Compared to the '60s

I was comparing the 1960's, the earliest decade I remember, to 2015.  Why is clutter such a problem now?  Here are some thoughts:

1.  It's now a global economy.  Many of the toys, tchotchke, and plastics are manufactured in other countries inexpensively, so they are readily available and cheap.

2.  We truly are a wealthy country and all of us can spend for things we really don't need.

3.  We now have HGTV and magazines that show us how a well-decorated home should look, so we buy more to attempt to fit in, not clearing out our former functional furniture and decor.  Marketing also leads us to believe that to be good parents, children "need" all the technological gadgets, toys, equipment for organized sports, etc.  (They don't, by the way.  They need involved adults who talk with them, play with them, and teach them.).

4.  Yard sales are prevalent and the cheap prices are enticing.

5.  We have bigger homes so extra clutter gets tucked away for years without us even noticing or tripping over it.

6.  We are more environmentally conscious, so don't want to throw things away.

7.  We are busy people.  Many women work and don't have time to sort and clean.  Stuff just keeps accumulating.

Perhaps if we consider why we are buying something, where it will go, and what we will unload to make room for it, our decisions will be more thoughtful and help simplify our lifestyles.