Keeping/storing old certification records?

[razz]

What do you do with the old degree certificates and professional designations when you retire and downsize? They were so important when in effect but, years later, I look at them and think that they refer to some time long ago.
Should I take them out of their frames, fold and put away or what other approach?

[Spartana]

I got rid of all mine - even my college degrees. I hung onto everything for a few years (they were never hung up just in a box) but once I realized I'd probably never need them again I shredded them. I figured if I ever needed the important ones again I could probably have copies sent to me. But if I was you I'd probably hang on to them until you know "for sure" you want to get rid of them or not. Just unframe them and store them together in a manila envelope with your important papers.

[iris lilies]

What's the purpose of keeping the paper? Sentimental or practical?

razz, if you are done with work, why keep it? I certainly never "framed" my degrees, but then I viewed my graduate degree as not an accomplishment, but as working papers to get me into the field. The degree was just a bunch of hoops I had to jump through. I guess I don't have the respect toward formal education that would cause me to keep the papers as something important.

Certainly if you have special accomplishment that gives you pleasure to think about, you might keep it with your papers. Or keep it with your memorabilia. I have 1 trunk of "memorabilia" and the items in that trunk are only sentimental, they serve no practical purpose. I limit it to 1 trunk and I haven' put anything in there for a decade. It doesn't contain photographs but does contain items of clothing, scrapbooks, family sentimental letters & things that evoke my childhood. 1 trunk, that's all I'm allowed. :)

When I am FI I won't keep things like degree and education papers. Although frankly, I don't keep them now and I am still working. If I need proof of degrees I would trust the degree granting body to provide copy if I needed it. I would expect certification to be the same. Once many years ago our HR department asked for proof of our degrees and I rolled my eyes and ignored that request. Guess what, decades later I am still working there.

I remember that when my dad retirees as a physical therapist he let his license expire because he kept getting calls from headhunters and that annoyed him. If you are permanently retired FOR GOOD and NO MORE WORK, the technical/practical value of the paper doesn't matter.

[ToomuchStuff]

Just a thought, garage sale the frames and save a digital copy (scan via some service of photo) of them and shred them.