单元 3: Can't buy me love
Quantifiers: all, each, every, both, either, neither
选择一个单元
- 1Pop-ups
- 2Hidden talents
- 3Can't buy me love
- 4Travellers' tales
- 5The colleague from hell
- 6Jurassic mystery: unpacking the past
- 7Career changes
- 8Art
- 9Project management
- 10The dog ate my homework!
- 11The diary of a double agent
- 12Fashion forward
- 13Flat pack skyscrapers
- 14Extreme sports
- 15Food fads
- 16Me, my selfie and I
- 17Endangered animals
- 18A nip and a tuck: cosmetic surgery
- 19I'm really sorry...
- 20Telling stories
- 21Fakes and phrasals
- 22Looking to the future
- 23Becoming familiar with things
- 24From rags to riches
- 25Against the odds
- 26Our future on Mars?
- 27Where is it illegal to get a fish drunk?
- 28Dodgy dating
- 29Annoying advice
- 30I'll have been studying English for thirty weeks
课程 4
Do you have too much stuff at home? One man has written a book saying that we do, and that it's killing us. Listen to an interview with him and then do some exercises that help you practise quantifiers.
Your turn
James Wallman thinks we have too much stuff in our lives, and that this can damage our health. Maybe he would prefer a home like the one in the picture below? But what about you?
阅读文章并完成练习

To do
Do you have too much stuff? Is it making you sad and upset? Or maybe shopping for new things makes you feel happy... Write down your thoughts in fewer than 100 words, and remember to use as many quantifiers as you can:
- all
- some
- a few
- a bit of
- too much
- too many
Thank you for emailing your comments to us. We enjoyed reading them. This task is now closed.
Here are some of the comments that we received:
Mercedes, Spain
It is difficult to balance when it comes to acquiring objects or things that are needed.
Sometimes you need to buy something then you have to book for future use, for example everything related to bricolage (drills, screwdrivers...).
On the other hand we all have predilection for some type of object you appreciate more than another. In this case we acquired for enjoyment, such as collect something.
In my case I am aware of buying a lot of books and I think some will not have time to read them.
Time passes and there is much to do.
Maria
I check my wardrobe every season and set aside the clothes that are no longer in fashion, but it's not easy to choose and I always pick a few items that I know do not wear any more, then I buy new clothes so my wardrobe is always too full.
In the kitchen I have some kitchenware that I never use; a colander, ladles, large pots but I don't like to throw them out.
After reading the article by Wallman I plan to get rid of some of my stuff and give away a litte of everything superfluous.
Fábio, Brazil
I think that stuff is one problem of the global world and of our civilization/society. People feel happy when buy new objects, too many objects as possible. There is psychological comfort with this. The marketing of the stores for the products/objects increase this psychological comfort and people loves and loves to buy. I think that one solution for this kind of psychological comfort is living with what we need have and not live with we want to show. Today people lives to show instead of only to lives.
Kamilla
I think too much stuff don't make you happy.
I have relatives, they have a lot of stuff at home, many beautiful and expensive things. But it's a main problem to live house for several days!!!! Because they always worry about things at home, they worry about that thiefs can steal it when home be alone. They worry about fire, floods, thiefs, e.t.c. And it's devastating!!! People might have few stuff and be happy! I think happiness in knowledges, in traveling, freedom. It's individual things if you want to be closed in your house buy much stuff and be happy! But remember you don't buy all stuff in the world!
Nguyễn
My opinion is different from Mr. Wallman's. I think that we should put stuff in the right place that we can find it easily when necessary. It not only makes our house look much better, but it also allows us to find the things we need in some situations. Having much stuff is necessary because you may need it in the future. For instance, you have many cups although you live alone. But some day, many friends of you come and you have enough cups for them to use.
Filippo
As far as I'm concerned, each person realize to have too much stuff as time goes by; in fact I've stopped to buy things less useful or in general anything I liked, in occasion of the new birth of my baby.
When I was child I asked my parents to buy always new games, however sometimes they bought me, sometimes no... right now I've understood the reason.
I would like to spend my time to realize too many experiences with both my baby and my wife taking too many photos just because unnecessary stuff doesn't remain impress in our life, photos does.
According to James Wallman, we can only feel happy by having experiences... and photos...
Matthieu
It is obvious there is to many things in my house. Moreover, since I am student in Paris, all the members of my family put some things they don't need in my room, so it is now a merry mess, where my huge collection of books and comics meets old toys of my sister and my mother's twenty-years-old school books.
Oddly, I don't feel any lose of breathe surrounded by all this unnecessary furniture and I love both my wood cat and my cactus which are as useless as funny.
I will be sad when I will soon have to leave this capernaum to my empty student room...
Naoki
Immediately, so many things filled up my new house.
