Oh, I royally suck at maintenance. I need to plan it somehow -- the Sidetracked Home Executive book has this index card system, where you write up your maintenance chores and assign them to yourself on a rotating schedule. My mom did well with that for a while, but I think I lack the discipline to even keep the little cards filed properly.
About throwing out: I don't fear that I'll NEED the things later, but I fear that I'll wish I had them in a sentimental way. So far I've been a little conservative -- at least from my own perspective. My mom thinks I go too far in throwing away things that are still in good condition or useful, that I should sell or donate them instead of throwing them out.
Which, I guess, is the second point you illustrated. I do think in a general sense that an object is better in SOMEBODY's house than in a landfill. However, I've come to face the reality of how likely it is that it's going to end up in somebody else's house, versus the likelihood that if I do not throw it away it will sit in a box in my closet annoying me. If I'm not truly going to eBay it -- and I'm not, because that's a pain in the ass -- and I don't know of a Goodwill donation site with reasonable hours, and I live in an apartment complex so I can't hold a garage sale... then it is either throw it out or keep it, barring a miracle. Even Freecycle seems like too big of a pain -- I don't like dealing with strangers, much less having them stop by, requiring me to be home at a given time and trusting that they'll show up. Maybe for a large item that has a recycling fee, if it's still usable. I considered it with my two old computers, but in the end took them to the free Office Depot recycling program. I still feel some guilt about throwing away usable items, but they are surely no better off in a box, surely not better for my sanity. Sounds like I probably need this book too...
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About throwing out: I don't fear that I'll NEED the things later, but I fear that I'll wish I had them in a sentimental way. So far I've been a little conservative -- at least from my own perspective. My mom thinks I go too far in throwing away things that are still in good condition or useful, that I should sell or donate them instead of throwing them out.
Which, I guess, is the second point you illustrated. I do think in a general sense that an object is better in SOMEBODY's house than in a landfill. However, I've come to face the reality of how likely it is that it's going to end up in somebody else's house, versus the likelihood that if I do not throw it away it will sit in a box in my closet annoying me. If I'm not truly going to eBay it -- and I'm not, because that's a pain in the ass -- and I don't know of a Goodwill donation site with reasonable hours, and I live in an apartment complex so I can't hold a garage sale... then it is either throw it out or keep it, barring a miracle. Even Freecycle seems like too big of a pain -- I don't like dealing with strangers, much less having them stop by, requiring me to be home at a given time and trusting that they'll show up. Maybe for a large item that has a recycling fee, if it's still usable. I considered it with my two old computers, but in the end took them to the free Office Depot recycling program. I still feel some guilt about throwing away usable items, but they are surely no better off in a box, surely not better for my sanity. Sounds like I probably need this book too...