People buy things all the time, but before holidays, it becomes madness. The good news is that the urge to buy can be controlled just like the urge to overeat. People, however, seem more interested in controlling things they cannot control, like the weather, for instance.
Those who do not participate in the shopping race will say, 'Hey! what do you need all this stuff for; remember, you'll take nothing with you when you leave this world'. True, though it wasn't entirely so in antiquity, and that reminds me of the archeological museum in Heraklion (Crete greek island).
entrance to the Archeological Museum in Heraklion (2016)
miniature works of ivory, gold, semiprecious stones
figurines
daggers
jewelery
Over the years, following decluttering, many accumulated items will be discarded, donated, sold by the owners or their heirs ( the latter will usually concentrate first on what can be turned into some profit: house, art, jewelery).
Apropo heirs - Inheritance might cause them a lot of 'headache' about what to keep and what to give away or sell . Some inherit "overloaded" houses, others, houses with few possessions. In both cases they have doubts as to what to keep and what to dispose of.
I think perhaps parents can make it easy for them by leaving clear instructions or...clear houses.
A friend of mine whom I've always known as a dedicated daughter, discarded or sold after her mother's passing, even items that had sentimental value.
That was not like her at all and, I was rather surprised (she had also offered me some items). When I asked her why, she blamed it on pressure from what she called ,'her insensitive husband', who favored only space and money. I believed her, and yet, I was disappointed in her.
I thought it was not fair to the memory of her Mom (single mother, divorced after only five years of marriage) who worked hard to achieve all those things left behind .