First, my room had only few furnitures and there was a large empty space. That made me feel uncomfortable and stressed so I wanted to buy things fill my room and my mind. However, as the room got narrower, I felt sick and suffocated.
I think neither having too many things nor having very few things are good for us, but too much stuff is worse than the latter one as it makes me much more stressful.
To grab happiness, we should know how much stuff comforts us the most.
Regina, Brasil
I don't know when I started to mind about the quantities of stuff there were in the world. I started by my room fills of many things, sometimes I didn't know what I had and what I should be inneed, how I could kept so much things? I tryed to understand, loooking outside, talking with my friends and relatives when I realized that we were almost the same, buying, keeping without necessity.
In my particular case I have been changing, I can't continuous to fill the world with so much stuff. what in the future it will be? We need to think about the people that come after us living with all this stuff. The Planet should be better for the news generations. Now, before going shopping I ask to myself am I inneed to buy something? This way of thinking brought to me more conciens that we need few things and it isn't necessary too much for being happy.
Rita
I don't have too many things at home. Actually, I use everything except a few wine cups and some spare sheets and blankets for guests. All my pots and pans are used almost every week.
Some summer T-shirts are not so often used, it depends on my epilation frequency. (lol)
Maybe I have too many cleansing products because I usually get them through the well-known offer: "Buy 3 pay 2".
The fact that I have recently divorced and bought a new flat is very likely the reason why I don't have too much stuff at home.
There is a feeling of scarcely here, but not material scarcely. It is a problem of loneliness and a lack of affection.
Hasan
Alright, first of all, I am too much grateful to you, because you give us such an opportunity. I have lived in Turkey until couple months ago. I absolutely can say that there are too much furniture, too much stuff in Turkish houses. Actually all of them reflect of a bit of our culture.
I had a bit of mentioned headache, chronic fatigue until couple months ago. Now I’m living in Sweden. In here everything is more simple and pure. I gathered all of my unnecessary stuff and I threw all of them to garbage. What did I throw to garbage? First, I had too many video games, too much small clothes. And a few unnecessary goods.
Sure, I like to shopping. It makes me happy, too much happy. But I'm pay attention to buy significant and necessary stuff.
Silvia, Italy
Some months ago I moved to a new house, so I had to pack all my stuff up. I had never realized before how many things I had: wardrobes, closets, the cellar and the attic full of old stuff or things I used maybe once or twice! It took ages to put everything in the boxes... Afterwards I spent few weeks on my granma's house. I brought with me only few indispensable objects and some clothes but I didn't need anything more. So I realized I had too much stuff in my new house and then I decided to throw, sell or give away lots of things. I felt lighter.
Cathrine, Ukraine
Well, what can I say about the stuff? It makes me depressed. I fill uncomfortable if there is too much stuff in my apartment.
I try to throw out all the unnecessary things as soon as I understand that I don't need them anymore. Also I have a rule. If I buy something new, I must get rid of something old. As well, I often do revision of closets, balconies and pantries to identify and throw out all the stuff. I like that picture on your site. Maybe it's too much, but there is some point in it.
I think that the stuff can't make us happy. We need love, emotions, feelings, new experiences. Our life must be interesting; hardly a new vase or a carpet can replace the journey to the sea or play with children or chat with friends...
Juan Carlos
Well, let me see... I'm in the attic and I am crazy. No that's other tail. Well, I turn my head around and I see two computers, old computers, toys, books, films, portraits. I could say too much stuff I would talk to my wife to select many of these things and throw them away, you know we have too much stuff but it isn't easy to say bye bye to all them. I don't know why but I have to take advice with her before move from one shelf to other. And if I want to rid an old magazine is impossible. I only get it if she doesn't know I'm going to do it. So if she is abroad and I am at home I can throw the parrot support away. I understand she wants to keep the dresses of when our daughter was a new born but we have the dresses of her cousins I don't why. There are too many things that hinder my sight and I would like to see books only books on the shelves.
Nuray
My room is very simply designed. Because I think when you raise your head, you shouldn't distract. When I read a book my only want is see the sky or trees not some kind of distracting stuff. So my opinion is having too much stuff is not a good for us. In the other hand, sometimes we feel so angry, lonely, depressed. And we want just buy something. Maybe it is a defence mechanism. We just want to redirect our feelings to something new. It is sometimes can be life saving.
Ultimately all of the things are in our control :)
Tahnee, Brazil
When I was a child and lived with all my family, my two brothers and I shared a bedroom and we had so many things there, until my brother went to live alone. We felt happy to have more space to organize our furniture and buy more... then some few years after my sister went to live abroad and all of that things still in the bedroom. I thought about this and gave most of the clothes, accessories, toys for a charity institute, because a bit of these objects still making sense for me, because they bring me good memories from our childhood. So it is a good way to not have to much stuff: keep with you only something that make sense, other way, this things will make other people happy.
