Our HEIRLOOM objects are personal objects of importance that have been given to us by older family members. Objects in this classification may have belonged to the same family over many years, adding to our family narrative. These items hold great emotional providence symbolising where we have come from. HEIRLOOM belongings play a role in linking us to our intergenerational past. An expectation is placed on these items for us to hold on to them and pass them down to our younger members in the future. These items usually, but not always, hold a monetary value such as jewellery, antiques, items with brand names and/or of iconic design. HEIRLOOM belongings can also be associated with a defining life event such as marriage, military service or anniversaries. Abby, a To Keep or Not To Keep supporter, had this to say about what she created using one of her heirloom items: ‘My grandmother’s wedding dress was so special but taking up space I didn’t have. When my daughter was married we chose to use the fabric to tie around the bride and bridesmaids’ flower bouquets. It made us feel happy to have found such a special use for it.’

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Our SENTIMENTAL items are the precious treasures we own that instantly evoke feelings of nostalgia. We will have strong emotional attachment and meaning associated with it. These objects tend to be associated with our past identity and can give us feelings of connectedness with our world. These items are not always used as they have an emotional purpose for the owner. Wedding ephemera and baby-related objects can spark moments of reflection that can transport us back in time to when and where this memory took place. Holding on to an excessive amount of SENTIMENTAL objects will take up prized space in our homes. Set yourself some ground rules on what should be kept, especially if these items could add value to others if still in good condition. Schedule some time to curate these objects at least once every six months and filter out the excess. Your rule might be as simple as letting go of one thing every time it is sorted through. Taking a photo is a great way to reclaim the space and still enjoy the feeling this item gives to you when you see it. To Keep or Not To Keep client Shelly had this to say about her SENTIMENTAL items: ‘I have always kept my children’s artwork in labelled boxes. I would write the dates on the back as soon as they came home. For my daughter’s 21st birthday I went through and selected the best ones to photograph and scan to make a photo book. Then I was able to recycle them all and use the space they were taking up for other essential items.’

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A SIGNIFICANT item is an imperative item that symbolises and/or provides proof of a milestone, event or situation that has occurred in our lives or in the lives of our loved ones. Our own identity- shaping rituals such as weddings, christenings and funerals play a pivotal role in our lives and culture. Objects obtained during these life-altering events such as our wedding rings, presents and certificates all serve to signify that these events occurred. Tokens from our own childhood and from our children’s babyhood contribute to our significant items by creating artefacts that were once value adding but now are relics of a past self. So too are our photographs in and out of albums. They are a visual record of our lives lived and these can stretch back through several generations. Less joyous are the hardcopy paperwork works we need to keep, including legal documents and contracts. These may include house deeds, tax records, rental agreements, certificates and instruction manuals. The digital revolution is assisting us greatly with capturing, recording and storing these items more efficiently. To Keep or Not To Keep client Jack had this to say about his way of managing SIGNIFICANT items: ‘After taking photos of the things I am ready to say goodbye to I create albums and call them my “Memory Files” and store them in the cloud. That way when I access them they can be downloaded straight to my phone or laptop.’

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A LUXURY item is an object of elegance, lavishness and opulence. These items tend to be associated with money and were expensive to obtain. These items will add value to our lives in a few diverse ways. LUXURY household appliances may add a certain amount of functionality by assisting us in completing tasks quicker and easier, and saving us time. In our modern lives these objects have become almost indispensable for our busy lives. These items may also add value to our lives by raising our status. Owning such objects is a way of illuminating our preferences to others in our community and beyond. When we PICK our LUXURY objects our decision making can be the most difficult. When an object has both a perceived and financial value it can be harder to let go. If we feel we have not received the full value of an object we have paid for, even if we are not using it, we will naturally want to keep it. To Keep or Not To Keep client Katheryn had this to say about her LUXURY objects: ‘The bottom of my pantry was so cluttered with whiz-bang appliances I had bought over the years. Some were worth every cent, some were not. I was cross with ones I had not used. The fairy floss maker was the first of these to go!’

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