@doschicos Those pictures of the old spice tins on Etsy brought me way back!
Thankfully, none of the spice jars in my cabinet are THAT old (whew!)
And, no selling for me! It never happens and the result is the piles shift, but don’t get out of the house. 
@MotherOfDragons - I know the feeling. I get it every time I open my linen closet.
Might hit my spice cabinet this afternoon.
http://www.nextavenue.org/nobody-wants-parents-stuff/
“For the first time in history of the world, two generations are downsizing simultaneously,” says Buysse, talking about the boomers’ parents (sometimes, the final downsizing) and the boomers themselves. “I have a 90-year-old parent who wants to give me stuff or, if she passes away, my siblings and I will have to clean up the house. And my siblings and I are 60 to 70 and we’re downsizing.”
This, it seems, is 21st-century life — and death. “I don’t think there is a future” for the possessions of our parents’ generation, says Eppel. “It’s a different world.”
The article contains some tips.
A friend who moved often regrets not being able to save some of the ‘retro’ look for her teen DDs.
So some items may be able to go to friends’ kids. I like recycling.
We have some old college/grad school textbooks. I am talking decades old. Subjects are Accounting/Finance/Management/Engineering. Does anyone have any ideas of somewhere we could donate? Or should we just toss them?
Yes…but… I’m attending a lot of weddings recently, and most of the happy couples still register for a multitude of “stuff”, some of which is VERY expensive. I often shake my head, wondering what will happen to all their '“stuff” in 40-50 years. I had the same attitude 40 years ago, when I didn’t want any of my grandparent or parent items. Now, I treasure the few pieces I did keep. Won’t our children feel the same in 40 years? I know many of them would treasure the mid-century items of my parents!
As you know, @FallGirl editions change so rapidly know…chances are the books you have are sitting on lots of accountant shelves around the country just like yours!
I don’t know if Better World Books could use them - check out here and you can see if there is a donation box in your area: http://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/textbooks
Tossed some stuff today: old cutting boards, cat dishes, etc. Have a box of books to go to the donation bin.
Kid says she will take some old clothing to a resale shop later in the week. Awesome if she does.
This isn’t getting rid of stuff, but it finally dawned on me that I could put my summer shoes in the spare closet and move my winter shoes into my main closet. Duh.
@VeryHappy I do that with my shoes and my clothes-rotate to the front whatever is seasonally in, and stick whatever is out in a box and put it on the top shelf. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate and I find myself digging around for a pair of sandals in February, though
We moved into this house four and a half years ago and I’m still figuring things out.
@abasket I get a lot of pens from college fairs :-j
I have embarked on my annual shredapalooza. I try to keep up with it, but come tax time it’s nuts. I went through a couple years’ worth of tax files and winnowed a bit down, but due to our situation it is what it is for how big those stupid things are. I asked my accountant if we could go with the standard “seven years and out” advice.
Him: “Do you have room to keep them?”
Me: “Yeah, but …”
Him: “Keep them.”
Me: “How long do you keep yours?”
Him: “Forever.”
How in the heck do people go paperless? I have a lot less than I did in the past in terms of Fidelity statements, etc., but it’s still a lot.
@bearcatfan , can you scan them and just keep digital copies?
@cameo43 It would take days and weeks (months?). We are talking 20+ years of tax returns, some of which were complicated due to stock options, moving between states, adoptions, etc.
I will live with it. At least I don’t get the monthly Fidelity statements anymore. My sister still does, and has 20+ years of THOSE squirreled away.
Organized my pantry a few weeks ago. Today, I decided to start on my refrigerator. It was almost as bad as the pantry. I got rid of hot sauces,mustard, pickles, steak sauce–all the stuff that you keep on the side door and don’t use that often. Most them were several years past the due date. Also took out all of the shelves and cleaned them. Fridge looks amazing!! H was shocked when he opened the door. Next, I’m going to tackle the drawer where we keep small kitchen equipment. My H loves to cook and there isn’t a Williams Sonoma gadget that he doesn’t own. Sometimes he has more than one. We have 3 peelers!
Falllgirl: I worked in college textbook publishing for 20 years–ditch the books. Does your town library have a book sale? Also, the Big Brother Big Sister group in my area will take books as well as other household items. There are also local recycle groups like freecycle where you could see if someone wanted the books.
Thank you abasket for the link to betterworldbooks. I looked it up and they have a donation bin nearby. They can find a new home for some of our unused books.
I found a drop box location for betterworldbooks about a mile from my house. I think you are right Bromfield - they are likely way too old to by useful, but I can not put books in the trash!
I have several other books that will be going to the spring library sale.
I put a few books in the recycling bin. The newer ones went into the donation pile.
I knew a librarian who pointed out that many of us grew up hearing about Abraham Lincoln treasuring the only books he owned so we value and revere books as precious. But millions and millions of books are published every day. They are no longer precious objects, at least not inherently. Maybe a few have special meaning to you, but there’s no reason to feel they can’t be given the old heave-ho. Recycle them if you can but there’s nothing wrong with tossing them. And your library doesn’t want your old textbooks.
OK you guys, there are 163 pages of posts I haven’t read! I couldn’t bring myself to open this post. But now I’m in! I have 2 bags from my daughter’s room to get rid of. She did all the work there. But I’m ready now.