Alex, Russia
Every time I used t complain that there is not enough time to do sports and spend time with my family. Until, I realized that a lot of my personal time goes for the stuff I owned and buy. We all trying to get a good deal spending to much time searching for a sale, choosing the best item in the store, leaning all about new TV or a new model of phone. The worst come that we also spend a vast of our time for maintaining and keeping save the items which we owned. It a non stop. It's like a protein wheel they always create something new and you again have to get the best deal. It never stops.
A fake life values drives our life, it keeps us busy day to day until we get old and understand that the beauty of life is in the experience. The life gives us a chance experience much more interesting things from traveling to love.
I have changed my style of life, stop buying new trades and all the fashion items and keep only most important stuff for myself.
I spend more time leaning, traveling and spending with people who I love.
Pamela, Argentina
I love travel, for the last five years I lived in four different cities, sharing apartment with others, but just renting a room. Because that, I decided to have the less stuff possible, It's easier to move and start again in a new home. I didn't need to have big stuff, neither furniture nor washing machine, in every apartment the rent of a room included this kind of things.
In the last year I live as a couple and I have a formal job. Since then, I feel I started to accumulate more stuff, buying furniture and electronics. I believe that is the normal way when you start an adult life. However, my partner and I, both like to have new experiences, we still travel a lot, we prefer to use the money in this, instead buying things.
Adauto, Brazil
Buying a lot of unnecessary things can bring us a piece of happiness, but only for a little while. This habit is more common than we imagine, I think every people use to go shopping to buy some stuff which is really necessary,but along the way they find out goods with huge discounts and the end of this story everybody knows, I mean more things which will hardly be used and in a little while will become a lot of garbage.
Patricio, Argentina
I live in an apartment and with minimum things that we bought with my girlfriend we are happy... Obviously you need to gain money to buy different things but the point is not getting crazy to obtain more and more...
We like to travel and live many experiences in different places... We always are open to ask for a piece of advice in order to learn about the other...
We hope to get to know many places in the future and get happiness in each of them!
Vasyl, Ukraine
My own home contains plenty of things. Moreover, there are too many things in my garage and there is too much stuff in my house in the country. And though every time I feel some irritation about something useless, however there is a bit of confidence and even hundreds of times there were no doubts that its time will come. For instance throughout past few years, building sauna in the country, I have been using too much so called garbage instead of buying all those construction materials. One more example: either travelling by car or having any trouble with electricity I take an old foam box instead of fridge and I hurry to assure you it was forgotten for many years before to receive its second chance.
Rodrigo, Brazil
Most of people enjoy shopping because it makes them feel better at that moment. I believe it's a temporary sensation and won't help us feel truly happy for a long time. Buying things is good, however I invite you to buy good "memories" or "experiences" as James Wallman suggested us in his book. Is it possible?
But it's possible to build good memories and they will last forever. How? Traveling, meeting new things, cultures, people and so on. Leave your routine and live. There is a whole world outside waiting for you. It will be a journey of good experiences to remember during all your life and I'm sure every time you remember how good your experiences were, you'll feel better.
Cheniappan, India
I don't have too much stuff in my house because I don't have that much of money to buy. Even though I don't have money I felt happy but in recent times something (like cinema, TV, advertisements, etc.) push me to earn more money to buy expensive things. This type of articles makes me understand the reality and prevent me from doing something wrong. If I think like this I prefer ancient times where we had no money.
Richard, France
I think that having too much stuff is the sign of a discomfort. We don't need having many things to be happy. But in this consumer society, children have been often growing in the abundance. It's more difficult for them to find the happiness.
Diego, Italy
I'm an Italian student and I think that I haven't got too much stuff, but if I do a comparison with all the coetaneous of poor countries, I'm clearly 'stuffocate' (cit. James Wallman).
With the Economic welfare and technology development of these last years, we could buy too many things that make our house much more comfortable and smart, but this isn't the happiness.
Also shopping is the effect of a quick fashion development that make the people instantly very happy because it gets them away from the everyday work or life, but when you return at home this 'shopping wellness' sensation is already gone.
Irina, Russia
I really don't like having much stuff. There are only useful and necessary things in my home. All of them make my life easier and more comfortable. When I buy something new I give the old things to someone or to the charity organizations or if the thing is broken I throw it in the trash. Having too much stuff makes me a bit anxious. It is much easier to breathe when there is a lot of free space around you. I think we don't need too many material things to be happy.
Beatriz
Yes, I have too much stuff in my closet and too many new suits for my job. Sometimes I can not find the blouse or the skirt of my uniform because all is in a mess, however I think, I have some old clothes because they are too good to be out, and a lot of them are new so... I suppose, a bit of order it's needed here, only!
