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Here’s a quote I never thought I’d see in a Wall Street Journal publication:

“The only solution to lots of issues is to buy less.” -Ilse Cornelissens (WSJ. February 2019)

One issue that buying less would solve is clutter! Back in 2015, we read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I recommend the book. It motivated us to get rid of a lot of things we didn’t need, including books! I finally realized that no one will come in and commend me for my large library. In fact, when my kids go through my stuff after I’m gone, I want them to know that the books that are left are books that I’ve read and that had an impact on me. 

Now Marie has a program on NetFlix! We’ve watched a couple episodes and find it motivating as well as entertaining when you see people who have accumulated more stuff than they can even fit into their house and still have room to walk!

Two concepts stand out.

• “If an item doesn’t spark joy, get rid of it!” For example, don’t keep clothes you never wear even if you did buy them on sale!
• Transformation is required, and Marie uses that word. Many of the folks on the show have to adjust their mindset to be willing to part with things even if they’re never used and are in the way. 

Of course, if we hadn’t bought more stuff than we need, we wouldn’t have the clutter problem! So the counsel we opened with stands:

The only solution to lots of issues is to buy less.

Or, as Jesus said,

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12.15, ESV)