Page 63 - Workbook2E

Your Financial Stress Profile—Evaluations Stressor No. 11 Accumulating Possessions from page 43
In this “throw away” society people often purchase things on impulse and find they’ve little use or need for them. They overbuy and own to excess, filling shelves and storage with possessions that make little or no contribution to their lives. Often their things become a source of clutter. Your attitudes toward accumulating and maintaining your possessions may be a source of stress in your life. Consider these recommendations based on the results of Your Financial Stress Profile questionnaire.
You currently feel little stress in your life from accumulating possessions.
Your answer suggests you may tend to be a selective saver. This attitude causes little stress in your life. Be aware your primary source of stress could come from a beloved spouse, partner, or child who is an indiscriminate saver or places little value on belongings, even those things with intrinsic value.
Help your loved one see
the benefits of caring for possessions. Hold garage sales where belongings of limited value can be purchased by people who may have greater interest and need.
Expose your loved ones to people who place a different emphasis on possessions
by meeting first hand with the needy and recipients of donations.
Involve your loved ones
in your efforts to repair
and maintain possessions. Demonstrate the fun of fixing something broken.
You’re currently feeling moderate stress in your life from your accumulated possessions.
Your answer suggests you place only moderate value on the possessions in your life. Clutter may seem to be of moderate concern to you, but may be a hidden stressor. Also, you may lose things from time to time which may be another source of stress when you can’t find what you need.
Notice how much throw-away packaging you’re paying for each day, which may help you to be more selective in what you buy.
When making purchases, consider the alternatives of buying disposable things versus things that provide repeat usage. Make a conscious choice.
If clutter is building up in your life, stop to consider which
of your possessions could be put to good use by someone else. Donating under-used belongings to the needy
or less fortunate can bring considerable stress relief.
You’re currently feeling considerable stress in your life from your accumulated possessions.
You may have trouble parting with things or you may have trouble keeping things around. Whatever your source of stress, your attitude toward your possessions needs review and attention. Associate with people of differing opinions about the value of things. Ask some of your friends what their attitudes are about the statement, “He who dies with the most toys, wins!”
Participate in volunteer workshops where things are refurbished and recycled for use by the less fortunate.
Inventory your possessions with an eye to determining what
you really need and don’t need, use and don’t use. Donate or sell the things cluttering up your life or that need too much upkeep for their amount of use.
Involve your spouse, partner, or child in making the decisions that affect jointly-owned possessions.
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