Because we are in our late 70's; collectors/artist/craftsperson who have lived 41 years in the same house, I recognize the need to get rid of a lot of this gultch. Have started with kind of baby steps in the way that I always think of when watching those hoarder shows. That is making sure that like items are grouped.

This morning I tossed a bunch of signed petitions from a civic project (must say had a certain sense of pride since I collected most of those signatures) also a collection of huge pine cones I had picked up off the roadside in Georgia about 30-35 years ago. I used to use them in my Xmas decorations but since I no longer decorate for Xmas why keep them.

I am finding that it is getting easier and easier. My eye is now quickly subtracting keep from non-keep. One keep will be old letters (these will soon be a distant memory in people's lives!) It is poignant. Found a letter DH sent DD when she was 3 and I could barely stand to see my Mom's handwriting. . . I have a little trunk up in the attic and when the time comes if DD wants to toss them she can. Meanwhile they are altogether and safe and dry and not taking up anymore room than the trunk would.

Oh, and DH is getting rid of all the iron pieces under one of his work benches. Why do some men have these collections? My dad did, one of my sisters' DH has. DH say's well you never know when you will need that piece of pipe!

Good for you! The more we do this, we are actually giving our children the gift of less to go through some day?

I attempt to have a goal of reduction by 50 percent. When going through a closet, shelf or drawer, I try to weed out at least half (dispose or donate). Then it feels so good to have some open space in that area!

It seems to work for me, anyway.

It is hard to get rid of things you have had for years, but once you get started tossing, it gets easier and easier.

My dh seems to like to save old tv's that will never work again!!

Just after I finished typing my thread, DD called and I asked her if she would take my grandmothers dough box (it's at least that old) and she said she would be then I was thrilled to realize she would take, enthusiastically, the table that is also in that same corner.

It's a little old, short pine table still with ORP. DD says it will be perfect in her vacation log cabin as a table for her DH's 2 year old nephew to sit at to eat! (besides which she just got him 2 school house chairs!)

I did a thorough cleaning after 22 years in the same house...remarrying after being widowed and moving 320 miles away. Imagine my surprise when husband #2 kept the bucket of nuts, bolts, screws, etc. that belonged to husband #1.

We have since moved back to my hometown which required another thorough cleaning before the move. However the bucket came with us. LOL Just in case...

Oh Sherry, thats the rusty stuff! My sil threw all my brothers rusty nails, bolts and screws out! She thought they were bad because of the rust LOL She is now my XSIL think the prob was more than rust. I am convinced the Guy that dies with the most rusty stuff win's! I think they have contests!

I like what you said LOS about grouping like things. That really helps me too. Sometimes I just don't know what to get rid of, but if I can see that I have 5 of one thing, or similar things then my brain feels logical about getting rid of at least 4 of them. It helps so much with making the decision, which for me is the hard part.

Check to see if you have a metal recycling / salvage yard that pays for metal before DH tosses his iron out. Depending how much he has it could give him a nice return. (and of course you can recycle it even if they don't pay).

My DH is a junk collector...someone doesn't want it he drags it home.
Two years ago he took 3 or 4 trailer loads to the junk yard...he got close to $1500 for all that junk.

Starting the day after tomorrow (Tue.) we are going to start going through more of his stuff and putting it into piles. He gets more for aluminum than some of the other metals...and copper is around $3 a lb., so it will be seperate too.
I'll just be glad to be rid of a lot of this junk!

And we have 16 acres...most of his junk is WAY at the back...it is a long narrow property.

On general decorating I started a thread about collecting things. . . in my case I talked about wooden chairs. People responded and someone mentioned pillows. I realized I have a lot of pillows and decided to count them. . . both decorative and bed pillows. I have over 70! That's a lot even for me.

I decided to bag up (3 bags full) some extra bed pillows. They are in excellent condition and most also have decorative covers. They will go to swap shop and I hope from there to good homes cause they are in clean & good condition!