I’ve joked that the contents in our home keep the walls from imploding—the accumulation of stuff would hold it up during an earthquake. Years ago, in an attempt to tunnel out from under our mountain of possessions, I started a giveaway bag, a spot in the garage to put things that are on their way out. My system: whenever I bring something into the house, I try to give an item away. I say, I try, because I often fall short of my goal. I’m not much of a shopper, so I’m not amassing new knickknacks and clothing on a weekly basis, but somehow our house continues to collect items, even without kids at home anymore: catalogues, gifts, a jacket that looks like one I already own, and books.
When my mother died, we found shoes still in their boxes that she’d never worn. My sister and I chuckled, but the truth is I have a sweater I’ve never worn. So why do I hang onto it? Because someday I might want it or be tempted to buy another just like it?
My husband and I have an island cabin. We tend to take our old clothes up there, which makes sense but is turning that place into a graveyard of unusables. The drawer’s are crammed full of worn clothing; half doesn’t get used. So I need to start a giveaway bag up there.
How about you? Do you tend to hold onto things or do you give them away? Have any good tips for me? How about books? If you use the library, they must be returned. But I do enjoy owning books …
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Personally I usually keep things for longer than I should. The funny thing is that just when I get rid of an old sweater or something it is back in style. My daughter loves to go through my closet for dress up days at school. I do not use the library as I want to keep the books I buy to share with my friends and family. My advice to you as long as you have the room for your many hats keep them. I love the picture of all your hats, would make a cool postcard to send to ladies.
Joannah C
auntiejomama@sbcglobal.net
I’ve had that happen too, Joannah! I have to admit, I remembered I actually own more hats … plus a few more at our beach cabin.
I seem to hold onto books and purses for some reason
I have a few purses that I keep thinking I might use someday, but I don’t. And a couple of little evening bags that never get used …
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I think we all have items that we are new that we have never used or worn and then there are things that we cannot part with that has memories. For me I still have a baby quilt that my grandmother made for me when I was and baby and some of my baby clothes. I have quilts put up that was given to my daughter when she was born. I have books some that are really old that I will not get rid of. As for your pics of hats. I think that all women should where some type of hat if they are going to be in the sun for extended periods of time to protect them from sun damage.
Dawn Crawford
dcofohio@yahoo.com
I’m certainly not parting with my dear aunt’s quilts or some of my childhood books either, Dawn. As for hats,I wish I’d started wearing them earlier. Men should wear them too. Those baseball caps that used to bug me make sense, especially for men with thinning hair.
I’m not entering the giveaway. I already won your books a while back. I am a hoarder of books. Approx. 5,000 books are in my home. I used to collect fabric but not anymore. I had so much fabric at one time that I always said if my basement got flooded the fabric would soak up all the water. I still collect books (and recipes) but right now I am going through as much as I can for a garage sale at the end of the month. I need to do this. As I told my hubby, if anything should happen to me I don’t want to burden him with the responsibly of trying to get rid of all my books. Also, as I get older it is getting harder to pick up a stack/box of books and put them here and there. I am feeling better about getting rid of them but I still have a lot and there are alot I definitely want to keep. Don’t worry your books are safe on my shelf because they are among my favorites.
Karen G.
Oh, Karen, you made me chuckle when describing your fabric during a flood! Thank you for writing and for your kind words!