Will I ever need this stuff again?

Ellidee

Just found this thread by chance but want to recommend this thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1157609

Primrose

The hardest sentimental thing I ever had to do was get rid of was a suitcase full of old 1940's & 1950 's family cine films taken by my dad, along with his projector. After his death I hung onto them for ten years in the mistaken belief that one day I would get round to finding somebody to convert them to a modern medium so they could be bought back to life. Then one evening we spent a couple of hours trying to get the ancient projector working, and another hour eventually running one two-minute reel though the projector. I realised what a mammoth and unlikely task it would be to convert them so bit the bullet and took the whole lot round the Council tip. For a fleeting moment I felt guilty, and then enormous relief that I no longer had this moral commitment lurking on my shoulders. So I'd say "Be harshly realistic with yourself". Every year brings a new set of junk into your house. You can't possibly store and deal with it all.

pandora205

You would probably be able to find suitable material on the net if you did some tutoring (from KS1 to A level subjects, there are masses of websites and revision guides) and if not, think how interesting it would be reading around the topic.

I had lots of notes from teacher training, OU study (plus units) and other courses that I eventually dumped, though I couldn't bear to part with the essays I sweated over!

I'd say, keep one or two things for sentimental value, and clear the rest.

[Deleted User]

As a genealogist I would suggest that any photos you have try to date and write on the back who they are in the photo.I have so much stuff in my study/small back bedroom that its almost a job to get in there, but I do try to keep it all to one room.Troble is I have so many hobbies that it seems to take over my house. In my bedroom I have 6 large plastic boxes full of crafting stuff that I have aqquired over the past couple of years.I also have so many books that I have now got a nother big box that as I read them they go into and when full go to the charity shop. Clothes in my wardrobe I have far too many but now and again my pal visits me and she is really ruthless and we do get a lot of stuff taken to either the charity shop or the tip. She is a great minimilist and with her help I do get quite a bit got rid of.Left to myself I would just tend to shut the door and forget about things till I couldn't move
I also have lots of notes and papers from my Uni course that I seem to keep just in case

Biggles

JackieO wrote: »

As a genealogist I would suggest that any photos you have try to date and write on the back who they are in the photo.

Having sorted through my mother's stuff (much of it was her parents' before her) I have to agree. There are so many photos of unknown people, some of whom look vaguely familiar, but they're all pretty much useless now that those who might have known have passed on.

ramellous1

Have a look at this video. George Carlin talks about keeping STUFF! V funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac

Mrs_Money

Ramellous1 Thank you for such a great laugh on a grey afternoon - that video really cheered me up!

artha

In my teens +twenties I never kept anything and I assume my parents threw out most of my youth because it meant nothing to them.

When I got married in late twenties I began to be a hoarder but mostly of DIY stuff in case it came in handy.

These days in late fifties and retiring I wish I had some of that stuff that my parents must have thrown away as junk. I also wish I had some of the stuff that I've thrown away over the years just to relive/revive the memory.

I seem to have hung on too much to practical things rather than memories and things that mark a milestone in life. Those few things that I've kept that mark an era have given endless enjoyment to my daughter and friends when they are brought out from the loft

Newly_retired

Yes there are just a few things I wish my parents had kept too. My kids have not shown much interest in my "souvenirs" yet, but maybe it's early days.