Recently I enjoyed dinner with the Women's Outreach of Omaha group before my Too Much Stuff, Too Little Space presentation.Our lively table conversation focused on my dinner companions' interesting organizing experiences.
One member reported finding dozens of empty cereal box liners in an older person's home. This is an example of how value can be derived from almost any item. The value of the item lies in how the thing could be used in the future. In this case, the wax paper liners were kept to be used for future food storage. It is possible the collection predated the widespread use of plastic wrap and bags.
Considerations such as potential fire hazard, pest habitat, and food safety concerns must be taken into account with such collections.
Have you encountered unusual stashes of stuff? We would like to hear about it.
Hi Ellen! What an interesting question. I had a family member that lived through the depression that saved all kinds of things. A few to mention here are empty aerosol cans or empty (thankfully washed) meals-on-wheels containers. I wrote a post on this very topic here: http://www.productiveandorganized.net/2008/02/clutter-killed.html#more
Steph
Posted by: Stephanie LH Calahan | April 30, 2008 at 09:15 PM