How to let go of sentimental things?

Question

I know there are some things I can sell, but other items, like old yearbooks, sticker albums, photographs can't be sold. I hate the idea of these things taking up space in a landfill (I love to recycle)...what do I do with all that junk? Do people really want to buy a 20 year old sticker album at a garage sale or on eBay?

I suppose I was hoping to find a way to be less sentimental - everything seems to have value attached and I am a self-proclaimed pack rat. I watch those organizational shows, hoping for inspiration, but can't seem to part with things that really serve little purpose - practical, sentimental or otherwise.

I have been in storage mode for a long long time and was hoping to clear some of my clutter. I have a lot stored in my mom's basement and am scared to go through it all. I know it's mostly junk, but I just don't know what to do with it - so I avoid it.

Hhhhhmmmm....perhaps I just need counselling.

Answer 1

*It's tough to part with sentimental items from childhood, past relationships etc.. We just had a flood in the basement and I had to throw away much of my sentimental belongings.. So, I would get 1 box.. Perhaps a small copy paper box.. With a lid and sort through your things.... Sticker books and things like that really don't have a "value" and if you really,really treasured it why would it be locked in the basement where u dont 'even look at it? It might be best to take a digital picture of it and throw it away.. If you have things that still work and are in good shape.. .Go to freecycle.org and sign up in your area and you can post items for pick-up ! Everything is free, you post the item and wait for a response.... It's that simple and quite addictive.. The only rule is that the item is FREE. If you have yearbooks, and you have room keep them in a nice bookcase. Old clothes try a resale/consignment shop.. We have PLATO'S closet here they pay cash for gently worn designer clothes.... Photo's scan to CD and label keep in a CD binder... Throw away negs.. You won't need them.. I'm a maniac when it comes to pictures.. If you are worried something will happen to original cd.. Burn a few for family/friends to keep.... If you STILL use film do not get negs cut and buy a photo cd w/ purchase ! Good luck

Answer 2

Many things might as well go in the recycle bin if you have no family who wants the sentimental things.

As for the yearbook, you might contact your school or the secretary of your class to see if anyone wants to preserve it in some sort of class memorabilia time capsule.

You don't know what people on e-Bay will buy until you put it up. My daughter is my contact with e-Bay, and she got me a figurine to replace a broken one from my nativity set, and she got me a copy of my favorite record album that had become badly chipped. The replacement record was still in its original wrapping and had never been played.

So, the old adage holds: One person's junk is another's treasure.

Answer 3

Me personally, I keep sentimental items. Things I get rid of are stuff I don't use, clothes, books, old toys, and clutter. That seems to leave more room for the stuff that means something. Just buy a few containers to store stuff away in the basement or attic. That way years from now you can pass that stuff on to your kids or nieces/nephews instead of regretting throwing stuff away.

Answer 4

When someone dear to me killed himself I had to go to his house and clean it out for his family. They couldn't handle doing it, and actually told me to get rid of everything. He had all kinds of things that I hated to let go of, but didn't have room for. What I did was kept enough pictures to fill one album, and everything else that I hated to part with I took a picture of and put in the album, and made a little note about it. For example there was a 5 ball from a pool table that he he had found in the club that we went to on his 21st birthday. I took a picture of it, made a little subtitle about where it came from and the fun we had that night. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I doubt anyone would want the sticker album. As for yearbooks, maybe donate them to your school. ? Or public library in that town. Maybe scan the pics and put them on discs. Store one in a safe or safe deposit box. Or ask family if they want the pics.

Answer 6

Hahaha...I do this too. I even have rocks in my front backyard from throughout...yet larger ones i exploit as focal factors in flowerbeds... I on an identical time as quickly as "borrowed" a small baseball-sized rock from a church in Austria i got here upon on the area of the development wall. magnificent to look at it, and understand that somebody specifically laid it in the mortar sometime in the 1500's whilst the church replaced into geared up....

Answer 7

worth a try, people collect alot of random stuff.

it's good becuase it will still be here in years to come not just put in the bin for noone else to see.

Answer 8

Organize them and put them in the attic or somewhere..