De-cluttering Sentimental Items
How hard is it for you to get rid of sentimental stuff? It’s really hard for me. I might not even like something but because it reminds me of someone or some experience in my past, I want to keep it. Luckily, my dad taught me a little de-cluttering trick:
Take a picture.
It’s the easiest way to part with something that you truly love because in some small way, a part of that item is still with you. It’s perfect: a picture takes up less space, and – this is my favorite part – it doesn’t have to be dusted.
Here’s one of the items I took a picture of last May before we moved to Germany. I remember making these bookends out of red clay in my grandma’s basement as a young girl. My dad helped me hollow them out, and we fired them in a kiln. Over the years, I just couldn’t part with them no matter how hard I tried.
So I took a picture. One year later, I couldn’t be happier. I can have my old bookends with me wherever we live, and I don’t have to pack them into my suitcase. I just pull them from our digital file system where we keep photos, movies, and paperwork.
If you have more tips for de-cluttering sentimental items, I think we might all love to hear.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:08 am
I love that idea. My problem is children… and all their sentimental stuff.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:29 am
That is a great idea! As simple as it is I never thought about it! Thanks!
June 24th, 2009 at 6:34 am
For me, I’ve found that the memories associated with an object are what are important. The object won’t take me back to that time or bring back a lost loved one. But I will always have a memory. Also -and this is something I use with my pack rat mama – I explain that if the sentimental object is something that you truly love so much that you can’t bear to part with it, then why is it gathering dust in the attic or in the top of a closet? An item of that sentimental magnitude needs a place of honor in her home. Otherwise, it becomes just another knick-knack.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:18 am
That’s a great tip
June 24th, 2009 at 8:26 am
I have given this tip to my sister who is a total pack rat. The thing I have a hard time getting rid of is old letters/cards from family and friends. I have a ton of cards (and I mean a ton) that my Mom sent me while I was in college and they are so funny. I just can’t bear to part with them. I try every couple of years to get rid of more stuff from my “keepsake box”, but I get such joy from looking through it all that I just can’t.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:34 am
maybe we need to buy a scanner for the 300 plus issues of “Tier Freund” lol
June 24th, 2009 at 9:02 am
definitely going to try this one, Katie!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Oh my word. Since all this packing and moving, I have dubbed myself the *queen of the keepsake*. I can’t even believe how many things I have saved from my childhood and now for my children. One of my goals this year is to actually pare down and purge the keepsakes to a much more refined collection!
June 24th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Great idea. I will try this but I can’t make any promises- I am such the packrat! ;)
June 24th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Really good idea. Might do that.
I think another good thing is to give really meaningful things away to people who will love and appreciate the thing, and who need it more than you. Or have more space for it.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Sentimental items are by far the hardest to get rid of. I take pictures of all of my sons’ artwork so that we don’t have to store it all. We have quite the impressive album of masterpieces!
June 25th, 2009 at 6:06 am
I’m getting better at getting rid of sentimental stuff the older I get. Like cards – I used to hold onto, now I recycle away!
June 25th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
How about keeping only part of the item? I had a really hard time parting with my band jacket from high school. Actually, the part of it that really held sentiment was the letter and patches. So I took them off and finally was able to pitch the jacket. My band letter now is decor in my son’s room – same color scheme. Great!
June 26th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I love all of your thoughts and ideas. They’re beautiful – especially on such an emotional subject. Mama Bird, I have a similar problem with letters, and I have been brainstorming solutions for it. I’ll keep you posted.
Jennifer has a fabulous idea: keep part of something – like her letter and patches off her letterman’s jacket instead of the entire coat. Brilliant.
Katie
June 26th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
hmmm very very good ideas
TTFN~~Claudia ♥
June 27th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I LOVE the idea of not dusting. My house sometimes feel like it’s getting overly-cluttered, so this is a great tip.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
What a great idea. However, I still am having a hard time decluttering. I will have to give this idea a try with some little things first :)
I just found your blog while blog hopping.
Crystal
June 30th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I am all about de-cluttering — although it is much easier to do with other peoples things rather than your own treasures. I do love your photo idea. My mother-in-law is just moving to a smaller place and having to decide what to keep and what to let go. I will pass on the info.
Thanks.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
I never knew what to do with the “sentimental objects” cluttering my life. I can’t seem to part with them, but I agree with you that dusting can become rather tedious in the long run. Thanks for the idea.