11 Useless Things Ohioan Baby Boomers Need to Stop Hoarding
Here’s something that might hit close to home—stuff. Not just any stuff, though.
We’re talking about the stuff our baby boomer parents, aunts, uncles, or maybe even you keep tucked away in the basement, attic, or that mystery drawer in the kitchen.
Look, no judgment. Boomers grew up in a time when saving things “just in case” made sense. But at some point, all those VHS tapes, cracked Tupperware lids, and drawers full of mystery cords start feeling more like clutter than treasure.
So, here’s a friendly nudge to let some of it go—and make space for things you actually use.
Stacks of Old Magazines
If you’ve got old Life magazines from the ‘70s or stacks of Reader’s Digest shoved in a closet, you’re not alone.
We get it—they were fun to read, and some of those covers are truly nostalgic. But if they’ve been sitting untouched since Clinton was president, it might be time to let them go.
Unless you’ve got a super rare issue—like the one with JFK on the cover—your magazines are probably not worth anything. Most younger folks don’t want to read about how to make a “quick beef loaf” in 13 different ways.
And if you’re keeping them to “flip through someday,” let’s be honest—someday hasn’t come in 30 years.
Grab a recycling bin, keep one or two for memory’s sake, and set the rest free. Your shelves (and your grandkids) will thank you.
Old Electronics and Random Cords
You know that drawer full of tangled cords and that ancient flip phone you’ve been holding onto since 2003?
Yeah, it’s time.
Boomers were around when electronics were expensive and built to last, so it made sense to hang onto every charger, battery, and random wire. B
ut now? That Nokia brick phone isn’t making a comeback.
If you’ve got a VCR in the garage “just in case,” or a drawer of remotes with no idea what they go to, it’s safe to say they’ve outlived their purpose.
And don’t even get us started on the printer that’s been broken since Bush was in office. E-waste recycling centers will happily take this stuff off your hands.
Just keep what you actually use, like that charger you still use for your Kindle or the remote to the ceiling fan.
Fine China and Crystal Glasses
You may love the china cabinet with the good plates and glasses that only come out on Thanksgiving. But here’s the deal—most people under 40 don’t want to polish silver or hand-wash a wine glass you can’t put in the dishwasher.
It’s not that they don’t care. It’s just that life’s different now.
That beautiful crystal bowl you got as a wedding gift in 1971? Your daughter might feel bad turning it down, but she’s probably thinking, “Where am I gonna put this in my tiny apartment?”
If you still enjoy using these pieces, awesome—set the table and go for it.
But if they’ve just been sitting in a cabinet for 20 years, consider gifting them to someone who’ll actually use them or donating them. Don’t let them collect dust just because you feel guilty.
Outdated Cookbooks
Everyone had that big Betty Crocker cookbook back in the day, the one with pages stuck together from spilled cake batter.
Maybe you’ve even got a whole shelf full of cookbooks from Taste of Home or church fundraisers. While there’s some charm to flipping through them, most of us just Google recipes now.
Sure, your meatloaf recipe might be a family favorite, but chances are you’ve memorized it by now.
And do you really need 19 books to remind you how to make Jell-O salad?
Keep the cookbooks that truly matter—especially the ones with handwritten notes or stained pages from years of use. But let the others go.
Greeting Cards From Decades Ago
Okay, this one’s tricky. A sweet card from your mom who’s no longer around? Absolutely worth keeping.
A random Christmas card from your dentist’s office in 1993? Probably not.
Boomers tend to save everything sentimental, which is sweet. But at some point, those shoeboxes full of “Love, Aunt Carol” start to add up.
You don’t need to keep every birthday card you’ve ever gotten since third grade. Pick a few that really make you smile and toss the rest. Or take photos of them and make a digital album.
You can keep the memories without keeping the clutter.
Plastic Bags and Takeout Containers
If you open a drawer and get hit with an avalanche of Walmart bags or Cool Whip containers, you might be in boomer territory.
And again—we see the logic. Why throw out a perfectly good container?
But when your cabinet is so full of sour cream tubs that you can’t find a real bowl, it might be time to cut back; you don’t need to save every single bag and lid that ever crossed your doorstep.
Keep a handful for leftovers or small trash cans, but recycle the extras.
And maybe treat yourself to a matching set of containers. Life’s too short to play “Which lid fits this one?” every night after dinner.
Old Furniture Nobody Wants
That giant oak entertainment center from the ‘90s? The one that once held a 32-inch TV like it was the crown jewel of the living room?
It’s not coming back in style.
Same goes for that floral couch with the wooden armrests.
We know you spent good money on these pieces, and they were built to last. But the truth is, younger folks are going for lighter, smaller, and more modern pieces these days. Many don’t have the space for big, heavy furniture anymore.
If it’s in good condition, someone out there could still use it. Post it online, donate it to Habitat for Humanity, or ask around.
But don’t keep it in the basement “just in case.” That “case” hasn’t happened in 15 years.
Tupperware Lids with No Matching Bottoms
Everyone has a Tupperware drawer that’s chaos. But boomers?
Some of y’all could open your own store with all the mismatched pieces in there.
If you’ve got lids from the 1980s and bowls that haven’t had a match since the Carter era, it’s time. You deserve better than digging through a drawer for 10 minutes to find something to hold your leftover spaghetti.
Dump the containers and lids that don’t match and invest in a set that actually stacks.
It’s one of those small things that makes life easier every day.
Instruction Manuals for Stuff You Don’t Own Anymore
There’s always that one folder, usually in a file cabinet, that’s full of instruction manuals—for a dishwasher that got replaced ten years ago, or a camera no one remembers owning.
Sure, it made sense to keep these when you first bought the item. But now?
Most manuals are online, and you can pull them up in seconds on your phone.
If you still have the item and use it, go ahead and keep the manual. Otherwise, recycle that paper pile and enjoy the extra drawer space.
Holiday Decorations from Every Era
Decorating for the holidays is fun, no doubt. But if you’ve got six tubs of Easter bunnies, four Christmas trees, and enough Halloween stuff to open a haunted house, it’s time for decoration downsizing.
Some decorations are sentimental, like that handmade ornament your kid made in kindergarten. Keep those!
But if you’ve got broken lights, dusty garlands, or inflatable turkeys that don’t even stand up anymore, it might be time to say goodbye.
Pick your favorites and donate or toss the rest. You’ll still have plenty of holiday cheer without needing a storage unit to find it.
Old Perfumes, Lotions, and Makeup
If there’s a bottle of Jean Naté or Avon perfume from 1985 hiding in your bathroom cabinet, you’re not alone.
And while scents can bring back memories, old beauty products go bad.
Expired lotions can smell weird, and old makeup can irritate your skin. If you haven’t used it in the last year—or it looks more like a science experiment than something you’d put on your face—let it go.
Treat yourself to a fresh bottle of something you actually like wearing today.
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