Emmanuel
This interview amazed me that there is a correlation between desire and health. At first, I thought "having too much stuff" was not my problem because I don't have enough money to buy things that I want and also I feel like I need to save money for my future. But, I do have desire to be rich and I will do whatever it takes to reach my goal. Having too much money might apply to correlation of desire and health. It's hard to picture myself that I would most likely to hurt myself mentally, if I pursue making more and more money.
Jurate, Lithuania
When I have someone visiting me at home I often get asked same questions: Haven't you got any chairs? Where's your table? My mom especially is disatisfied with me and points out now and again that neither a piece of nice new furniture nor a carpet would do any wrong to my place. But I still don't buy either of those. I like having few possessions because it helps me feel free. I prefer my place clean and simple to a plush one, I prefer space to things. In fact, I think I would feel bad with too many things. All there is in my room is an old wardrobe with a sofa that I got from my grandparents when they were refurnishing their home, a big gym mat and a laptop. To own less allows to see better what is going on beyond one's limited existence.
Emiliano, Italy
Too much stuff, right, true: in my case that mean dozens of books and some clothes wich will become fast older.
But all our economy is based on production of things that we really donot need. If we stop to buy things, the shops will immediatly stop to sell thing, and of course the firm level would be bloked. Money in exchange of things, or better, at deeper level: all the things are producted for making money. With the 'financialization' we have tried to jump the step of the commodity making money from money... but it didn't work: money could be built from thin air, but this can create a disaster as we've seen, because they can desapperar in onvernight creating the worlwide panic.
Every one must try to understand a bit of economy, because we must change our way of life. Mybe each and every one have to do a small private revolution.
Lisa, Netherlands
I have seriously too much stuff. I buy too many things I think. When I'm cleaning up my room, I have really no idea where I have to put all my stuff. I don't need so much stuff. I have a lot of make-up, clothes and shoes. Why? Because I like it. I like stuff. I like to go shopping with my father. I like to watch Vampire Diaries.
Nicholas, Netherlands
I think that people of now a days have too much stuff but we love buying new and more things. When we get new things we use it for a while but later on we don't use all the old stuff. I think that we must buy necessary things that we use years and years later. We don't always love too much stuff. It can be stressful. If you don't use stuff you can give it away to people who need it and still use it.
Hugo, Netherlands
I think I have a lot of stuff. I have too much clothing and too many books. But it's not making me sad because I love having stuff. Shopping sometimes makes me feel happy but sometimes it makes me feel sad. I think too much stuff is not good for people. Sometimes stuff makes people sad. And also buying stuff makes some people sad. If I buy things I feel happy. I don't know why but it gives me a good feeling.
Agata, Italy
When I lived in Italy, I earned a lot of money and with my family we bought a lot of things, a bigger house, a more powerful car, and many many stuff and clothes.
When my daughter went away to study abroad my house looked empty and too big for me and my husband.
I lost my job so I thought I could live with 100 of things and have new experiences.
Now with my husband we have only 200 things and we are probably happier than before.
All energies are to improve english language and have more experience.
Some days I remember my previous life and a few tears go down but only for a few minutes.
A bit of English humor make me happy again if I think that too much stress in having too many things.
Catherine, France
I can say that I have too much stuff at home and sometimes it makes me anxious, especially when I think about moving. Shopping new things is not really the problem but I am fifty seven and, in the long run, I've been keeping all my books , my children toys and a few little and less little presents.,
Sometimes I give a bit of stuff, clothes and books and I throw out old newspapers, half broken kitchen equipment and I sort out a few papers. It's a little victory!
But it's a fight with my husband who wants to keep everything!
Cinzia, Italy
I do agree with James Wallman. We have too many things we do not really need. However, in the past I used to buy stuff when I was stressed for my job or when I felt depressed.Today, I actually tend to buy too much food for my family even if it is not necessary because I'm afraid to have an empty fridge. Luckily, it is not a compulsory attitude for me but just something I'm aware of and I trying to control.
I love reading a lot and if I could I will spend much money buying books but unfortunatly it is not always possible and therefore I borrow some from the local library.
Anyway, I must say that money can't make you happy but it helps to have a better life.
Maury, Brazil
I agree with James Wallman when he says that having too much stuff in our lives can damage our health. When also he says that we buy a lot of things, but we never want to try on or we have used them before. I have seen too many people that want to be happy and they think that the happiness is in material things. But the same people forget that the happiness is in untouchable things like true experiences. I can exemplify: people can make a trip with their family or with their friends or even alone. Making a trip is a wonderful experience. In my opinion we have to buy useful things and we have to ask to ourselves before we buy them if, do we really need to buy all the these things?
Marie, Quebec
I completely agree with Mr Wallman. In French we have a saying : Owning nothing is Freedom. Believe me. I have experienced it, it’s true !
At home in Quebec, I have too much stuff to take care. Some days, I can’t enjoy life as I should. I have to say a few « no » to many invitations.
