Declutter With Scrapbooks

I'm getting good at trashing things that have no real resale value and no sentimental or useful value to me. Several years ago, I began creating scrapbooks for my family. In my new de-cluttering mode, my scrapbooks have helped me sort through what has value and what doesn't.

Quinn and I have a scrapbook of our travels and our life together. It has helped me sort through stuff we have collected in an objective manner. If it doesn't go into the scrapbook, it gets tossed.

I have a scrapbook for myself that has photos of my son and I, plus his baby photos and some family photos (with my ex) that I treasure. I also made a similar book for my ex with father/son photos. In addition, I am doing a book for my son with a blending of family photos as well as the wedding pictures from my wedding to his father.

With leftover photos, I plan to make little books for Aunties and Uncles. Once I’m through, leftover prints can be discarded. After all, how many of the same (or nearly the same) photos do we need? Plus, I still have negatives to reprint older photos and CDs to reprint newer photos should I need to. These can easily be stored in a safe deposit box or at the home of a relative for safekeeping.

I also have 2 boxes of treasures and a rocking chair in my garage that were given to me by an old 'partner'. The boxes have photos of his family, plus family heirlooms that his Grandmother (0ne of my role models) gave me. I have treasured these items for so many years but no longer feel that they belong to me. When I locate him, I will send him the boxes. If he wants the original Stickley rocking chair that his parents gave me, I will make sure it is returned to him.

Paring down is soooooo liberating!