Household Archive Question

Excelent

What is the statute of limitations for keeping:

kids art projects

Holiday, birthday, anniversary cards etc. from your beloved and kids

toys the kids don't play with

unmatched socks

Member

I'm not sure of the statute of limitations, but whatever you do make sure
you ditch the stuff while they are not looking. Mr. Green

Member

Hmmm. In the attic, I have a couple boxes of artwork & graded papers that Libby has brought home since preschool. I have most of Jake's preschool stuff, and Will's papers from this year. A lot of things from the last school year didn't get kept simply due to moving, reorganizing, etc. I am becoming more choosy, to a degree, on what I keep though. I have been throwing all of the school papers from all 3 kids into a huge box, and perhaps this summer I will go through it and thin it out a bit more, keeping the very important stuff, sharing the rest with the grandparents and tossing out what we don't need to keep.

Papers & artwork get hung on the fridge, freezer, and in the spare bedroom. Holiday artwork is kept for forever, stored with all the Christmas stuff, and displayed every year.

We have a duffel bag with every card we've ever rec'd, save the Christmas cards which also end up with holiday stuff. Letters hubby and I have written to each other are in there too, although a couple "saucy" ones are put somewhere where the children won't find them. Wink

I have a box that my aunt gave me that has all the cards I ever sent my Grandmother (she died a few years ago) and some of them were from age 7!! Must be where I get that mentality. LOL.

Toys are kept for as long as they are useful. Jake plays with toys that Libby played with when she was little, as well as Will. As I am done having children, baby toys have been given to friends and Goodwill, and we will continue with this practice. I do keep a couple precious things, but not a lot. We never get rid of Barbies or Legos or hotwheels though. I think they're pretty much timeless.

Socks--I'd rather buy new ones than keep looking for mates. We go through socks like crazy here.

That's us. I generally keep way too much.

Member

kids' art - I would think if it's good or if it took a significant amount of effort, keep it in the attic or something and let the kids decide for themselves later whether to keep/toss. If it's just a minor scribble, put it on the frig for awhile and toss when new one goes up.

I have every card The Paramedic has ever given me, and he's kept mine. I also keep really funny/sentimental ones that stand out. Holiday cards from all else are cut into shapes with pinking shears and used as gift tags the next year (excellent way to recycle them)

Toys the kids don't play with - in good condition, swap with a friend/twin Wink

or donate to charity/women's shelter. In bad condition/broken - toss.

Unmatched socks - a few months is it. I toss them in a basket. If they're there too long, they become dust rags (again, good way to recycle them).

Member

kids art projects Most of them get pitched, but I do keep some of the really good ones. So far I keep them in my nightstand drawer.

Holiday, birthday, anniversary cards etc. from your beloved and kids I've got a tin STL Cardinals trash can that I've kept cards in for years and years. Its getting really full. Not sure what I'm gonna do then.

toys the kids don't play with I'm in a quandry with this one. Nichole has a ton of good stuff she doesn't play with. I'm not sure where to donate this kinda stuff. But I really need to get rid of some of it.

unmatched socks Trash

my boys could swim

good question.

Since we are not neat freaks....it depends on how deep the "pile" is.

We collect a large number of things...and then go on a cleaning binge and clear out most of the junk.

Member

Cards, a couple of days. The Mrs dates the cards. Maybe that's a hint I should keep them

Toys: to long. then most go to my sister. She still gets all the freebees Confused

The Pinball

kids' art: i've kept some cute stuff over the years, mostly clay projects; i'd say all paper stuff is pitched within weeks. i do have a small box in the basement with a few cute papers from both of them thru the years.

cards: i never keep birthday cards anymore. i kept years of them from my mom, all bundled up and i can't even look at them now. i'm glad i have them but what an emotional bomb that would be to get into.

toys they don't play with: i kinda bundle them up and store them away for up to a year and if they never ask for them, then i know it's OK to give to the Salvation Army. i still have a trunk full of Play-mobil construction toys from my son that i doubt i'll ever pitch. i'll also never pitch their special "lovies" they slept with for years. I'M SICK.

socks: goodbye today.

Oompa Loofah

Toys: I donate to Goodwill as quickly as I can. With moving, I get sick of carting crap around. (You can also find a church in your area which might be having a church-wide flea market and your usable toys profit the church)

Artwork: the best are kept, along with awards and report cards.

Socks: I dust with them and ditch them if a few cycles have gone by and I can't find its mate.

cards: Christmas cards, kept with Christmas stuff. Others, keep and pitch depending on certain criteria.