Deciding When To Keep Or Chuck Old Items

The team at Alaska EZ Storage has a front-row seat to one of life's toughest questions. Should I keep this or throw it away? Working at 1350 E Bogard Rd in Wasilla, we've watched hundreds of people stand in their storage units or driveways having deep philosophical debates about whether they need that box of cassette tapes or their kid's kindergarten artwork from 1998.

In this blog, we talk about how to actually make these decisions without either becoming a hoarder or regretting tossing something you needed.

Space vs. Replacement Cost

Living in Wasilla adds a unique wrinkle to the keep-or-chuck decision. Replacing items in Alaska isn't as simple as running to Target. Shipping costs are real, availability can be limited, and some items simply cost more here.

What this means for keeping stuff:

That camping equipment you haven't used in three years? In the Lower 48, you might chuck it and buy new later. In Alaska, keeping it makes more sense because replacement costs and availability make it worth storing.

Tools and equipment that work fine deserve to be kept, even if you're not using them constantly. Hardware isn't always easy to find locally, and shipping adds up fast.

Seasonal gear for Alaska's extreme seasons is worth keeping. You'll need it again, and buying new every year is expensive.

But that broken appliance you've been meaning to fix for two years? That can probably go. Be honest about whether you'll actually fix it or if it's just taking up space.

The rule we see working: If replacing it in Alaska would be expensive, difficult, or time-consuming, lean toward keeping it. If you can easily replace it locally for a reasonable cost, letting it go is fine.

The "One Year" Rule

The standard decluttering advice says, "If you haven't used it in a year, toss it." That's garbage advice for Alaska, where seasonal living is a way of life.

Why the standard rule fails here:

Winter gear sits unused for 6-7 months, then becomes essential. You haven't touched your snowshoes since March, but come November, you'll need them again.

Summer recreation equipment is packed away most of the year. Your kayak, fishing gear, and camping supplies might sit unused for eight months straight.

Holiday decorations, by definition, only get used once a year. That doesn't mean they should go.

Better Alaska rule: If you haven't used it in TWO full seasonal cycles (two years), then question whether you need it. This accounts for our dramatic seasonal differences and the reality that some activities only happen once annually.

One customer told us she almost threw out her ice fishing gear using the "one year" rule, then remembered she actually ice fishes every winter and just hadn't done it the previous year due to a work schedule conflict. The two-year rule saved her from a costly mistake.

The Sentimental Item Trap

This is where people get stuck. Everything has a memory attached, and suddenly you can't part with anything because "grandma gave me this" or "this reminds me of that time when..."

Real talk about sentimental items:

Not everything sentimental needs to be kept forever. Memories live in your head and heart, not in objects.

Take photos of sentimental items before letting them go. You preserve the memory without preserving the physical space-taker.

Keep the best examples, not everything. You don't need every art project your kid made.

The "Someday I'll..." Category

This might be the biggest storage space waster we see. Items kept because "someday I'll get back into that hobby," or "someday I'll fit into those clothes," or "someday I'll fix/restore/use this."

The someday trap:

Craft supplies for hobbies you haven't touched in five years aren't coming back. If the passion hasn't returned by now, it's probably not returning.

Clothes that don't fit with plans to lose weight "someday," keep one size down maybe, but five sizes worth of old clothes? That's not motivation, that's storage space.

Broken items you'll "fix someday" rarely get fixed. Be brutally honest about whether you have the skills, time, and actual intention to repair things.

Equipment for activities you no longer do. You thought you'd be a runner, bought all the gear, ran twice, and it's been sitting for four years. Let it go.

What Alaskans Should Definitely Keep

Some categories of items are genuinely worth keeping in Wasilla, even if you're not using them constantly.

Keep these:

Emergency supplies and backup equipment. Alaska weather can be unpredictable, and having backup generators, heaters, or emergency gear is smart.

Quality tools that work. Tools are expensive, and good ones last forever. Store them properly, keep them organized, but don't chuck functional tools.

Seasonal equipment that costs a lot to replace. Snowmachines, four-wheelers, boats, and fishing gear.

Vehicle parts for older vehicles. Getting parts shipped to Alaska is expensive and slow. If you've got a specific vehicle and spare parts, keeping them makes sense.

Hunting and fishing equipment. Licenses are expensive, equipment is specialized, and Alaska outdoor activities are a lifestyle, not a hobby.

Cold weather gear that fits. Quality winter coats, boots, and gear cost serious money. Keep stuff that fits and works.

What Can Probably Go

Other categories are usually safe to let go without regret.

Chuck these:

Expired or obsolete technology. VHS tapes, broken electronics from 2005, cables for devices you no longer own.

Furniture you don't like but feel obligated to keep. If you wouldn't put it in your house today, why pay to store it?

Duplicate items. You don't need three slow cookers or five sets of sheets. Keep the best ones, donate the rest.

Clothes that are worn out, stained, or haven't fit in years. Be honest about what you'll actually wear again.

Books and magazines you can access digitally or haven't referenced in years. Unless they're rare or meaningful, most books can go.

Broken seasonal decorations. You're not going to fix that Christmas light strand. Buy new ones next year.

Our Wasilla Perspective

Working at Alaska EZ Storage on Bogard Road, we've seen every approach to the keep-or-chuck decision. Some people are too quick to toss things and regret it. Others keep everything and end up paying thousands in storage costs for items they never use again.

The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle. Keep things that genuinely serve your life while letting go of items you're holding onto out of obligation, guilt, or fantasy.

Alaska living does change the equation compared to living in the Lower 48. Replacement costs matter more here, seasonal differences are more dramatic, and some items genuinely are harder to replace. Factor that into your decisions.

But don't use "Alaska" as an excuse to keep everything. Plenty of stuff is still safe to let go of even here, and your living space will thank you.

Come talk to us if you're struggling with keep-or-chuck decisions during a transition. Sometimes just talking through what you're dealing with helps clarify what actually matters. And if you need temporary storage while figuring things out, we're here. Just don't let temporary turn into indefinite without making actual decisions.

Your space should only hold items that serve your life. Everything else is just stuff taking up room.