Junk Drawer???

[TarpleyG]

Okay, how many have 'em and how do you keep them organized?

We are moving so I have been going through everything and throwing out what we don't need and packing the rest.  I have so much "little" stuff (not even counting what's in the garage--whole 'nother story there) that we can't get rid of.  What do I do with it?  There has to be some way to order this stuff so that I am able to keep my sanity.

Greg

[griz]

I wish I knew the answer.  I am a pack rat by nature and it is almost painful to throw out some choice junk.  Of course when I do I usually don't miss it, so I waste much time wondering if things are trash or treasure.

[bermbuster]

Go through all your stuff and pretend you are moving.  What would you take?  Get rid of the rest.  Some people say that you should go through your closet and get rid of anything you haven't worn for a year.  I tend to hang on to a couple of sizes of of the basics in clothes "just in case."  Trendy and/or fad stuff gets tossed.

My attic access is through a hall closet.  I just cleaned that out. The other person who lives here is a PACK RAT.  If I had a dime for every magazine that comes to this place I'd be rich.

[Standing Wolf]

Throw out all that valuable, positively irreplaceable stuff? Hah! Might snow in Miami on Independence Day, too!

[Art Eatman]

It's not a junk drawer!  Much better to call it a wild animal box.  You never know what sort of strange critter you'll find there.

No point in even trying to organize such a treasure trove.  The first time you go searching for something, whatever order you'd achieved rejuenates to an example of Chaos Theory.

Art

[280plus]

You never know how much JUNK you really have until it's time to move it.

Do yourself a favor, have a tag sale!

[Declaration Day]

I grew up in a packrat's house, and I couldn't stand it.

I hate having things around that I have no need for.  I throw out stuff all the time.  I'm so good at it that I would be a garbage man if it brought a decent paycheck.  Ok maybe not, but you get the picture.

When I go through my junk, whether it's my junk drawer or my whole garage, I use the following criteria:

1)  Have I used this item in the past year, and do I honestly foresee myself using it in the next year?
2)  Does this item have sentimental or significant monetary value?
3)  Is this item a receipt or legal document that I have to keep?

If I cannot answer yes to any of the above questions, it is either given away or put in the circular file.

[jefnvk]

Most every drawer I have is a junk drawer.

[Leatherneck]

My late Father-in-Law used to call it the "Lucky Box." If you're lucky, what you need might be in there.

I can't count the times when I've saved a few bucks and a trip to the store by rummaging around for a bit or a bolt and finding it. The Lucky Box is indispensible!

TC

[280plus]

In the navy we had a thing called the F*** it Bucket. Same idea as the Lucky Box. Sometimes when you looked there you'd find something that you needed.

[BryanP]

I don't have a junk drawer.  I have a garage.

(I wish I was kidding)