Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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Good for you! It's not easy to do, but I've recently done a lot of the same - and I find that it's a weight gone when done. One box at a time....
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I use the two year rule... if I haven't touched it in two years it needs to go.
Don
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I hear you.
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I'm joining you, Phil. I'm retiring at the end of this year, and the amount of paper that I've accumulated is astounding. I SHOULD have followed Don's system, but there's something about teaching ... ("Hmm ... that lesson on the Spanish Reconquista worked so well in 1996. I haven't taught that course since 2001, but it COULD come in handy if I ever get to the end of the ancient civilizations course ...)
The philatelic stuff ... I've only got five years backlog, so it stays put. 
-Darryl
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07:28:08pm
I feel your pain with a closet full of old publications and club newsletters.
Lately I have been trying to accumulate only digital information. It takes up a lot less space and doesn't throw your back out of joint as you find an article.
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I can not part with everything...newsletters were mentioned...i have been in this stamp club since the 1970's ..people long gone did so much excellent work on newletters and programs..it would be disrespectful to toss them.
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I have a friend who served >10 years in the US Army. Every time she moved (often), boxes were packed & sealed & dated. I don't remember her time rule, but I do remember that she swore she never opened an untouched box "just to check one last time" before tossing it.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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There are some philatelic libraries that accept donations of good philatelic material.
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You could give/place the magazines in the waiting rooms at your doctor/dentist/hair stylist/veterinarian, etc. (block out or cut of you name and address from the cover). Some assisted living homes/facilities accept magazine donations. Give them to a boy/girl scout troop. Put them on the giveaway table at a stamp show. There are plenty of things to do with much of that material that is still in good condition.
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I found that the best way to get rid of such clutter is to move a few times. In the past 9 years I have moved 4 times (and I really hope last year's move was the last one for a long time!) and that means all your stuff will go through your hands. Sometimes for the first time in years. I had boxes full of magazines, newspaper clippings of articles I found interesting etc. Also lots of comic books. All the magazines and newspaper clippings went to the paper recycling. Most of the books ended up in the thrift shop. There they will sort out what is still useful and recycle what is not.
I had a few boxes full of newspapers from the second world war, I took them with me when we emptied my grandparents' house. I kept a few and spent a few afternoons at local fleamarkets where I managed to sell quite a few of these, sometimes at ridiculous prices (at least in my opinion). So that was a good one, but it is almost like stamps: you can make a few quid, but when you take the amount of time into consideration, it is sometimes better to just leave them, give them away or whatever.
In the same period I also reduced the size of my cd collection. No cd got thrown away (heaven forbid!) though, I just bought a number of these cd slip-in cases that hold 48 or more cds and tossed away the plastic jewel cases. That saved a few metres of shelf space :-)
Now the real challenge is to persuade the children to say goodbye to the toys they no longer play with. Even at such a young age they have amassed a huge amount of stuff that they do not want in their rooms anymore, but still want to keep some how. We now put it in boxes, store it in the attic and sometimes quietly take out some of these boxes and leave them at second hand stores. Or pass them on to younger nephews / nieces... Unfortunately sometimes my brother and sister have the same idea.
Jan-Simon
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I stamp the contact info for my APS Chapter on a number of different pages in each AP received and leave them in waiting rooms during Doctor visits.
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You are not alone philb.
Only 8 or 9 months ago I took some old clippings to our local club meeting, and they were a specialized type too, and offered them to anyone who wanted them, but, all I got was silence. I had a large number of them, but, it appears that in this day and age of computers, they are no longer wanted. I am still in the process of throwing them out.
Chimo
Bujutsu
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Good comments, Jan.
Yes, I moved in 2006, 2012, and again in 2013. That REALLY helped to get rid of a lot of the paper. Most of my college notes, teaching notes/lectures, and research files got recycled in there. I had 3 paper-boxes full of dot matrix print-offs of SAS output from my Master's project...
I am committed to converting all my LPs to digital files and to scanning my huge (and complete) collection of early car magazines, then selling off the originals. Always thought I would write a history of the Super Stock era, but it's already been done, in fine style.
I've also gotten better about unloading books that I'll never read again, although there is a pile of about 3 dozen next to my work station here that I've been meaning to sell on eBay. What doesn't sell will go to the library's book sale. That said, I'm perpetually pining for a proper library of my own...Still WAY too many books in boxes...
So far, my stamp collection can be confined to two Army-surplus aluminum medical supply chests.
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For me the big difference has been the internet.
