5 Things I’m Not Getting Rid Of After 30

My 20s are dwindling before my eyes, and I’ll be celebrating my 30th birthday in no time. I’m planning on ringing in a new decade with a family dinner, a solo trip to the beach, and a huge decluttering session: clothes I haven’t touched in years, items I’ve been keeping around for the pure sake of nostalgia, and all the household gadgets that just take up space.

However, there are several items I can’t bear to part with, whether it’s because they’re investments I want to keep forever, gifts I’ve received from family that are invaluable, or miscellaneous items that remind me of childhood. Yes, there are some items that need to be decluttered as you enter your 30s, but here are the five things I’m not getting rid of after 30.

I have some CDs that I consider classics — Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway, all the Cheetah Girls soundtracks, anything by Hilary Duff or Jesse McCartney that came out during my middle and elementary school years — just to name a few. 

Simply seeing the pictures on these brings me back to popping them into my CD player and blasting the music in my room with my sister. I’ll probably pare down my collection at some point, but I just know CD players will make a comeback.

I’ve loved books since before I could read, so I can’t fathom getting rid of them. I’ve accumulated quite a collection over the years — both physical copies and on my Kindle — and it’s always so fun going through older books. Doing so lets me see how my reading habits and preferences have changed or stayed steady over the years.

Additionally, I have my books organized on a bookshelf, which serves as functional decor. Plus, there’s nothing better than a good reread of a favorite story!

Family is one of the most important things to me, and there’s nothing quite like receiving cards for holidays and birthdays. I love the personal messages written inside, and having something that’s handwritten is so meaningful to me. 

Naturally, that means I have stacks of cards dating back to early elementary school in boxes around my house that I’ll look at from time to time, and I’m glad I’ve kept them all these years. When they really start to feel like clutter, I can reassess my collection.

I used to love asking for DVDs of my favorite movies for Christmas. It was so magical and exciting to open up my favorite movie or season of a TV show and know I could watch it whenever I wanted. 

This has obviously changed thanks to streaming services, and while I can watch every episode of Gilmore Girls whenever I want now, not everyone can say they have all the seasons on DVD — and will forever. There’s no way I’m ever parting with them; they might even be worth something someday!

When I was growing up, magazines were one of my favorite things to buy at the bookstore or grocery store. Whether it was Seventeen Magazine, Tiger Beat, or J-14, I loved reading them front to back and taking the posters out of them to hang on my walls. I was fascinated that people were interviewing my favorite Disney Channel stars, and there was something so captivating about the glossy pages.

I still have almost every magazine I’ve ever purchased, and I can’t see myself getting rid of them anytime soon. One day, they might become collectibles — or collage materials.