How Long Do You Keep Cards/Gifts Etc??

[Smowball]

Am just trying to clear out the very top of the wardrobe, which has several large bags/boxes full of cards etc. I’ve got them down and am going thru them, and they have got everything from the very first anniversary card mr smow gave me, to Xmas cards from the kids years and years ago, teddies the kids gave me on Mother’s Day like 15 years ago, loads and loads of stuff. mr Smow came in in middle of me doing all this and said I should only keep stuff for a couple of years, as where do you draw the line…….. what do you think??

[bednobs]

i am all for chucking - i threw away a whole pile of last year's christmas cards last week

[Redhelen72]

Previously to moving I kept everything but I have got rid of the Xmas cards already.
My mad MIL has kept every card she thinks my husband has sent her! They will get dumped when she dies they don’t mean anything to anyone else but her

[bednobs]

my thought is, when i die, my poor daughter will have to sift through all the detritus and simply chuck it away for me

[bednobs]

snap RH

[Redhelen72]

We still have asp much to go through but my husband and I are determined that our nieces and nephew will have an easy time when it comes to cleaning up after we pop off

[pixie374]

No limit. I'm a get-ridder. It just depends how much it matters to you. Each of my children had a box each. First shoes, babygro, preschool paintings, jewellery handed down, baby books, school reports.... and I got rid of stuff, when I needed more space.

[Vagus]

I have my first Mother’s Day card from each child. That’s it, nothing else.
Birthday cards are binned the day after my birthday, Christmas cards are binned when the decs come down, this year it was 1st January, in the past it’s been Boxing Day.
There are about a dozen children’s books on a bookshelf which are now coming in for our grandchildren.

[Smowball]

Am thinking you’re all right - tbh I didn’t even know I still had some of this stuff!! I’ve got school pictures of all the kids, drawings, everything!! Mad! Lol

[pixie374]

I'd keep some through the years, but not everything. Mine love them now they are older.

[roadman]

take a picture itll last longer then you end up with load of photies dough and do you really knead them you always have whats in your loaf

[roopower]

When my mother went into care in 2002 she was in her eighties. I found a box of cards going back to when my sister and I were too young to write and dad had written the cards for us. I just keep samples and very special ones for the reason that someone else will have to go through it all. If it's my daughter, she'll probably transfer it all to her house - she's more of a sentimental hoarder than I am.

[Smowball]

Yep I’m keeping a few of each….but the rest is just way way too many lol x

[pastafreak]

I'll keep cards if I like the artwork...like all the cards my daughter has given me over the years. I'm now looking for frames for them.
I've also kept all the handmade cards sent me by my mum so many years ago.

[roadman]

if its a hand made card then that hits different i think they should be more respected but to be honest please dont give me a card it will end up in the bin im happy with a happy birthday text message unless you want to pop a fiver in there haha

[Barsel]

It's something that is on my 'to do' list.
Have kept all cards from my children, grandchildren, and hand made cards from my cousin.
All my engagement cards, wedding cards and special birthday cards, 21 yrs etc and Mothers Day cards.
Sympathy cards from when my Mum died and probably more besides.
If my daughters don't want them when I pop my clogs, they can put them in my coffin, along with my Art Deco lady ornaments that nobody wants.

[gness]

I don't have a time limit, Smow. Special cards get put away and the next tidy up will see some dispatched and some keepers. The step daughter sent me a lovely message after MrG died saying how happy he'd been with me and thanking me for looking after him. That will be a keep forever.
Christmas and greetings card fronts are kept and I re-use part of them if they are suitable. I will perhaps use part of a card sent by A to make next years jazzed up card for A. Often get a message saying the card was lovely but not one soul has realised it's part of the card they sent to me last year. :-)

[Caran]

OMG! I have just done this. I have a cupboard that had 16 carrier bags in, all full with cards going back to when I retired, 19 years ago, when we moved here, 18 years ago. Every birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day, you name it. Bear in mind my 5 grandchildren all make a card each for every occurance, including one from cats and dogs and the fish!
There was that many OH had to divide them up between 3 bags as they were too heavy to take to the tip.
All the time they were waiting to go I was itching to bring them back in. I felt so bereft and guilty at getting rid of them.

[maggiebee]

I kept the Order of Service for every funeral I went to over many years. I have just read them all again then shredded them for recycling. I realised that I don't need pieces of paper to remember them.

[Caran]

Maggie bee, I also have the order of service from every funeral I have been to. I represent the committee at all our members of the U3A who have died, as well as friends and family so I have quite a few.

[Caran]

I think I may be a hoarder!