I used to be a complete magazine junkie. Whatever interested me I bought, read, and accumulated; Computing, Electronics, Stamps, Model Engineering, Hi-Fi, Scuba, Gardening, Woodworking, Photography etc. etc.
And I did get hours of pleasure from them, I would regularly grab a pile of back issues to page through and read while my wife watched one of her programmes.
A few years ago however I realised I was losing interest in the magazines as I was finding much of the same information on the internet.
So after the last move in which we schlepped boxes and boxes and boxes of magazines, many unread for years, I decided a major cull was needed. I kept all the Model Engineering magazines, a few of the electronics and stamp magazines with articles that really interest me, and a few of the first few issues of some now long gone computer magazines.
The rest were disposed of; some went free on craigslist, others were taken by the thrift store and the remainder were reluctantly dropped off at recycling.
Which brings me to another point, what does one do with a bookshelf full of leather bound, barely read, Encyclopaedia Britannica that some salesman convinced me some 25 years ago was an absolute necessity for the kids education. One cannot give them away, thrift stores wont take them, and I just can't bring myself to toss these handsome volumes into the recycling.
Clive
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I have a nice set of encyclopedias inherited from my dad, and purchased in the early 1960's. Of course all of the information is outdated, and even the countries are no longer the same, as you well know from stamp collecting. You are right - nobody wants them, nobody uses them. But yet they sit in a box in my garage. When I am gone, what will my kids do with them? Toss them into the recycling bin. I just need to grit my teeth, do it and get it over with, save them the trouble, and save myself some space.
But it does bring some comfort knowing I'm not the only one......
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People decorating an office will often buy used/outdated encyclopedias to use in book shelves, because the set has the same binding to give it a more "professional" look. If you have a used book store that buys books, take it to them. You probably won't get all that much, but the books will get used. The used book store in my area sells them all the time.
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Thanks Michael,
I will give the used book stores a try over the weekend.
Clive
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It seems like only yesterday i was picking philatelic items out of dumpsters. Well even i realize now theres a time to love and i time to make room. for 40 years i have been renting space in my basement to APS magazines,catalogs both from dealers of small countries dating back to the 1950s....i Almost never look at this stuff once its down in the tombs. People bring magazines and catalogs to our club meetings but they receive very little interest. So one cardboard box at a time off they go to the town recycling.
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re: The paper purge begins
Good for you! It's not easy to do, but I've recently done a lot of the same - and I find that it's a weight gone when done. One box at a time....
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re: The paper purge begins
I use the two year rule... if I haven't touched it in two years it needs to go.
Don
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re: The paper purge begins
I'm joining you, Phil. I'm retiring at the end of this year, and the amount of paper that I've accumulated is astounding. I SHOULD have followed Don's system, but there's something about teaching ... ("Hmm ... that lesson on the Spanish Reconquista worked so well in 1996. I haven't taught that course since 2001, but it COULD come in handy if I ever get to the end of the ancient civilizations course ...)
The philatelic stuff ... I've only got five years backlog, so it stays put.
-Darryl
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Collecting King George VI from all countries, and King Edward VII and King George V from the West Indies.
21 Aug 2018
07:28:08pm
re: The paper purge begins
I feel your pain with a closet full of old publications and club newsletters.
Lately I have been trying to accumulate only digital information. It takes up a lot less space and doesn't throw your back out of joint as you find an article.
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re: The paper purge begins
I can not part with everything...newsletters were mentioned...i have been in this stamp club since the 1970's ..people long gone did so much excellent work on newletters and programs..it would be disrespectful to toss them.
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re: The paper purge begins
I have a friend who served >10 years in the US Army. Every time she moved (often), boxes were packed & sealed & dated. I don't remember her time rule, but I do remember that she swore she never opened an untouched box "just to check one last time" before tossing it.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: The paper purge begins
There are some philatelic libraries that accept donations of good philatelic material.
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09:46:59pm
re: The paper purge begins
You could give/place the magazines in the waiting rooms at your doctor/dentist/hair stylist/veterinarian, etc. (block out or cut of you name and address from the cover). Some assisted living homes/facilities accept magazine donations. Give them to a boy/girl scout troop. Put them on the giveaway table at a stamp show. There are plenty of things to do with much of that material that is still in good condition.
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re: The paper purge begins
I found that the best way to get rid of such clutter is to move a few times. In the past 9 years I have moved 4 times (and I really hope last year's move was the last one for a long time!) and that means all your stuff will go through your hands. Sometimes for the first time in years. I had boxes full of magazines, newspaper clippings of articles I found interesting etc. Also lots of comic books. All the magazines and newspaper clippings went to the paper recycling. Most of the books ended up in the thrift shop. There they will sort out what is still useful and recycle what is not.
