Any reason to keep these?

[CathyA]

Some things I've kept for decades, because they represented something I didn't want to forget. One of them is my Samsonite suitcase that I took to Germany one summer....and everywhere else I went for many years. And then I have one of my mother's, which I could easily get rid of. Is there any reason to keep the Samsonite? It doesn't even have wheels on it. I always thought I'd use it because I can clean it off easily, as opposed to what's out there now. But.....as DH reminded me......we don't go anywhere now! haha
And with my arthritis, it would probably kill me to carry it.
So.........an reason at all to keep it?
(I bet I know what your answer is!) :~)
I'm pretty proud of myself of all the stuff I've gotten rid of in the past month.........something like 15 bags/boxes of stuff. I guess this suitcase is a little harder to part with......but I could sure use the space in my closet for things that are more meaningful and useable.
It wouldn't be considered a valuable antique, would it??

I had a couple of my Granpap's really old suitcases when I was in my late teens. The university I was at had decorated one of their eating places as a train station, with shelves lined with old suitcases. So I donated it to them. It fit right in with all the other old suitcases.

So.......should the Samsonite go?

[catherine]

I say, release that Samsonite! As you know, I am a frequent flyer, and NO ONE carries those old suitcases anymore. (I still have an orange Samsonite that I store my MIL's old kilts in. I should probably get rid of the suitcase AND the kilts). I've often wondered what took clever people so long to figure out how to put wheels on suitcases. I can't imagine going back to those old things.

[frugal-one]

OR... you could use the suitcase for storage (ie under bed)???? If not, then dispose of it.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

OR... you could use the suitcase for storage (ie under bed)???? If not, then dispose of it.

My first thought - would be good for storage.

[SteveinMN]

Out. Let someone else get some use from it. By the time you go anyplace, that trip will cost enough that getting another piece of luggage -- if you need it -- won't be much of a concern and it likely will have wheels and telescoping handles and a TSA-approved lock.

[CathyA]

catherine......I was thinking the same thing.........why so long with the wheels?! I do have a very old red suitcase.......probably my Grandpap's too. In it I found my jr-high gym suit! (circa 1963) You wouldn't believe it. It's a one piece thing with short legs with elastic around them. Whenever you'd lift your arms, the leg parts would go up to your crotch. Now THAT'S an antique. hahaha

I think I'll pass on the underbed thing. I've worked hard for a long time to not resort to keeping stuff under the bed. It turns into dust monsters! hahaha

[CathyA]

Okay guys........I think you've convinced me to let someone else struggle with it. :)

[goldensmom]

We have duffel bags and totes for traveling and I have an old Samsonite suit case that I keep them in. When I go into the storeroom to get a duffel or tote all I need to do is look for the blue suitcase. Also, it's easy for my husband when he peers into the storeroom and says 'I can't find it'.....'it's in the blue suitcase'. I also have several really old suitcases from great grandparents that I've stacked and use as an end table. If I had no use for any of them they'd be gone.

[TxZen]

I am finding, as I moving through the layers, I am down to the "OH NO" stuff..it's the hardest to decide on but I keep working through it. Hubby swears I have moved things in and out of closets a dozen times in the past week. I keep telling him it's the process, not me. :)

[pony mom]

I agree with keeping it for storage; it's a multitasker! It keeps your memories and stuff (although you'd still have the memories without the suitcase). In a decorating magazine I saw older cases, with wooden feet attached, made into low tables.

When clearing out my grandparents' house I found one of those old small square cases used for toiletries--you know the ones, they had a little mirror in them. I decided to keep it and now store small breakable collectibles in it.

[CathyA]

Gosh pony mom........we all had one of those when we were younger. hahaha

[catherine]

Gosh pony mom........we all had one of those when we were younger. hahaha

Yes… they were called "train cases"--I remember I gave one to my best friend as a high school graduation present.

[CathyA]

I had totally forgotten about mine. It was gray and I think it had a tray in the top of it. All the luggage sets had one with them.

[ToomuchStuff]

Because no one really looks in them, I knew a person that used them to hide the Christmas gifts.

Otherwise, your asking about them and since it doesn't sound like you have any trips planned, seems you have answered your own question (why you asking if you don't think you need them, go with your gut).

[CathyA]

I guess I'm always afraid I won't know when something is valuable and give it away for nothing....even if I don't personally want it.

