🏠 LETTING GO of SENTIMENTAL Items: EXTREME Whole House DECLUTTERING! How I did it. How you can too!

Thinking about what I'd let go of (of yours) if it was me, the only thing I couldn't let got of was the 1st grade pictures. I think my kids would like that eventually or they could make the decision to let them go, since pics don't take up much room. In any case, my hat's off to you. I could not let that go. I'm working on letting my Easy Bake Oven go, and that tells you how long I've had it! I'm finally to the sentimental stuff. It's quite a process.

I stopped writing in journals years ago, but when I dug them out of the storage boxes and reread them a light went off. Did I really want my grandchildren to read these and know me for the person I was then? No. People change and mature with time, and my journals were not an accurate representation of who I have become. I burned them all!! And it felt SO GOOD to do so.

I bought my wedding dress secondhand and then sold it again after. I have all the memories in the photos and I’ll never wear it again.

I did that with my year books too. I just tore out my photo pages so my daughter could see what I looked like as a teenager. Almost every person who signed I had no idea who they were anymore 🤣🤣

Thank you for documenting your process on decluttering sentimental items. You're right, decluttering is like peeling the layers of an onion. It does get easier over time and you can rid of stuff that was hard to let go over time.

Wow my journals, I shredded two years ago, there is stuff in those books th hat I wouldn’t want to leave for my husband or kids to go through

I literally just went through boxes of school projects saved for me. Through everything out.

blows my mind every time i hear about people journaling, especially that much, cause then theres just soooo much to go thru (like with a huge photo album) if you ever want to re-read things. the only way that ive ever journaled really was simply by doing basic scrap-booking, and i mean basic, like taping a ticket stub or dried plant into a booklet and writing a little context for it.

Remember guys, the objects aren't the memories. You have the memories even if you don't have the objects. If something is really special, still brings you joy, and you don't want to get rid of it, don't! But if you're holding on to items that make you feel guilty, sad, or regretful, it might be time to give yourself permission to move them out.

I just threw out my 1980's yearbooks and it was so liberating!

My wedding dress was preserved for 35 years and I sent it to a company called unbox the dress and they made my daughters getting ready robe for her wedding 100% from it. I will present it to her next week at her Bridal shower. Also from my dress I had 3 pocket squares made for each of my sons & husband to wear that day and handkerchief for me I have material left over for maybe in the future a christening gown for a grandchild.

I love your idea for everyone having their special keepsake boxes . Definitely going to start this for my family

I honestly think it is ok to keep yearbooks, pictures, and journals when doing extreme decluttering. Especially if you have kids! It is always great to give your family a view of you and holding onto the memories. Those things are not replaceable imo.

Such a great idea to take photos of the photos and make them into photo books! Great space-saver! Never thought of that, so thank you!

I had a stillborn baby and will donate my wedding dress to a group who makes burial clothing for babies.

Boy, this video has hit home. Must tell you, I’ve been watching vids about decluttering, photo organizing, sentimental items and I watched AT LEAST 40 of them. But this one has hit home. Your saved items are exactly what I’ve saved also and I just needed someone to talk out loud about ‘the stuff.’ Thanks so much. I’ve just subscribed and looking forward to binge watching what I’ve missed, no less future videos.❤

Never was a journaler. Feeling slightly superior I ditched those tassels within a few years of graduation. 🤣

I still have my 4th grade cheerleading outfit because my mom made it. Some things are really hard to part with. But I did give away my wedding dress to goodwill. It took up a lot of space. I felt guilty about that until my daughter said that it was definitely not her style. She got to pick out her own beautiful dress for her wedding later which was a special day for both of us with wonderful memories. So don't feel bad getting rid of that type of thing. (It is a good idea to ask those you think would be interested first though)

Beautiful clip please more sorting, ripping decluttering old papers, documents mails, photos..! ❤️

I started like you with sentimental items. Fist I had a box for under the bed, a smaller box and some of my bigger sentimental items in my closet. Since then I have now 1 box under the bed and some of my more decorative items hung or placed as decor. Most of it is travel sourverniers from childhood and my shell/crystal/butterfly collection. I sold quite a vew of my butterfly collection and kept 3 frames. Same for my shell collection. I did keep most of my crystals and donated the smaller pieces. Im looking to get a new hobby so I might need to go trough all my items again. Some sentimental items can be a hobby or a part of past you you just cant seem to let go off. One of my most sentimental things are letters from my cousin when we where kids. A story I wrote as a child, a small owl sculpture I got from a overseas friend. I have more stuff but on the top of my head those mean quite a bit to me even trough they are not functional items. I do go trough my pictures sometimes. I took everything out of books and just kept my favorites. I just dont know what to do with my digital photos. Id love to add them to my photo stack. Not selfies or anything. But fotos from moments I care about. I remember being quite sad as a child so to have more phosos of my teen/adult favorites might help. And truefully I never look at my photos on the computer. Its just not the same. I also do not want to be reminded of the pas all the time. I really want to move on and start living in the now.