It makes people feel good to say it, but then THEY don’t pay the penalty
if you act on their advice and then regret it.
YOU pay for their bad guidance, not them.

Many good books are out of print, not owned by your local public library system,
and not found for sale (used or new) online (or they are surprisingly expensive).

Many good movies (which were put onto VHS tapes) have never been put onto DVD.

Many fine music recordings (vinyl records, or cassettes)
have never been put onto CD.

Getting rid of something is usually an irreversible decision.
Keeping it is a decision which you are free to reverse at any time.
Those fond of saying “You can always — ” might try to remember this fact:
You can always decide to get rid of it later.

Clothes. I love clothes, and still have some nice socks that I bought 27 years ago (warm wool ones, so they don’t get a lot of wear). I just wore, for the first time, a sweater I bought eight years ago, and discovered that I really like it. Last year I got rid of a pair of socks I’d never worn that now, I really wish I had. Even so, my wife and I have identified a lot of clothes that we can give away, and once we get the donation list (for tax purposes) made, off they go!

Incidentally, the IRS rules for donated clothes allow you to claim one-quarter of the retail value. You can claim higher for nearly-new clothes, but if you’ve worn it a bit, best to stay safe.

Another thing, though, that might be good to keep in mind is having the balls to actually check stuff out from the library. Sure, I have my own copy of the Iliad and the Odyssey, nothing wrong with that. But if I’m buying a barrage of books that I know for sure can be found at any library worth being called a library, I shouldn’t be spending my money at the bookstore. I’ve actually heard one person say that he has a problem in which he cannot bring himself to read a book he does not own. Talk about wasteful and proud! I don’t think that’s very common, but it’s definitely not manly to think yourself too good for the library. Libraries are full of excellent resources for improving one’s mind, and almost all libraries are free. You can’t go wrong with that.

Also, I’ve been through the phase of feeling really intelligent by flashing a few big names on the shelf. However, having a book doesn’t mean its lessons are in your head. Books are meant to challenge the mind, but your own mental victories are more valuable to you in your behavior and understanding, and not as some sort of “one-up” mechanism to remind your visitors how intelligent you are. And just because someone hasn’t read the books you have doesn’t mean he’s any less intelligent or worthy of respect.

Also, my parents and I just moved. They have a ridiculous amount of junk (though not nearly as much as some people I’ve helped move). As little as I have, however, I desire to always challenge my possessions because we are all guilty at some point. I do what I can to weed the things that I don’t truly need and put more into the things I truly do need or the things that have true value in life (not going to lie – sometimes a good four-player video game is an excellent way to bring people together). And also, my parents were raised by classic parents who went through the depression as kids – they hold onto their crap. Some people unconsciously have this desire and it is not always wrong, but I am a firm believer that if you keep your career straightforward and waste not, you won’t have to worry about falling upon hard times (though I’m young, so maybe I shouldn’t be talking). Besides, if you do fall upon hard times, less stuff is easier to move into a smaller place. Just some thoughts.

As I said to Fraz, I’m not advocating throwing out books willy nilly, and especially not throwing out books because they’re old! My favorite books are old books! I’m talking about selling off books that you don’t like. For example, my wife’s grandma often sends us random books like The Weight Watchers Cookbook or a book about good hygiene for boys from the 1970’s. If you know you’re never going to read that book and no one else is either, then why not sell it?

http://zenhabits.net/2009/06/a-simple-guide-to-keeping-your-counters-clutter-free/