’m in a hotel in Salt Lake City — only at the start of my trip. Still Santa Fe, Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Vancouver to go : )
As for stuff, I’ve picked up a few things for the road, but hardly anything worth mentioning. I’m thinking of doing another post once I’ve settled somewhere.
This is awesome. I am inspired to do the same, but oh my god! It will take me years! Your post makes me realised that I STILL own too much stuff. I’ve been clutter clearing for years, but I still don’t think I could photograph it all in under 6 months. I’m amazed that you could. I think this might have to be an ongoing project for me. Thanks for your post – I’m inspired and motivated!
Glad you liked it. I must admit, I was too horrified by the amount of stuff that I had — so much more than I expected. I only just got it done in time before I moved.
Yikes. I probably have at least that much stuff just piled up on or near my desk. But I’ve had 49 years to accumulate stuff. Minus losing a house and all it’s contents to fire once (that helps you trim back pretty agressively, let me tell you, but not recommended).
I really really admire your desire and ability to have less. I read an article recently in the local paper here (San Jose Merc) about a guy who basically lives in an empty apartment with two changes of clothes and nothing else. Same philosophy. Only what’s essential.
Your essentials seem more livable than the guy in the paper.
I’d never be able to do it. But I can be impressed.
That is amazing! I think I’m gonna do the same. Not htat my place floats of tsuff, but better to start early than after 10 more years :P
I hope you’ll have a good trip and good luck finding a new place to settle down in!
Norway says Hi ^^
I’m in the process of doing this now. It’s taken two days so far, and my goal is to own only 100 things (or less). I can’t fully declutter, because I have a wife and son to share my home with, but I’m going through my house and for every single item categorizing it into:
1) Not mine (it’s my wife’s or my son’s)
2) For sale on eBay
3) Trash
4) Keep it and write it on my list (up to 100, it’s at 76 now)
I now need only a small part of one shelf in the bathroom and my previously full closet is nearly empty. I now know with certainty where every single item I own is. That feels nice.
Wow! I have been trying to declutter for the last twenty years. The more I tried more cluttered I have become. I gave up a couple of years ago but now I am inspired to give it another ‘shot’. Though I will desist it; my first urge is to go buy a good camera. Thank you. You will soon hear about the outcome.
Wow, it makes you think! I am supposed to be decluttering today, I did the bathroom (pretty easy I always start here …mmm but don’t always get further) but now having lunch looking for tips. I really need to get rid of stuff and I know I’ve got things like this that I will never wear. Will try and get rid of some, you’ve inspired me.
If you believe that ‘having less’ is a spiritually elevated existence, then what better way to show how close to God you are than by photo-documentation!?
Having a bunch of photos of how few things you have…Is that a little oxymoronic?
I mean if he got rid of those photos…
What you had or didn’t have in your life is less relevant, it turns out, than what had you in your life.
Casting out material garbage is simple. But what of all the mental clutter?
One more comment to illustrate my point:
“I read an article recently in the local paper here (San Jose Merc) about a guy who basically lives in an empty apartment with two changes of clothes and nothing else. Same philosophy. Only what’s essential.”
Living and working in a very congested and expensive city, in an empty apartment – Don’t they just call that working and living under capitalism?
I am planning a significant move in about 2.5 years. I am currently attending college for project management, so I have turned this move into an official project (using Microsoft Project and everything). Thanks to this article, I have just added “record serial numbers and photograph stuff as it is packed” to the “to do” list.
I have found it useful to photograph (using a copier works better) the entire contents of my wallet once or twice a year, as a way of both cleaning it out and making a record of whom to notify if it is lost or stolen, with all the account numbers handy. Doing it with a scanner and mailing the images to yourself in a way that’s accessible when you travel is a good way to do it.
Mailing yourself a scanned image of the ID pages of your passport also gives some peace of mind when you travel.
@Peter Capek
That who-to-notify-if-your-wallet-gets-stolen idea is great! Mind if I steal it for a future post? All due credit will be given.