Buyer’s remorse sets in almost immediately after we buy something new.

When the initial joy wears off, we realize our bank account has shrunk and our responsibilities have grown (along with our carbon footprint).

To truly get the sense of the burden of stuff, watch the documentary The Queen of Versailles. It’s one of the clearest examples of the trappings of wealth.

But deleting an item from our lives has the opposite effect. We feel good donating to someone in need. Our space grows—and so does our peace of mind.

Getting rid of something old can give us more lasting happiness than buying something new.