Decluttering - where do you draw the line?

madnotstupid

You could take photos of the cards - way quicker than scanning them - and be left with same storable digital file. If you wanted sender and occasion - use that for file name?

Ruby_woo

I have exactly the same problem. Our home is decluttered to within an inch of its life. I try really hard to keep on top of clutter and I have got three boxes in our wardrobe with photos in and baby mementoes of our son who is 18 next month. I have kept first shoes, all sorts of bits that I just couldn't part with however, I'm sure if I tried, I could maybe try and get rid of some duplicate photos. The HUGE problem I have is that I have a large suitcase in the loft which has (wait for it) every single card that has been sent from me, husband, son vice versa in it. I have tried to think of getting rid but I just can't. Those lovely cards will be with me til the day I die. I know that maybe in the winter months I will get them all down and try or organise them into some order but to me they are so precious. The words written are special as is the writing of my son. So I can't advise really other than to say, some things need to be kept. Xxx

System

I agree, some things do need to be kept. Ive scanned but kept the precious baby photos I have of my daughter who died when she was a baby. They will have to fall apart before I part with them but at least I have them backed up on my pc/online.

Things like birth certificates, NHS numbers and stuff like that I wouldn't trust online in fact I wont be scanning stuff like that at all. Replacement birth/marriage certs can be re ordered online and there is no way i'd risk them falling into the wrong hands. You hear of online fraud/stolen identities. It just isn't worth the risk.

Ive got a couple of love letters too. I might or might not scan them (haven't up to now) but I wont part with the paper copies. I can almost feel the emotion behind them. They are very many years old and although times and feelings change. Its lovely to know someone so felt so passionate about me.