I had a few boxes full of newspapers from the second world war, I took them with me when we emptied my grandparents' house. I kept a few and spent a few afternoons at local fleamarkets where I managed to sell quite a few of these, sometimes at ridiculous prices (at least in my opinion). So that was a good one, but it is almost like stamps: you can make a few quid, but when you take the amount of time into consideration, it is sometimes better to just leave them, give them away or whatever.
In the same period I also reduced the size of my cd collection. No cd got thrown away (heaven forbid!) though, I just bought a number of these cd slip-in cases that hold 48 or more cds and tossed away the plastic jewel cases. That saved a few metres of shelf space :-)
Now the real challenge is to persuade the children to say goodbye to the toys they no longer play with. Even at such a young age they have amassed a huge amount of stuff that they do not want in their rooms anymore, but still want to keep some how. We now put it in boxes, store it in the attic and sometimes quietly take out some of these boxes and leave them at second hand stores. Or pass them on to younger nephews / nieces... Unfortunately sometimes my brother and sister have the same idea.
Jan-Simon
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re: The paper purge begins
I stamp the contact info for my APS Chapter on a number of different pages in each AP received and leave them in waiting rooms during Doctor visits.
1 Member
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Login to Like.
re: The paper purge begins
You are not alone philb.
Only 8 or 9 months ago I took some old clippings to our local club meeting, and they were a specialized type too, and offered them to anyone who wanted them, but, all I got was silence. I had a large number of them, but, it appears that in this day and age of computers, they are no longer wanted. I am still in the process of throwing them out.
Chimo
Bujutsu
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12:33:56pm
re: The paper purge begins
Good comments, Jan.
Yes, I moved in 2006, 2012, and again in 2013. That REALLY helped to get rid of a lot of the paper. Most of my college notes, teaching notes/lectures, and research files got recycled in there. I had 3 paper-boxes full of dot matrix print-offs of SAS output from my Master's project...
I am committed to converting all my LPs to digital files and to scanning my huge (and complete) collection of early car magazines, then selling off the originals. Always thought I would write a history of the Super Stock era, but it's already been done, in fine style.
I've also gotten better about unloading books that I'll never read again, although there is a pile of about 3 dozen next to my work station here that I've been meaning to sell on eBay. What doesn't sell will go to the library's book sale. That said, I'm perpetually pining for a proper library of my own...Still WAY too many books in boxes...
So far, my stamp collection can be confined to two Army-surplus aluminum medical supply chests.
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re: The paper purge begins
For me the big difference has been the internet.
I used to be a complete magazine junkie. Whatever interested me I bought, read, and accumulated; Computing, Electronics, Stamps, Model Engineering, Hi-Fi, Scuba, Gardening, Woodworking, Photography etc. etc.
And I did get hours of pleasure from them, I would regularly grab a pile of back issues to page through and read while my wife watched one of her programmes.
A few years ago however I realised I was losing interest in the magazines as I was finding much of the same information on the internet.
So after the last move in which we schlepped boxes and boxes and boxes of magazines, many unread for years, I decided a major cull was needed. I kept all the Model Engineering magazines, a few of the electronics and stamp magazines with articles that really interest me, and a few of the first few issues of some now long gone computer magazines.
The rest were disposed of; some went free on craigslist, others were taken by the thrift store and the remainder were reluctantly dropped off at recycling.
Which brings me to another point, what does one do with a bookshelf full of leather bound, barely read, Encyclopaedia Britannica that some salesman convinced me some 25 years ago was an absolute necessity for the kids education. One cannot give them away, thrift stores wont take them, and I just can't bring myself to toss these handsome volumes into the recycling.
Clive
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re: The paper purge begins
I have a nice set of encyclopedias inherited from my dad, and purchased in the early 1960's. Of course all of the information is outdated, and even the countries are no longer the same, as you well know from stamp collecting. You are right - nobody wants them, nobody uses them. But yet they sit in a box in my garage. When I am gone, what will my kids do with them? Toss them into the recycling bin. I just need to grit my teeth, do it and get it over with, save them the trouble, and save myself some space.
But it does bring some comfort knowing I'm not the only one......
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03:16:40pm
re: The paper purge begins
People decorating an office will often buy used/outdated encyclopedias to use in book shelves, because the set has the same binding to give it a more "professional" look. If you have a used book store that buys books, take it to them. You probably won't get all that much, but the books will get used. The used book store in my area sells them all the time.
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re: The paper purge begins
Thanks Michael,
I will give the used book stores a try over the weekend.
Clive
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