In my opinion – which I readily admit was formed from my experiences and so I can only surely apply to myself – the thing that one wants to rid one’s self of, and then stay absolutely clear of, is not “stuff”… it is *debt*.

For the last few decades, I’ve avoided debt like the plague. If I can’t pay for something out of pocket, I don’t get it. But on the other hand, once you’re not paying interest, it turns out you have a lot more money than you think you did, and getting “stuff” isn’t much of a problem. I even bought my home out of pocket. Mind you, it was inexpensive. We are doing all manner of creative things to it (it was a church, so it was an empty box) all out of pocket. Our only recurring bills are utilities and taxes.

I am fairly sure that our active program to eliminate existing debt and then intentionally refuse to enter into new debt provided us with more of an actual advantage than any program to reduce stuff could ever do. But again, that’s just us. I suppose if for some personal reason, “stuff” is an irritant, then it should be dealt with. Trading, however, seems like it would not help. Give up something you already have for something you want more, and you’ve not decreased your stuff-count, it is still the same, but you’ve just ratcheted up the value to you. Ooops?