How Long Do You Keep Sentimental Items?

How long do you wait to get rid of sentimental items?  You know, they're the things that you've got around your house that bring back memories but actually serve no purpose at all in your day to day life.  I've got a couple at my house just taking up space.

 I was raised in a house where we didn't get rid of ANYTHING!  My mom would always find a use for things.  Even if they went in the, "We'll use that someday box."  We've all got those things that for some reason we just can't seem to part with.  They're so hard to get rid of.  It's the trophy from little league that says you were the most improved player.  It's the disco ball, the lava lamp, and the black light from college.  Granted, those things are pretty cool, but as a grown adult, I don't really have much use for them.  They get packed in a box and put in the attic or basement until you have to move them to another area of your house.

I have a pretty hard time getting rid of clothes.  I've got t-shirts from past jobs that I had or basketball tournaments that I was in with my buddies.  They're disgusting.  They're incredibly stained, ripped, and more often than not, I'm the only one who knows what the graphic still says.  I still have my old football jerseys from little league on up through high school.  I'd like to hope that my son might wear them someday...but how un-cool will they look by the time he's ready to start wearing jerseys?  He's not going to wear my stuff any more than I wore my dad's stuff.  I have clothes that my dad gave me.  He and I never had the same taste in clothes so more often than not, I wouldn't wear his clothes.  But I don't get rid of them because he's gone and it's like they're all that I've got left of him.

If they are attached to memories I have a very hard time just tossing them in the trash or giving them to the Goodwill.  So what do you do with them?  One way or another they're taking up space.  Whether they're in a box in your attic, or still hanging in your closet, they're taking up space.  So what do you do with them?  Got a better way?

I found a website that has new ideas for your old shirts.  Click here for some ideas.