Sometimes the hardest things to minimize are the ones we’ve attached expectations to.
“Nobody gets rid of these,” we tell ourselves. Or, “Obviously I’m going to keep that.”
Sometimes we place those expectations on ourselves. Other times, someone has told us, directly or indirectly, never to let something go.
But those expectations are rarely true. People decide every day what to keep and what to let go. And for almost everything we assume must be kept forever, somebody has let it go. And been glad they did.
Recently, I asked the Becoming Minimalist community on Facebook to complete this sentence:
“Most people keep their ________ forever. But I let mine go and don’t regret it.”
And you wouldn’t believe the number of replies. Over 1,000 comments from people sharing the items they minimized and never regretted. You’ll find encouragement in what was shared and (I hope) permission to let things go.
Here are 56 items people have not regretted letting go of:
1. Yearbooks
“I got rid of all of mine 40 years ago. Zero regrets.” —Jane C.
2. Wedding dress
“I never looked at it, and I just gave it away after 32 years! A seamstress is going to use the material to make a dress for someone else. It’s a win-win!” —Marissa C.
3. Greeting cards and wedding cards
“Old greeting cards I saved for 25 years. I let them go and feel much better with the extra space.” —Nancy B.
4. Boxes of printed photos
“Envelopes of pictures that are really not even good shots. I let all of that go and have no regrets at all!” —Kate R.
5. Wedding album
“I’ve scanned all the photos and let go of the physical big album.” —Judy M.
6. Class ring
“No regrets in selling.” —Laura M.
7. Letterman jacket
“We donated ours to the historical society.” —Kimberly A.
8. Old pins
“I recently gave away pins I had from rock bands and some from Mardi Gras in the 1980s. It’s easier for me to give things to someone who appreciates them.” —Dotty B.
9. Diplomas
“Framed diplomas. Freeing to get rid of them, especially considering I’m retired!” —Jill R.
10. Graded school papers
11. Trophies
“We don’t need trophies or medals to define us by certain accomplishments of times past.” —Angie B.
12. Work awards
13. Girl Scout sash
“My mom kept my Girl Scout sash with all the badges. She gave it to me. Why do I feel bad throwing it away? I was fine without it. Didn’t even remember it.” —Joy R.
14. College textbooks and notes
“I thought I would refer to them when I was working but never did. Dragged them around to three different states and finally tossed them into recycling.” —Linda E.
15. National Record of Achievement (for our UK readers)
“We were told this would be our key to the rest of our life, especially employment. I don’t know anybody who took theirs to a job interview or anything else.” —Karen J.
16. Love letters from exes
“First thing to go when he left me.” —Eve E.
17. Old journals
18. Concert ticket stubs
“The admission stubs from all the places you visited can go too.” —Mary C.
19. Old calendars
“I caught myself keeping 10 years’ worth of old calendars like they were a prize.” —Linda J.
20. Baby teeth
“The tooth fairy took ours.” —Rachel F.
21. Baby clothes and blankets
“Favorite baby shoes and clothes. I kept just a couple of outfits for each child.” —Sheridan L.
22. Kids’ artwork
“Take pics and keep a few. Let the rest go! Zero regrets!” —Laura L.
23. Kids’ schoolwork
“Choose one or two pieces from each year, max.” —Amanda S.
24. Childhood toys
25. Children’s books
“I donated all my children’s books knowing that someone else could read them.” —Christina R.
26. Grandma’s china
“I let go of 2 sets from both grandparents that sat in a hutch and were never used. I initially had guilt, as if I was supposed to keep them and pass them down. I felt unburdened when they were gone, and I got rid of the hutch, too!” —Meg
27. Fine crystal
“I’ve got service for 12. Water, wine, and champagne. But I’m letting it go.” —Jen G.
28. Handmade linens, doilies, and tablecloths
29. Cremated remains
“It’s not forgetting about them. It’s setting them free. And once you set them free from that box, they’ll grow even bigger in your heart. I promise!” —Harmony H.
30. Knick-knacks with a “certificate of authenticity”
“It’s time to get rid of the collection boxed up in the closet! I feel better about letting it go now!” —Debra
31. Coin, stamp, and baseball card collections
“We had soooo many coins to pass down. The rest we cashed in or sold and had a date!” —Kimberly A.
32. Records, CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes
“Everything is available online now!” —Gerda K.
33. Souvenirs
“Souvenirs from vacations I got as a kid. I’m 61.” —Davina P.
34. Gifts that didn’t work for you (even from your kids)
“If you are holding on to anything solely because you would feel guilty getting rid of it, it needs to go.” —Tara G.
35. Microwave
36. Cookbooks
“All recipes online.” —Sherry P.
37. Magazines
“The stack of magazines you swear you’ll have time to go through next winter.” —Lynn B.
38. Extra furniture
“I used to think having expensive furniture made the house so warm and inviting. Now we’re only keeping what we need.” —Hannah L.
39. Framed art that no longer fits your walls
40. Christmas decorations
“Three totes of Christmas decorations, when I only like a few things. Gone! Don’t miss them.” —Tammy B.
41. Gift bags and grocery bags
“The mountain of gift bags to be reused. I gave all mine away.” —Tiffany W.
42. Product boxes
“Your cell phone box! Why do we think we need to keep these?” —Amy C.
43. User manuals
“You can find them all online now.” —Allyson O.
44. Old bank statements and check registers
“I just recently got rid of 10 years’ worth of check registers! Threw them out, box and all. Felt so good!” —Joyce G.
45. Charger cords
“I had a whole box of cords that I tossed thinking I’d regret it. Haven’t needed any of them.” —Tracee P.
46. Old hobby gear
47. Unsold eBay inventory
“Unsold merch from that eBay side hustle that stopped being profitable years ago. Let someone else hustle it. They just have to come get it.” —Tim R.
48. Unfinished craft projects
“The craft supplies you haven’t used in ten years because you no longer do those crafts, even though you still think you might get back to it someday.” —Brenda M.
49. Formal wear
“Beautiful clothing you no longer wear because there are no suitable events or workplaces.” —Sally W.
50. Purses
“I had 18 ladies at my birthday party. They drew a number and picked a bag I had set on display.” —Mary S.
51. Old college T-shirts
52. Old jewelry
“I took all my old and broken jewelry and had it made into a solid bangle, which I now wear every day.” —Jennifer
53. Extra Bibles
“We probably have 15 Bibles in our house. I decided it’s better they go to someone who will use them.” —Kim B.
54. Books
“Most people keep their books, but I let mine go. All 3,000 of them.” —Artemis E.
55. Television
56. Vacation home
“I’m all set without it.” —Briggs T.
Honorable mentions: Coffee mugs, bridesmaid dresses, graduation caps and gowns, the punch bowl, old keys, encyclopedias, bronzed baby shoes, teen diaries, Beanie Babies, and the baby crib.
If any of these items are sitting in your closet or garage today, you don’t have to keep it forever either.
Of course, we all get to make our own decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. But if you’ve been wanting to own less and keep getting stuck on “what if I regret getting rid of…,” consider this your permission to let go.
There’s no need to start decluttering by getting rid of the hardest things, but I think you’ll find this list encouraging when you need it to be.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this list. And if you’d like to add something to it, include it as a comment below.
