--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time we toss (or choose not to…" description: "\"“Every time we toss (or choose not to acquire) an unnecessary item, we gain a little bit of freedom: from paying for it, storing it, cleaning it, repai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/francine-jay-38786_freedom_every-time-we-toss-or-choose-not-to-acqu_11365.jpg" --- # Every time we toss (or choose not to acquire) an… ![“Every time we toss (or choose not to acquire) an unnecessary item, we gain a little bit of freedom: from paying for it, storing it, cleaning it, repairing it, maintaining it, protecting it, insuring it, worrying about it, and schlepping it around. And” quote by Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/francine-jay-38786_freedom_every-time-we-toss-or-choose-not-to-acqu_11365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/francine-jay-38786_freedom_every-time-we-toss-or-choose-not-to-acqu_11365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/francine-jay-38786_freedom_every-time-we-toss-or-choose-not-to-acqu_11365.jpg) > ““Every time we toss (or choose not to acquire) an unnecessary item, we gain a little bit of freedom: from paying for it, storing it, cleaning it, repairing it, maintaining it, protecting it, insuring it, worrying about it, and schlepping it around. And”” [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discarding superfluous possessions reduces financial, physical, and mental burdens, expanding personal autonomy. **In simple terms:** Less stuff, more freedom. Key Takeaway Minimalism boosts liberty. Themes Simplicity Freedom Consumerism Mindfulness Sustainability Mood relieved empowered light Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - decluttering a home - selling unused gadgets - refusing impulse buys - downsizing after a move Key Concepts Materialism Opportunity cost Psychological load Practical Applications - personal budgeting - well‑being coaching Questions to Reflect On - How does excess ownership limit choices? - What would you gain by letting go of one item today? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom is paying your rent on time & keeping your lights on. Feeding your family when necessary & not being afraid to FAIL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-is-paying-your-rent-on-time-keeping-your-lights-on-feeding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've got personal views on the '60s. You can't have freedom without paying the price for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/i-ve-got-personal-views-on-the-60s-you-can-t-have-freedom-without/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) ## More by Francine Jay > [“The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.” –Marcus Aurelius, 121–180 AD”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/the-only-wealth-which-you-will-keep-forever-is-the-wealth-you-have-2/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [“Remember, the things with which we choose to surround ourselves tell our story. Let’s hope it’s not “I choose to live in the past,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/remember-the-things-with-which-we-choose-to-surround-ourselves-tell/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [“Curb impulse purchases by giving yourself a cooling-off period: instead of buying something immediately, wait a few days and see if you still “need”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/curb-impulse-purchases-by-giving-yourself-a-cooling-off-period/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [“Adopt the “one in, one out” rule: when you purchase something new, get rid of something old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/adopt-the-one-in-one-out-rule-when-you-purchase-something-new-get-rid/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [“abundance in our lives, and appreciate what we have, we will not want for more. We simply need to focus on what we have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/abundance-in-our-lives-and-appreciate-what-we-have-we-will-not-want/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [My goal is no longer to get more done, but rather to have less to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/my-goal-is-no-longer-to-get-more-done-but-rather-to-have-less-to-do/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [“In our quest to become minimalists, we want to reduce the amount of things in our homes that require our care and attention. Fortunately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/in-our-quest-to-become-minimalists-we-want-to-reduce-the-amount-of/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [“We are not what we own; we are what we do, what we think and who we love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/we-are-not-what-we-own-we-are-what-we-do-what-we-think-and-who-we-love/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [“Most importantly, by not buying, we redefine ourselves: by what we do, what we think, and who we love, rather than what we have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/most-importantly-by-not-buying-we-redefine-ourselves-by-what-we-do/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) > [“But to be richer, happier, and freer, all you need to do is want less.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-jay/but-to-be-richer-happier-and-freer-all-you-need-to-do-is-want-less/) [Francine Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) [Explore all 11 Francine Jay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-jay/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Every time we toss (or choose not to acquire) an unnecessary item, we gain a little bit of freedom: from paying for it, storing it, cleaning it, repairing it, maintaining it, protecting it, insuring it, worrying about it, and schlepping it around. 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