On other hand,I have a great opportunity to live in Hawaii for 6 months a year. Life is much lay back. I have a small studio and a small piece of luggage, that’s all. Life with friends is wonderful.
All my day isn’t long enough to enjoy life away far from stuffocation. Too much stuff makes your life out of the essential pathway.
Alina, Romania
I had been living in communism when we hadn't found too much stuff as we are finding now. The stores' shelves had had very few products that quickly disappeared.
But nowadays, Romanians are trying to overcome those bad memories and they have been buying almost everything, especially all the products that have some discount.
Personally, I realised, I have had too much stuff on my wardrobe. Every time when I clean it, it is almost impossible not to find some out fashion clothes or clothes that sizes are inappropriate. Every time when I finds clothes that don't fit me, I give it to people who don't have.
Life is about to gain more experiences than account money in our bank account. When we die, what we have is our life experience: how many books did you read, or how many places did you visit?
We don't take any things with us, when we past away. Than why we don't focus much more on our life experiences not by having more things?
José Luis, Spain
I agree James Wallman. All of us have too many things. He is right because in develop countries we have lots of things at home: devices, furnitures, useless things, and meanly clothes. Our wardroves are plenty of clothes and many different stuff.
I think that way is a little bit sad. A wrong way. I’m sure we can better enjoy life without the most of that stuff. We are really materialistic. We could share our wages with poor people and with fewer things, will would be happier.
And finally, go shopping is not my favourite hobby.
Irene, Russia
Hello! As many women I like buying new stuff. Moreover I buy things I really don't need sometimes. Then all that clothes and items take too much place in my wardrobe but I use them seldom so it makes me feel depressed. That’s why I set a rule for myself. Every weekend I open my wardrobe and if I recognize that I haven’t been using some things for a long time I throw them out immediately. So I get enough space for something new or I just make some shelfs empty. I agree with James Wallman. Instead of buying new stuff we should spend more money on travelling for example. Because "no matter how old your shoes if you walk in them in Paris".
Mario, Italy
I think we've got too many things because we trick ourselves into believing that happiness is something we can buy through money, but such happiness lasts a very short period of time.
As far as I'm concerned, money is important to the extent that it allows me to eat every day and have a place to sleep at night. I am really happy only when people make me feel esteemed, appreciated and helpful for all I do every day, but unfortunately it's not something we can always manage to get. Trying to buy too many things is also a way of gratifying ourselves every time we feel too much depressed.
Alessandra, Italy
I do agree with James Wallman, because I really have too many things in my home and above all in my wardrobe. Every morning I can’t decide which shirt or which trousers wear, however I feel very happy when I go shopping. It sounds incredible! I also have too much stuff around. It is because my friends give me some useless things for Christmas or for my birthday. At the end my partner and me have decided we give us a trip or a gig for Christmas or for birthday.
Erika
I used to live in a big apartment, I had too much stuff and not idea about that, I wasn't aware of how many things I had accumulated over the years, but I found out about it when I was about to move to a smaller apartment, I had too many boxes and much all my stuff couldn't fit in those boxes so I had to donate many things, especially stuff that I hardly used, which was a good thing, I could get rid of the things and also help people who need them.
A few things remain in my new apartment, most of them are really necessary and it feels good to have a place with a bit of things.
As the previous article argued, experiences counts more than materialism.
There's a saying that says: Less is more and I couldn't agree more.
Mauro, Italy
Too much stuff im my house? Certainly! I've been collecting too many things during my travels all over the world. Some of them remind me unforgettable adventures, I'll keep them forever. Some people gave me a few of the others to remind their country, no way, I cant get rid of them! I think that all the things that are in my house have a reason to remain where I put them anyway. Probably the only useless thing standing now in my house is myself, so I'll go away to make another trip around the world.
Azizakif, Turkey
Materialism means my soul suffocates in things. Things designed by artists or manufacturer simulate all real stuff around us. It is impossible for me to relieve when l look at a fake of genuine. Therefore l would prefer a simple designed room or space.
Simple designed space or house never has too much stuff. It provides me to think and move around freely. If my house or room had too many things, all my brain would be captured by things which are designed by other souls.
Above all don't interpret that bed is enough for living. I am not a soulist. A few special items can be in my room. But correlation between me and a bit of stuff is crucial to stimulate my soul. For example my son's two small cars and his photograph make me feel better. I remember our experiences with him thanks to them. The experiences are vital at that point time and let off our soul from things.
Viridiana
I agree with the writer, stuffocation is bad for our health and nowadays it's a real problema, besides all the health problems mentioned in the texts it affects our energy, if we open our warddrobes and everything is in order and clean we feel good but if it's a mess, we have a lack of energy and immediately we start feeling bad. Peace also gives us health =)
Anazilda, Brazil
I do agree we have too much stuff and it is stealing our happiness. No one can fly with so much baggage.