[Float On]

If there were no smell and I could use it to store something then I'd keep it.

[CathyA]

Okay..........I've gotten rid of so much lately, I think I'll get rid of my mom's (not a Samsonite), and keep mine for awhile longer.

Now on to all the canning jars. I gave away about 6-8 dozen about 15 years ago. Last weekend I got the rest of them out of the shed and cleaned them. I was going to give about 8 dozen to Goodwill, take about 3 dozen to recycling,and keep a few. But after looking online at how much they cost, and some are made in China now.......I think I'll keep a lot more of them until I feel better about getting rid of them. These were from the 80's and all made in the USA by Ball and Kerr. I feel okay about keeping a bunch of them, even though I don't can anymore. I've made so much clean-out progress lately, I feel okay about this.

[nswef]

I'd keep many of the canning jars. I find I use them to store rice, herbs, and other stuff...and if you have the room it's not a problem. I did get rid of lots of suitcases. Not enough...

[Mary B.]

We use canning jars for all kinds of storage. They're great in the frig since if a science experiment does begin, one can have the pleasure of watching it grow. :) They're excellent for dried foods too of course.

There's also a lot of ways they can be repurposed with different lids. For instance, we have a shaker lid (on a small jar, to make a dispenser for in our case nutritional yeast). We also have lids with a hole for a straw, so we use a canning jar for smoothies and other drinks to go. (We bought a couple of stainless steel straws, which are wonderful.)

I know finding new reasons to keep things isn't exactly consistent with decluttering! We've found though that we got rid of a bunch of other stuff (plastic food storage containers, various to go cups) and kept the jars, which are aesthetically more pleasing to me and avoid the problems of staining, leaching etc.

There's a company called EcoJarz that has a bunch of different lid options -- http://www.ecojarz.com/

[frugal-one]

Very interesting Mary B.... also found these....
http://www.cuppow.com/collections/bnto-jar-lunchbox-adaptors

[catherine]

This popped up in my FB feed today..

Need a bathroom medicine chest? This one is a repurposed suitcase.

http://inhabitat.com/recycled-suitcases-transformed-into-charming-bathroom-vanities/

[CathyA]

That's really cute catherine. I wonder what the rest of their house is like?

[Songbird]

I have a really cute suitcase that I had as a little girl that I used for every vacation I ever went on. I have incorporated it into my decorating scheme here in our little cabin. It's very vintage looking and works as storage too. Everything I have in this little place has to serve a purpose as well as being decorative....

[iris lily]

This thread reminds me that I need to twist DH's arm to get out that old 1940's suitcase he has in the attic and donate it to the next Antique fundraiser. Those things are super hot right now.Samsonite--not so much.

and like PP I have often wondered why it took us so long to put wheels on suitcases. Crazy, that we used to haul those giant things around by lifting them.

But Americans were thinner then.

hmmmm.....

[iris lily]

catherine......I was thinking the same thing.........why so long with the wheels?! I do have a very old red suitcase.......probably my Grandpap's too. In it I found my jr-high gym suit! (circa 1963) You wouldn't believe it. It's a one piece thing with short legs with elastic around them. Whenever you'd lift your arms, the leg parts would go up to your crotch. Now THAT'S an antique. hahaha

I think I'll pass on the underbed thing. I've worked hard for a long time to not resort to keeping stuff under the bed. It turns into dust monsters! hahaha

I remember those gym suits, they were 100% cotton and one piece. Ours were blue.

[ToomuchStuff]

This thread reminds me that I need to twist DH's arm to get out that old 1940's suitcase he has in the attic and donate it to the next Antique fundraiser. Those things are super hot right now.Samsonite--not so much.

and like PP I have often wondered why it took us so long to put wheels on suitcases. Crazy, that we used to haul those giant things around by lifting them.

But Americans were thinner then.

hmmmm.....

I think a mix of reasons. Thinner, could be in the mix or it could be as much both cause and effect at the same time. But look at old suitcases and their construction. Wheels might not have worked so well, and at the same time, we packed less. Tougher construction and we started cramming more, or we thought we needed more (NSFW, George Carlin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac ) Then as you said, less made it easier to carry, we got more exercise, were also in better shape, due to war conditions (coming out of depression, not eatting too much, things being restricted, soldiers unwanted exercising).

[19Sandy]

I have an old suitcase for storage - love it because it has a hard side and a handle for carrying stuff. Very useful.