Sentimental Cards: What to Keep and What to Let Go

We all have them: birthday cards, thank-you notes, holiday greetings, and random heartfelt messages from friends and family. Over time, these sentimental cards pile up, and while they hold precious memories, they can also become a source of clutter. Deciding whether to keep or toss them can be challenging, especially when you’re attached to the emotions they bring. Here's a guide to help you navigate this sentimental dilemma.

1. Start with the Purpose in Mind

Before diving into your pile of cards, ask yourself why you’re keeping them in the first place. Are they mementos from a special time in your life? Do they contain meaningful messages that uplift you? Or are they simply old cards you never got around to sorting?

Having a clear understanding of your purpose will help you sort through them more mindfully.

2. Set Boundaries

Decide on how many cards or how much space you want to dedicate to sentimental items like cards. You might set a physical boundary, like a small box or a folder, or a limit, such as 20 cards. By establishing these limits, it’s easier to let go of the ones that don’t fit within your guidelines. 

3. Sort into Categories

Organize the cards into categories such as:

• Occasion: Birthday, holiday, wedding, etc.

• Sender: Family, friends, colleagues.

• Emotional impact: Does it bring joy, nostalgia, or neither?

This process helps you recognize patterns and identify which cards mean the most to you.

4. Evaluate Emotional Value

While going through the cards, pause to reflect on each one. Does the message bring back positive memories or feelings? If a card no longer evokes strong emotions, or if you can't even remember the context, it may be time to part with it.

Some criteria to consider:

• Unique or generic?: Was the card’s message personal or just a quick signature? This simple strategy can eliminate a large volume based on the length of the note inside each card. 

• Special moment?: Was this card from a pivotal event in your life? Graduation, wedding, birth of a child, etc. 

• Who sent it?: Does the card come from someone especially important to you, or is it from a distant acquaintance? Tip: keep cards from special family and get rid of friends you’re no longer in touch with.

5. Consider Alternatives to Keeping Physical Cards

If you love the idea of keeping the memory but don’t want the clutter, there are creative alternatives:

• Digitize the cards: Scan or photograph the ones that hold meaning. You can store them in a digital folder, photo book, or even a private online album. This way, the memories stay with you without taking up space.

• Create a scrapbook: Combine cards with photos and other memorabilia. It can be a great way to preserve memories while reducing the overall volume of paper.

• Use a “Memory Jar”: Write down key phrases or thoughts from sentimental cards and place them in a memory jar. You can revisit these memories by reading the notes later without storing the actual cards.

6. Let Go of Guilt

One of the hardest parts of tossing sentimental cards is guilt. We feel bad about discarding something that was given to us with care. However, it’s important to remember that you’re not throwing away the relationship or the memory, just an object.

Consider this: If a card doesn’t bring you joy or serve a purpose, it’s okay to let it go. You’re making space for new experiences and memories in your life.

7. Recycle and Donate

For those eco-conscious, many greeting cards are recyclable. If they don’t have glitter, foil, or plastic embellishments, you can feel good about letting them go into the recycling bin. Some cards, especially blank or unused ones, might be donated to art or education programs.Or some young kids in your neighborhood would love to have extra stationery for their latest masterpieces. 

8. Focus on the Most Meaningful

By curating your collection and keeping only the most meaningful cards, you can create a treasured archive. The cards you keep should represent the most significant memories, relationships, and milestones in your life. That way, when you look back, you’ll be surrounded by the ones that really matter.

Deciding whether to keep or toss sentimental cards doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. By being intentional, setting boundaries, and choosing mindful alternatives, you can manage your collection in a way that honors the memories while minimizing clutter. It’s not about holding on to every card, but rather cherishing the ones that truly mean something to you.

Jessica is the founder of Signature Organizing, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Washington (servicing the greater Eastside and Seattle area). She loves transforming chaos into functional spaces and is known for bringing creative solutions to improve the quality of life for her clients. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @signatureorganizing