Are you like me and buy almost anything you need. Now I have 30 tools you used once every two to three years and they are tools that I know other people around me have. Why not network with neighbors, family, and friends and borrow items that you do not use that often? Why do we think we need everything? Not me anymore. I need to evaluate every purchase and decide on what I really will use that often.
We recently took a trip to New York. For me it was work, but my family came along to enjoy the time away. All and all a low cost get away for them. I have borrowed a GPS unit on my last few business trips and really liked what it could do for me. Now in a years time I would only use one maybe 5-6 times and I know two family members who have one and two co-workers. Why should I buy one? If I break it or lose it, I would be glad to replace it with a newer and better version. I have the same problem if I purchase one and break it. Seems that once you own something you cannot live without it.
Also for the trip we used my mother’s portable DVD player. Great for the children and travel, but how often do we need one? Most of the time it would sit in the basement, causing more clutter and not getting used.
We are filling the landfill with all this stuff. Take tools at your local home improvement store. I go in there and buy a set of dry wall knifes. There are three to pick from for each size that is needed: cheap, mid-range, and professional quality. When I buy the cheap option and it breaks then I am running to get another. That equates to lost time, poor quality, and more expense. I might not be happy with results from the cheap one either. Now I talk myself into the mid-range price knife set, but it will only last a bit longer and the quality is still not the best. So I buy the professional version and am very happy with the quality. I use it once in a blue moon after my current job and store it. I would love to loan it out to my neighbors, friends, or family when I hear they are doing a job. My only worry is that they might not care for it, but I have to be willing to let it go.
What are things that I own that I would not replace when it breaks? Things that I had to have for the kitchen, garage, or yard that you do not use like I thought I would when I had to have it. Why do I need to own this? Is this something I should be renting?
What holds you back from asking a friend, neighbor, or family member for something you should just be borrowing instead of purchasing? Do you fear that you might break something? If you would normally have purchased it instead of borrowing it, then replace it. Give the person options at that time too. Maybe they wanted to upgrade it anyways, so offer to pay part of the cost of doing that.
The other thing that holds us back is pride. You do not want people to think we cannot afford things. Time for some humble pie. Going into debt to have something you do not need is foolish. I say if we are open and share about how we do not need more stuff and clutter, then we are really helping educate our loaners.
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