Nothing is quite as liberating as thoroughly getting rid of stuff. Eliminating excess clutter will leave your place feeling more spacious and your mind more at ease.
Although you likely won’t miss most of the items you throw away (or even remember them!), there are a few things that may leave you with a creeping sense of regret should you get rid of them. When trying to minimize clutter, it’s important to thoughtfully weigh each item’s worth.
While there’s a lot to gain by reducing your dependence on stuff, there are a few things you should never toss just for the sake of creating space.
Important Documents
Though most piles of papers can be fed to the shredder almost immediately (especially that big pile of junk mail), there are some documents you’ll need to keep throughout your life. These include personal documents, such as your birth certificate, Social Security card, health records, marriage license, and the deed to your home. Once disposed of, identifying documents can be very difficult to replace, so save yourself a headache later and hang onto them.
Tax documents and other financial papers usually should be kept for at least seven years before discarding. These records are essential when starting a new job, applying for a loan, visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles, or searching for a new house or apartment.
Handwritten Notes From Loved Ones
In this digital age, physical letters, cards, and messages are becoming increasingly rare. For this reason, personal notes from those near and dear to you can be good to hold onto. While this doesn’t mean that you should keep a backlog of every birthday card you’ve ever received, reserving a few meaningful messages is a nice way to remember the people in your life.
Photos of Friends and Family
Photographs are one of the few ways we capture the past and remind ourselves of the people, places, and things we love. Old pictures are irreplaceable mementos that should be preserved and shared with family members who may be interested in ancestors they’ve never met. Keeping shots that reveal your life’s story is a simple way to spark joyful memories that might otherwise be forgotten.
If you have a huge stash of old photos you’re storing, it may be a good idea to digitize your images. This way, they will last longer and can be more easily shared among family members. And the process is easier than ever thanks to iOS and Android apps, which help you do it on your own at home.
Leftover Wall Paint
You’re never truly finished with a can of paint, even after the final coat dries. High-traffic rooms are prone to wear and tear, meaning they’ll need to be repainted or touched up every few years. Save yourself the headache: Transfer any remaining paint into smaller, airtight jars labeled with the color name, number, brand, and what the color is used for in your home. Then, ditch the empty, bulky paint cans to save space.
Cookware
There are a few things that get better with age, and heirloom cookware is definitely one of them. Kitchen items such as stoneware, enamelware, and those made from cast iron are not only excellent to cook with, but also extremely durable. While you should ditch chipped enamelware that’s no longer safe to eat from, rusty and damaged cast-iron cookware can easily be cleaned. When maintained properly, these seasoned kitchen tools can be passed down for generations.
Irreplaceable Antiques
Even if antiques you’ve inherited over the years from family members don’t match your personal aesthetic, it’s a good idea to save one-of-a-kind pieces or those no longer sold, as they could wind up becoming a serious investment. Tea sets, jewelry, vintage toys, and items with old advertising on them are things that tend to appreciate in value. If you simply don’t have the storage space, consider having the item appraised so you can get a better idea of its worth.
Real Simple magazine provides smart, realistic solutions to everyday challenges. Online at RealSimple.com. Copyright 2023 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