I try to live with simplicity. I only buy a piece of clothing if some other is not in good conditions any more, and I try to find someone who can reuse or recycle it. And if some friend give me one as a gift, I chose another do send do charity institutions.
I do the same with furniture and other things. I have no car, no TV and just a simple tablet, not very expensive.
But I cannot resist to buy books. I always buy much more books than I can read. I have no more space avaiable at home. I know I should donate my books to a public library, and borrow them when I have enough time to read, but I can't! Pehaps I need the help of the Annonymous Book Buyers :)
Trinh
A buffet is a typical example of the "stuffocation". You get in a fancy restaurant where a buffet is waiting for you. Too much food of the buffet makes you distracted and you usually could not manage to choose the right courses to make a good balance meal. Instead, you have a tendency to taste all of them. "I do not know why I usually eat more at a buffet – it is not hunger, it is just greed", said many people and most of them confess that they feel uncomfortable several days afterward, however delicious the food is.
Sonia, Poland
I love shopping and I've got quite much stuff especially in my wardrobe. Although it buying new things makes me happy sometimes I think that's shouldn't be the most important thing in our lives. Really sad event in my life had made that I have changed my point of view. Now I would like to travel, meet new people from all over the world and collect memories in my life - not just more and more things. Of course, money and some stuff help us live decently but I find that people who just work hard in order to buy new, better car, expensive clothes and the best stuff are not really happy. I want you all to remember that in our lives is just one and sure thing that no one can take away from us - our memories and experience.
Kate
Yes, I have too much stuff, especially in my wardrobe. When I make an order with my clothes a few of them I leave because I think that I put it on one more time, but in just a bit of them it’s true. Having a lot of cloths doesn't make me happy. Like each women often I have a problem what I wear. I look for a cloth in my wardrobe and I don't found anything despite too many things. But I love buy a lot of things to my house it's the best think to get the better humor.
Angel, Spain
A lot of time ago, when I began to work and I earned my firsts salaries, I remember that I wanted to buy a lot of things. In few months I had my home full of stuff. This was for a while. After a few years, I realized that too much stuff in your life, like the earlier text claim, makes the life more complex.
Now, I try having few things. I say that everything you need must fit into a rucksack. The more important things in the life don't take up physical space, but space in your mind and in your hearth.
Pia, Germany
I really think I've too much stuff. I've collected many things over years and now I'm not able to give them away. It's not because of memories, it's because I don't know where to start. All these things overwhelm me. I think it would be a good feeling to donate most of the things and to reduce my property. In my opinion we'll be satisfied, if we spent more time with our families and friends, instead of consuming.
Khalid, Yemen
I love easy life. Having a lot of things could make me upset, so before I decide getting anything I think about its importance for my life. I think all essential needs are fewer than luxuries. When people have too many things, they lose how enjoy them. I have some clothes, so I can choose easily, I have not too much furniture in my house, because I feel happy when live in wide place, even when I travel I take a few things.
Claudia, Brazil
I'm a Brazilian student. I don't have a lot of things, and I try to have less and less things, 'cause I do agree with James Wallman; people have too much stuff and try to find hapiness on it, and not in the experiences we have in our lives.
Putting hapiness on stuff could make people ill, because in te end they realize that money and stuff ins't everthing, and that's the illness.
We have to learn to live with a few things, stop to go shopping just because we're upset with something, or 'cause we're stressed out. Hapiness is inside of you and me, our mission is findind it in each other.
Dan Sun, China
All female friends of mind enjoy shopping. Some of them keep saying that there is always one dress missing in their closets, even though they have too many clothes hanging in there, it’s still difficult to pick up one to put on. From my point of view, shopping is a good way to help me relax as well as the way to spend a bit of time with my friend every week while I am doing that. We try on new clothes and give advice to each other, sometimes we don’t buy it if it costs too much. I think everything should be in a certain balance, going shopping a few times every month is reasonable, just don’t overdo it.
Nuria, Barcelona
Yes, I have too much stuff in my house. I like buying a lot of thinks by internet because the price is good. But now I'm trying to buy only some things that I need.
Once or twice a year I organize my wardrobe, my library and I give my old things to someone or a charity organization. When I finish that I feel better.
Pavlo, Ukraine
I have lots of stuff at my home but it doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I believe that if you keep all your things in right places it will never disturb you. In addition to this you will always have access to everything you need.
However you have to spend a bit of your free time to clean up. Of course you won’t like it but it’s better than spending much more time to choose what to keep and what to throw out.
All in all I think that the best way to deal with useless stuff is to think twice before buying something new to your house.
