APAD: odds and ends

Definition

   various small, miscellaneous, or unimportant things

 

Examples

   1) I spent the afternoon organizing the garage, sorting through all the odds

      and ends that had accumulated over the years.

   2) I found a box full of odds and ends in the attic, including old keys,

      broken toys, and random trinkets.

 

Etymology

   The term originated in the 17th century, combining "odds" meaning remnants or

   leftover items, and "ends" referring to smaller bits or pieces.

 

Synonyms

   hodgepodge, bits and pieces

 

- englishdaily626.com [edited]

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It's hard not to stock up, like a pack rat, as I grew up in scarcity. The

thrill of acquiring and hoarding, however, fades over time. Into middle age, I

realize more is no longer necessarily better and often think of downsizing.

 

But by now I'm stuck. If I could shrug off the odds and ends accumulated over

the years, big-ticket items are harder to let go. At a certain point, it feels

my stuff start to own me instead of the other way around. It is likened to the

gold chain one wears on a sinking ship, I heard.