I’ve always been curious about family habits when it comes to keeping things. Growing up, I noticed a stark difference between generations. My grandparents (in their late 70s–80s) were pretty relaxed—they didn’t buy or keep things just for the sake of it. If something was broken or useless, they tossed it. Their houses felt airy, organized, and not overloaded with “stuff.”
But then comes the next generation—my parents, aunts, uncles (50–70)—and almost everyone is a hoarder. They seem to collect anything they can get their hands on and fill every corner of the house and yard. One uncle had five broken TVs in a single room, because “maybe I can fix them someday.” My dad has dozens of old computers, printers, and CRT monitors. He uses maybe one of each, but can’t part with the rest.
Meanwhile, most of us kids (20–35) have taken a more minimalist approach. We only buy what we need and don’t feel bad about tossing things we no longer use. It’s almost like a rebellion against the old “save everything just in case” mentality.
I think a lot of it comes from growing up in times of scarcity. My parents’ generation lived through periods when goods were limited or hard to come by. If you got something, you held on to it, because you never knew when you’d need it again. My generation, on the other hand, grew up surrounded by abundance and endless options at Target, Walmart, or online. We’re tired of dusting off shelves of unused dishes, old clothes that never fit anyone, and gadgets that never worked.
Here are some real-life examples from my family:
- My dad keeps every plastic container from leftovers, just in case he needs it.
- One uncle has entire rooms filled with old vinyl records, broken electronics, and random hardware parts. He’s convinced he’ll fix them “someday,” but that day never comes.
- My grandma still has clothes from her college days, thinking “fashion comes back eventually.” She also has countless old jars, casings, and little trinkets from decades of life.
- Another aunt had to deal with a house full of junk after a messy divorce—tons of useless gadgets, broken furniture, and expired food. It was like a real-life episode of Hoarders.
Even some younger adults try to keep sentimental or “useful” items. I’ve seen friends keep old boxes from IKEA furniture, hundreds of plastic bags, or a drawer of random cables “just in case.” But there’s a clear line between that and full-on hoarding.
What’s interesting is how gender sometimes plays a role. In my family, men tend to hoard more—old tools, electronics, and furniture—while women might keep sentimental items, clothes, or decorative pieces. But everyone has exceptions.
We’ve all had small battles at home because of this. For example, when I moved into my first apartment, I brought only the essentials. My mom came over, started tidying, and was shocked at how easy it was to clean with fewer things. It’s a revelation compared to the cluttered homes we grew up in.
Some say it’s all about survival instincts from growing up in scarcity, and that makes sense. But the modern world has taught us that minimalism isn’t just convenient—it’s liberating. Clean spaces, less stress, and more room to breathe.
So yeah, in my family, the grandparents were chill, the parents are hoarders, and we—the youngest generation—are minimalists. And honestly? I think we like it that way.