Tania, Italy
I have too much stuff in my home! I'd like to live in empty spaces but the reality is a little bit different: all my rooms are full of things and some objects I have are really unuseful! I have too many shoes, too much baggage, many books, and even too much forniture. I'm happy to have many books but sometimes I think I've lost a lot of time and too much money to buy all this stuff I don't really need. And so I would like to get free from this stuff in few minutes, using a little bit of magic.
Erdem Erbey, Turkey
I think this subject is closing releated with minimalism. Minimalism is a movement of idea that influence various field like art or music claim be simplicity. for consumption I read an interetsting minimalist idea that suggest have limited good or things. For example you should to decide haw many shirts would you keep in your gardrobe. it depends on you, it could be 5 or 10. And when you determine the number of shirts that you wear in a year you should follow this rule. so if you want to or intend to buy a new shirts you can't only consider having enough money you olso think about which shirts would you throw out in your gardorbe instead of this? This solution help me very much and when we take together its with this novel we could say that limit our consumption is important for our happiness not only economic conditions.
Irene, Spain
I think I’m actually stuffocating. Every day I realize more and more the problem that is causing me owing too much stuff and particularly all the things I have at home. It makes me angry, nervous and upset each time I’m trying to decide what to wear and I have so many T-shirt that I haven’t even wear yet, or when looking in my drawer for something I need urgently but I can’t find it because it’s full up with other useless objects or rooting around through all the bottles of spices we have, just to decide which one I need. For that reason I’m gonna try to concentrate in things that really make me happy, like traveling, learning new facts and living exiting experiences instead of worrying about the things I have and the ones I don’t have already in my closet.
Manuel Salvador López, Panamá
So, I don´t like to have too much stuff in my apartment, i love open spaces, that´s makes me feel free and confortable. Some times I get a few antiques objetcs to ornament my living room, some things like cameras, music instruments and old toys. In Panama, our weather is tropical and humidity, that´s just because, I need to have free space to breath phisycall and mentality.
Svetlana
I like comfort, and I hate lacking of something I need at the moment. I am not a rich person and I don't have luxury things. But I love my big bed and my lovely deep armchair that I like sitting in the evening and watching an expensive TV with high-quality picture. Why should these all things make me less happy? Vice versa, I am glad that my wardrobe is ready for every event in my life: work, a meeting, a date, a party, a barbeque with friends. Some time I notice that I have too much clothes, then I look over my dresses and give some of them to over people.
Ammår
Before a few months ago , I lived in suffocation hell since i had started my study in college of architecture , Loads of carton foam paper ... etc , on bed on my office down top bottom .... anywhere , cleaning the room be very deficullt work ,, finally my room was neglected because i dont have a time to clean it ... nowdays im in holiday month im work every day to room still clean and fresh ..
im hopeful :)
Monize
Nowadays people live in an individualistic way. The capitalist world dominates the global culture. Every day, people are bombarded with many advertisements about products that claim are essential to living well. This ultimately results in an exaggerated increase in consumerism and accumulation of things, which often become unnecessary and futile. But the essential question is: Does money buy happiness? The truth is that money helps to bring comfort, whose sense may seem happiness, but it is not. It is not uncommon to realize a sense of loneliness in the midst of so many people, those who have a large amount of money. The sincere and unpretentious friendship does not arise from greed and falsehood. Each sincere friendship brings happiness, fullness and satisfaction. Likewise is in relation to the care of close relationships, every smile of those who like, every thank you for a good deed. Anyway, money helps to survive in a globalized world, but do not buy the full happiness, just adds to the feeling of all illusion to think that one is happy.
Javier, Bilbao
I think I’ve got a problem because of all the stuff I’ve got at home. I live in a small flat where there is not enough place for so many things. Not all of them are useful, a few of them are needed things like my motorbike clothing but on the other hand I retain too many useless things like old student´s books from my childhood or some old-fashioned furniture that I will never use again.
So my conclusion is clear, It´s better to make do with not too many things rather than owning too much staff and no place to keep it.
Viviana, Italy
That's true. We live overwhelmed by too much stuff, and I don't really know how much useful they are. I realize this thing everytime I prepare my camping backpack before to leave for 10 days into the woods. I can put in there just a few things, but they are enough for those days. There's no need to overdo in our lives. The objects do not make us happy, do not complete us and do not change our lives. We can learn all these things just living day by day, meeting people and making experiences, just like James Wallman says.
Ibrahim
What I think about stuff?
In my opinion that most people buy alot of things which is not mandatory in their life. They spend too much money to fill their homes in unuseful furniture.
In my country people always buy what they don't use, unfortunately this is reflect to our culture.
I think neither scarcity nor abundance are good, people should buy what they need necessary, moreover they should kick off old stuff.
For me I like shopping, so actually I have too much thing I have to throw it out.
Antonio, Spain
I don’t think I have too much stuff in my home.
Right now, I’ve been living with my girlfriend. We are tidy and we haven't got too many objects in our house.
