8 Things To Toss Before You Turn 50
Toss these eight things before you turn 50 and embrace a new decade.
We're not against keeping a few sentimental items, but you don't need to keep every toy you treasured in childhood. Even collectible toys don't have much value unless you display them or intend to sell them. Save a small box of toys for future grandkids, arrange those you're really fond of on a shelf, and donate or sell the rest.
Do you still have all of the textbooks from your college days? We promise they're very out of date. There's no reason to hold onto school books and college papers, even if you wrote some really good ones. The same goes for all the paperbacks you bought at the airport during vacations. Go ahead and clear out any books you don't plan on reading again and donate the rest to the library.
That dress was so cute 20 years ago, but it's not going to work for you today. Your fashion sense has probably changed since then. Unless you have a really amazing vintage piece, this is the time to clean out your closet and make space for the new you.
If you've lost parents, you know it's hard to let go of their stuff. But squeezing two households into one isn't serving anyone. Keep what's truly useful and meaningful and toss the rest. This might mean saving important family history, one piece of furniture, and a couple of really special cards and letters.
The same goes for grandma's crystal and quilts. You may feel a twinge of guilt if Mom expected you to keep Grandma's silver forever, but there's no guarantee the next generation will agree to inherit it. Decide which family heirlooms really matter to you and give yourself permission to give away the rest. But first, contact cousins, aunts, or uncles to see if they'd like to take possession of anything.
It can be hard to let go of your kids' stuff when you have an empty nest, but memories and photos are much more valuable than books, toys, and stuffed animals. Have an honest conversation about how important these things are, and have your kids pick up anything they want to keep.
If you still have kids at home and think they might want that Lego collection someday, you can give it a few years if you want. Set a deadline for when they need to take ownership of their toys.
Someone may have advised you to keep years' worth of old bills and tax records, but the digital age has set in. You can scan your old tax returns and then shred them—just make sure to have backups. Scan relevant bills, records, and receipts as well.
You shouldn't get rid of all paper, though. Keep the original copies of important documents like birth certificates, deeds, car titles, and your will.
We're all for embracing new hobbies throughout life. But if you've been holding onto a broken toaster you planned to fix five years ago, it's time to toss that. Be honest in your appraisal of projects you have on your to-do list, even if it's a fun craft project. Then set a goal for when you'll tackle the projects that remain.
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