I've been abstaining from blogging since I've created yukicheung.com for over a month, but tonight I came across an article that has finally motivated me to break the silence:
What I've learned from moving three times and trashing everything I own
The post essentially explains how after having to move three times, the author has learned that owning less is basically owning more. More space, more savings, more time.
Okay, cheese and clichés aside, this post resonated with me quite a bit as I have moved a whopping NINETEEN times between 10 cities, 5 countries and 3 continents since 2005, not counting the short one or two-month stays for work as a consultant. Gee, I can't even decide whether the Nineteen figure or the It Has Been Ten Years Since 2005 Already?! part surprises myself more!
Of course, I can't honestly claim that my life over the past 10 years fit into two luggages and one carry-on - three luggages, maybe - but after packing and re-packing your whole life and finding all sorts of crazy workarounds to cheap out of buying things you forgot to bring yet again, you do really learn about what sorts of things are worth cheaping out of in life, and what isn't.
So to avoid repeating what the article already points out, I'd like to list out some of my thoughts in addition to those already in the article:
Quality Over Quantity
Pretty self-explanatory, and fairly obvious. Avoid sales and mindless shopping, and never buy something just because it's cheap. You're better off owning only three nice dresses and look elegant wearing them every day, than ten ugly ones and look fugly every single day. I actually have a few bags I bought on sale that I can't get rid of because they're so new, but that I don't use because they're not the prettiest - and so they are still stacked on some shelf, unused, right now. Oh the irony!
Quality Second-Hand
No more cheap IKEA, please. Don't get me wrong, they have wonderful furniture - but most people planning for short-term go for the complete junk, which really just isn't worth it. Remember, even if it's short term, you are forced to look at it, sit on it or sleep on it every single day. Instead, look on craigslist or other second-hand websites. You may find high-quality and well-maintained used tables, bed frames, shelves, etc. for the same price as the cardboard-quality IKEA ones. The best thing is that since they're good quality, you may re-sell them for the same price when it's time for you to move on!
Sell (or donate)!
As soon as you buy new toys, especially electronics (as I am terribly guilty of...), sell or donate your old ones. Immediately. Everything from clothes to electronics go out of trend and depreciate. Clear the clutter and benefit someone else while they're still useful.
The Perfect Thing
If you've found the perfect object that is really nice, really useful and that you know you will be using regularly, but which price happens to be higher than what you'd like to pay... just buy it. Chances are two years down the road you won't even remember the price. All you'll have is something you actually use every day, as opposed to the not-so-perfect thing that you might otherwise end up buying and ultimately replacing - with the hassle, headaches and space issues that come with it.
The Perfect Time
Remember that there is a time value of money (that's the MBA in me talking), and there's also a money value of time. Don't buy things way in advance thinking that you might someday use it. Most likely than not, you won't want to anymore when the time comes - clothes get tight, shoes go out of trend and technology advances continuously. Even if it's useful commodities like toilet paper - is it really worth clogging up your house with TP for months just to save a few bucks?
On the other side of the spectrum, if you need (not want!) something right away, just get it, forget about it and be happy! There is no point waiting for a sale if it would make you miss the opportunity to use it. Mathematically speaking (since I'm a geek), if you use an object 5 times over its lifetime and you miss an opportunity to use it while waiting for a 10% sale then it's just not worth it.