In my case, I have too much clothes, even more than my partner. But, twice a year, I donate the clothes that I didn't use. Nowadays, I also buy new clothes, normally in winter and summer sales discounts.
I think is important to be tidy and to know how many things you need in your life to be happy. You will not be happier by having too much stuff.
Akin
Yes I have too much stuff.Actually we have,because of I've maried and I've got a child who is 15 years old girl.I think in this 20th centry,every women and too mant men are addicted shopping. This kind of people ,without thinking wheter they need to have things,just do shopping to be happy.İndeed it's like to use alcohol or drugs and to smoke.They just want to buy something,it's not important what it is that they need it.So,they come back their home and put all of things which bought to wordrobe or cupboard or somewhere sort of that,next day they are unhappy again İf they won't go shopping.
My wife is a prototipe of this kind of person,I think mt daughter will be in the close future.I don't able to do to change all of this.
Ília
There was a time I spent a lot of money and time buying too much stuff especially when I had a new home.
But quickly I realized that as more full of stuff I had at home and wardrobe more dificult cleaning and organizing was.
So I started doing the opposite, trying to keep just the necessary stuff.
Now I always do that balance keeping the most necessary and buying less that it is possible and tranfering money spent in thing to experiences with family and friends or traveling looking for more fullfilment.
But even with experinces we have to take it with balance and intelligence not running to live everything as to do with stuff.
On that case we can create a similar word to stuffocating like "expfocating".
Pawan, Nepal
Off and on, I go shopping - haggle at times - and buy some superfluous stuff. Often I feel my predilection for gadgets has cost me much but I do not resent it.
I rather understand 'Stuffocation' is the conflict between desire and need, where desire surmounts the need. So, in my opinion, people in trying to keep up cachet in society, buy too many ostentatious stuff that has very little usage - giving room for 'sttuffocation'.
Francesco
James Wallman ideas are very interesting but he only shows a partial view.
As in other situation the truth lies in the center. too much stuff smothers probably and an empty house is a very desolation set-up. In my opinion the stuff value changes in order to our link with things. Last Sunday I have met an homeless with a shopping cart extremely full of things and in the afternoon I have visited some rich friends; they lived in a minimal style house with a bit of stuff on the carpet and only with some furniture. Who has more things? Who is more fortunate? I don’t Know.
Guille
Sometimes we lose something that we had been keeping because it was very important and we realize that it wasn’t important at all; we aren’t sad without it. I really have liked the final conclusion, we have to try to change our finding of happiness in having more things to live more a better experiences. Of course is really difficult in today’s world, full of marketing campaigns which associated his products with happiness, respect and admiration. We will have to try our best, it will be a hard fight against the materialism.
Arielle
I am not well-paid but my work stresses me so much. I can’t even plan to do something else in a day without something at work coming on to avoid it. I have no time for me, all goes to my work. I have no time to see what happens in everyday life like buying new clothes or just chilling out with friends.
In fact, my job manages my time schedule and the matter is not that I do not have enough money to really live; the matter is that I have not enough time to enjoy life. I can’t bear this situation but changing it means seeking a new job with different conditions. Is it a solution?
Actually, I think I just have to master my life not letting my job does it in my place in order to have some free time and days-off to appreciate moments in life.
Alfonso, Spain
Reading Wallman's article makes me think of this subject. All of us are living in a very material world, we are always buying stuff we do not need. I know that sometimes, when we are sad, we need to buy something that makes us happy for a while, but we should buy only what we need.
We live in a technological world, everyday there is a new mobile phone, more sophisticated than the previous one, or a new tablet, a new car, a new television, a new bike, and when we see them, the first thing we think is: "I want it!"
But we have to reflect on buying only necessary stuff. When we want to get something, that thing is fantastic, marvellous, but when we get it, it is not as beautiful as before, because desire is too much strong.
I agree with Wallman, experiences are very good to be happy, stay with people you love, read a book, go to a concert, travel, etc.
Stuff makes us slaves.
Vitaliy Debre, Kyiv, Ukraine
in general, I do not have a lot of stuff, because my apartment is not quite big enough and there is no place for storing too many things. Nevertheless, I still have had a problem with things which I do not use but I keep it at home and do not throw it away. I have such a kind of attachment and feel some old connection with them.
Anyway, time to time I do a big revision of things and try to get rid of stuff as much as I can which I do not use a long time or I do not like.
Also, I try to keep order in the rooms and hide some stuff to the cupboard and boxes of different size. I believe if it is the order in the space around me it will be the order in my head :).
I like to live in a clean place, but not as on your picture. I think it is a little bit too clean for me, as in the hospital. :)
End of Session 4
That's it for this session. Have you had enough of quantifiers yet? Surely not! You can never learn too much grammar! We hope you've enjoyed the session. Join us in Unit 4 for some travellers' tales.