Tips on not being a packrat?

Question

I keep everything
What should I do with old clothes I believe I will fit one day and my childs school work

Answer 1

IF you have not worn then in over 2 seasons (2 Summers, 2 Winters, etc depending on the clothes) then box them up and give them to Good Will or some other charity that will accept them.

For your child's school work, go through it all and keep a few samples of your favourite from each year of elementary school. By a few I mean no more than 4 or 5 from each year.

Once he/she gets to Jr High and High school, kep the report cards and certificates of achievement but toss the regular home work. Keep the reports and such if you want too but routine tests and homework etc, can it.

Remind yourself that you have photos, videos, clippings, and the few things you saved, but most important of all, you have a home to clear out.

I'm a pack rat too and was lucky enough to have joined the military where I was limited to how many pounds of "stuff" I could have shipped for me from place to place so each time I moved, I got to go through and rent a dumpster and cull out the extra "stuff" from my actual treasures.

Answer 2

I'm a bad packrat because I think everything can be re-used, recycled and re-purposed. That being said, I try to find another use for everything I do keep. Like children's art makes wonderful cards and gift wrap. Keep one or two pieces that best represent the child at each age or grade and use the rest to give to relatives on cards or as gift wrapping. Clothing, if you haven't worn it in a year (Or have been that size for a year), donate it, turn it into rags if it has holes or stains, take off the buttons or embellishments to use on the cards or have a clothing exchange party with friends of the same size as you are. Children's clothing may fit another child in your family or someone else's you know or put it on consignment so someone else can use it.

Answer 3

There is a site called FreeCycle.org that was groups all over the US which allows users to give away items that are still usable, but are not being used. If you can't use it now, you can give it to someone who might not be able to afford it right now, so you help someone, and have the same chance at getting something from someone else that you actually could use. So nothing goes to waste and everyone is happy. Check out the main site and find a group in your area.

I know I had a lot of things that fit this picture, and I just came to the point that I would rather have room for things I actually need and use, than to have a bunch of things that I hope to one day be able to use again. So I gave them away to people that could use them and needed them more than I did. There are also a ton of charities that will take these things in and give them to those less fortunate or sell them to support their work. Either way, you do something good and can feel better about yourself, as well as have more room for things you can use now.

Answer 4

i can't say what to do with the school work, i wonder what i'll do with it one day when my kids start school. but the clothes, maybe this will help. think about it this way, maybe they will be out of style when they fit you and you'll get to buy more. i've moved around a bit so i've had to kick being a packrat. i've gotten rid of so much stuff and just keep getting new stuff afterwards. it is kind of freeing to get rid of things tho. so for me it was just a matter of getting up the courage and doing it. all i can say is you'll feel better after you do.

Answer 5

Clothes.......someday may be far away. Give them to someone who can use them NOW! You have had your good time with the items, it's time to share. I know you are a sharing person but you never considered sharing your possessions.

Old school work.....why? Save poems and a few pictures from each year, put them in a notebook for later. One or two well planned and executed scrap books are far superior to boxes and boxes of JUNK.

Make a plan today, nothing new comes into the house without something going out......or in the case of US pack rats, two things must go out: trash, recycler, thrift store, etc. It hurts to throw things away, but you must. It's a sign of a cluttered mind and spirit.

Answer 6

When in doubt, throw it out.