Getting rid of things you no longer use sounds simple enough, until you actually start going through your belongings. Suddenly, that box of old birthday cards, college notebooks, and clothes you haven’t worn in years feels a lot harder to part with than you expected.
Sometimes we hold on to things because they remind us of someone or a particular time in our lives. Other times, it’s because we spent good money on them or keep convincing ourselves we’ll need them someday.
Whatever the reason, certain belongings are especially difficult to let go of. Here are eight things people commonly struggle to declutter, along with a few ways to make the process easier.
Clothes that no longer fit
Many of us have clothes tucked away for the day we lose weight, gain weight, or finally have an occasion to wear them. Meanwhile, those pieces take up valuable closet space while the clothes we actually wear get pushed aside.
Keep clothing that fits your current lifestyle and makes you feel comfortable, rather than holding on to an entire wardrobe for a hypothetical future. If something has been sitting untouched for years, donating it may give someone else a chance to enjoy it.
Expensive purchases you regret buying
It’s frustrating to get rid of something you spent good money on, whether it’s an unused kitchen appliance, expensive handbag, or exercise equipment collecting dust. We often keep these purchases because getting rid of them feels like admitting we wasted our money.
But keeping something you never use won’t bring that money back. Consider selling valuable items, donating what you can’t sell, and freeing up the space for things you actually need.
Old schoolwork and notebooks
It’s easy to hold on to old notebooks, essays, and school assignments because they represent years of hard work. But unless you’re regularly referring to those notes, there’s a good chance they’ll continue sitting in a box for another decade.
Keep a few meaningful pieces, such as a favorite essay or an important achievement, and consider scanning anything else you want to remember before recycling the paper.
Books you’ve already read
Books can be surprisingly difficult to part with, especially if you love reading or have spent years building your collection. Even books you didn’t particularly enjoy can stay on the shelf because you might want to read them again someday.
Keep your favorites, sentimental editions, and books you genuinely plan to revisit, then donate the rest to a library sale, secondhand bookstore, or neighborhood Little Free Library.
Related: 9 things almost everyone forgets to declutter
Old photographs
Photographs are probably one of the hardest things to declutter because they capture people, places, and moments we can’t get back. But that doesn’t mean you need to keep every blurry picture, duplicate, or photo of someone you barely remember.
Sort through your collection, save the pictures that matter most, and consider digitizing older photographs so you can preserve them without keeping boxes of loose prints.
Appliance manuals and old paperwork
Many households have drawers filled with instruction manuals, outdated warranties, and paperwork for appliances they no longer own. We keep them because they seem important, even though most instruction manuals are now available online.
Check whether digital copies are available, recycle what you no longer need, and keep essential documents such as active warranties and purchase records in one organized place.
Family heirlooms
Inherited dishes, furniture, jewelry, and other family belongings can carry a lot of emotional weight, even when they don’t fit your home or personal style. Getting rid of them can feel like you’re disrespecting the person who passed them down.
Consider keeping one or two meaningful pieces, displaying smaller keepsakes, or offering items to relatives who might appreciate them more. You can value the memories without feeling obligated to keep everything.
Related: 14 Family Heirlooms People Accidentally Throw Away All the Time
Greeting cards and handwritten letters
Birthday cards, holiday greetings, and handwritten notes often pile up because throwing them away feels strangely personal. But there’s a difference between a heartfelt letter from someone you love and a generic card with nothing more than a signature.
Keep the messages that genuinely mean something to you and consider storing them in a small memory box. For everything else, remind yourself that appreciating the gesture doesn’t require keeping the paper forever.
