What to throw away and what to keep?

I have found that a bottle of Jack does wonders in times such as these.... j/k

Not sure this is the right forum, but I'll bite.

If you haven't touched the crap in a month, you probably don't need it. Put it all in a box when you're psyched and give it to Goodwill. You get a nice blank sheet for your tax write-off, someone gets to pay money for your crap and everyone's happy. Else, craigslist/eBay the meaningful stuff especially now when you can list like tons of crap for free.

I think I might try that bottle, it does change ur mindstate and give u some motivation. LOL

But yes, I need to initiate one of those ideas

Just got an idea. A good idea. Is there a website that has chart of values on simple home items. Like a cell charger for instance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo-wkv8gW6k

Over 3 billion people on the globe live on less than $2 per day and you can't decide what to do with a pile of old, stretched out t-shirts with kool aid stains on them?

If it's been packed up in a box or hidden away in a closet for more than a year, it should probably go.

If it's something you think you really might need later, is small enough to fit in a shoebox, and would cost more than $10 to replace, consider keeping it. But once you fill a shoebox with those things, cut it down to the ones you feel are most useful or most likely to be needed.

If it's something mainly of sentimental value, take some pictures to preserve the memory and put them on a thumb drive.

As for whether to sell, donate, or throw something away, I prefer to donate if I'm not sure. If goodwill, salvation army, etc don't want it they've probably at least got a better idea of how to dispose of it properly than you. But don't dump stuff on them if you think it might be trash. Everything you give them should be fully functional.

Which records to keep:

Tax returns, keep forever
Tax return documentation, for seven years
Contracts, forever
Real estate records, forever
Last pay stub of a job if you leave that job
Last pay stub of the year until you reconcile it with your W-2
All mortgage payment checks (statements), until mortgage is paid off
All student loan payments, until loan is paid off
Car loan payment stubs, until the car is paid off
Cancelled checks, for 7 years
Bank deposit slips, until you reconcile your statements
Bank statements, until a calendar year; store with tax returns if they will be used to prove deductions
Home improvement records, ownership period plus 7 years
Investment records, shred monthly and quarterly statements as new ones arrive; hold on to annual statements until you sell the investments

Which records to toss:

Credit card statements that are more than three years old
Past insurance statement
Old utility bills, except the most recent one from your old address if you've moved
Recently paid bills (statements), once you have something saying they've been paid

It sounds like you are a future hoarder. You should watch some of the shows on Discovery or whatever channel that is on and see what you could become. It is an illness and should be treated as such. I do have some of this affliction in my family but fortunately I was spared. In fact, I throw too much out - probably over-compensating. Seriously, get help, look for support groups for hoarders.

If you have sentimental things that are simply stored in boxes . consider a shadow box and mount it to the wall and display them. Sentimental things and keepsakes have no purpose besides as reminders of events in your life. In a box in the closet they wont remind you of anything.

Unless you can upgrade your existing pc with those computer parts . Throw them on craigslist to make some extra money.

Clothing if you havnt worn it in over a year then donate or sell.

Quote from dealgate : It sounds like you are a future hoarder. You should watch some of the shows on Discovery or whatever channel that is on and see what you could become. It is an illness and should be treated as such. I do have some of this affliction in my family but fortunately I was spared. In fact, I throw too much out - probably over-compensating. Seriously, get help, look for support groups for hoarders.

Thanks I checked it out. Im nothing like those people. But ive been going through a depression and mental haze period and want to simplify things. I want my memory back.

Maybe things like this are common knowledge, but I grew up with my dad and we never spoke. So Thank u to everyone. Im taking in all the knowledge.