Choosing and Using a Keepsake Box (or Memory Box)

In last week's video, I talked about the problems a Keep Box causes when used as a decluttering supply. This week, we're talking about a Keepsake Box, which is a totally different thing.
I'm sharing:
What a Keepsake Box is and isn't
How to choose a Keepsake Box
Some totally valid alternatives to using a Keepsake Box
Get my new book, Organizing for the Rest of Us, wherever books are sold. Find some options here: www.aslobcomes...

[@mummy005]

My husband bought me a China cabinet because we had a large empty space in our family room. I don't have china, but I do have special things my children made for me. So I display them there. When it's full I let my kids help with the one in-one out. Not a box,but it is what works for me. Have a blessed day!

[@CULady]

What a great way to honor those memories ❤

[@RadCenter]

I've been sorting through five decades' worth of accumulated detritus in my attic, and I knew I would get hung up on the sentimental stuff if I stopped to sort it right away. So I made temporary boxes, one for each decade of my life, and I've been throwing items into them as I come across them. Once I've finished sorting the attic, I will go through these boxes and winnow out the less important things until I'm down to the highlights of my life, which I will transfer to permanent archival boxes. I already know where they will go in my apartment when they are done, so that gives me an idea of how much I can keep.

[@jessicaderstine4061]

That is a fabulous plan. Sounds like you thought it out well!

[@srd7175]

I love this idea thank you!

[@julieannemacdonald1698]

I just had to tell you, the other day I had an old hair tie I needed to cut and throw out (I always cut things first so an animal can't get caught in it in a landfill). I put it down and thought, I'll do that later, and then your little voice in my head said, "No, take it there right now!" So I did. Lol. Thank you for that.

[@terryruiz7417]

Many many years ago (I'm in my 70's), I read an article about cleaning your home. The advice...as you pick up your home, never touch an item more than once. In other words, as you advise, put each item in its proper place immediately. Helpful advise then, just as it is from you now. Thank you for helping so many bring order to their home.

[@kristenyoung7853]

"Take it there now" is a concept that has completely changed my way of decluttering! I cleaned out my bathroom drawers yesterday using that system- and had a full walmart sack of trash- how?! Thanks for the help! Your videos are so "real life" and actually helpful!

[@laurat7324]

It has helped me also. I looked at something while ago and wasn't going to touch it and then said, "TAKE IT THERE NOW!" lol

[@Patricia.R.]

Me too! The first time I tried TITN ... I failed. I got rid of trash, donates, and the DUHS came out of the closet and landed in little piles according to similar location... bad mistake. I turned and my bed was piled! NOW? I GET IT... I don’t declutter without TITN!! KEEPSAKE boxes are being paired down to one box for me. I have one per kid... but I am giving it to them, unless the don’t want it and I am donating it or trashing with permission. If I think they might regret it later... it goes in the big one. 😉 not perfect, but better.

[@cynthiacouey1920]

I can't tell you how much you have changed my habits. I watched your Live Zoom yesterday and so enjoyed it. I listen to all 3 books on Audible over and over, I am in TYHB course and watch your KZbin videos . I am a 63 year old retired K teacher and I have decluttered 30 years worth of "stuff". My house is so much better. When I am decluttering I hear you say take it there now. The black trash bag and donation box are the best tools I have. Just wanted to share my story. Love You Cynthia "Elaine" Couey Jackson, GA

[@nicole1184]

I hear her say “Do the dishes”. And it works!!

[@cate5029]

Thanks Dana! The credits at the end always crack me up. Keepsake boxes are awesome. I have learned not to have keep boxes anymore - they are dead ends.

[@charlottedaniels925]

Permission to skip things was such a freeing feeling, I would panic and get stuck and overwhelmed before learning that I don't have to deal with things that I can't yet

[@jeshanahram264]

The credit comments are always gold on your videos. Love it!!

[@vickimiller5496]

I love hearing about your Jefferson box. I live near Jefferson Texas so I could completely imagine you and your mom going there and you finding that special keepsake box. I love the idea that the box itself is a keepsake along with everything you put in it.

[@shalom6380]

Reid, some of us watch your amazingly edited videos on our phones. We also watch to the very end so we can read all of your witty words. Please slow the scroll so I don’t have to pause.

[@sarawithoutanh8302]

This just gave me the BEST idea!! My husband has some antique luggage that he loves and will not part with. I realized the compromise is to make each piece of luggage a keepsake box for each family member. He’ll be so happy!

[@luannfischer747]

And revisiting your keepsake box once a year, on a special day for you, helps with 'letting things go'. I’ve done this and each years 'additions' are on the top of what I wanted to keep a year ago. I’ve always been able to remove several of the current pieces and enjoy my walk down memory lane, sometimes I even part with what WAS a keeper 2-3 years ago but now I have the bandwidth to move it out.

[@Saforra99]

That's a great idea! I like the idea of making the cherishing into a regular ritual :)

[@barbkandel777]

I love this, Dana! My memory box is such a joy and I do rotate things out of it as I put new treasures in. I admire you for winning your Science Fairs. I was not good at Science. Reid, you're still cracking me up! 🤣

[@anandabricker3396]

My husband has two keepsake boxes. Both treasure chest looking things. One for his childhood. One for after we met. (Also our childhood but 18+ pretty much) Side note I have two as well. One for me and a family one. It’s nuts to have 4 but we’ve never gone over the containers and all 4 fit in the same spot. Yay. Finally I’ve done the cleaning thing (if only a part) right for me!

[@Melody-en6xn]

Dana is THE decluttering queen!

[@trishahutchinson3485]

You have helped me make such a difference in my home. The techniques that you teach are invaluable! Bless you for your authenticity! You are a gem!

[@rachellelarge3410]

Yes! I'm tackling the basement with the goal of purging at least 50% and have put a few things in my keepsake box knowing that once it's full I have to decide what is the MOST important.

[@lisamedeiros7581]

Love the idea keep sake box. I love how your box is so unusally looking and thank you for sharing some of your keep sake

[@kaywilliams1065]

You don't have any idea how much I need to keep listening to you. Without you, I have been paralyzed. I thank God that I ran into your videos. But Coffee First led me to Dawn the Minimal Mom, led me to Cas from Clutterbug to you. ALL have helped, but you changed my processes. Thank you and God Bless You!

[@cathy8086]

I love the idea of displaying the little cowboy boots. How cute!!

[@maribethblackledge9391]

I received my book! I love it! I am cleaning out lots of clutter today! My house is getting better slowly!

[@theresareiser8882]

My son was next to me while I was watching this video and saw you hold up your book. He got so excited and said “Mom! She gots your book!” I told him that, in fact, I have her book. It was pretty cute. And I am loving how easy it is to pick up and read a strategy so quickly. I have 5 kids so any quick reading I can get I will take! 😁

[@shallimolinda]

This is perfectly timely for the All Day Declutter. I LOve, LOVE the Jefferson Box idea. The clarification of container i find enduring over the size...lol... I was definitely looking for a memory box that would fit the projected amount of items I thought that I would be keeping this weekend. Thanks again for the ideas and for the laughter!

[@jurylee1]

I am loving your new book!!! You bring a smile to my face during a very hard time. I appreciate everything thing you do for us!!!!

[@louisemcelhill5748]

I added something to my keepsake box today. Its about the same size as yours. While tidying it up, I came across the one diary I have kept. Its from 1978. I so enjoyed reading through it. Wonderful memories. ❤

[@CULady]

I so appreciate your honesty and humor ❤ thanks to you i am ready in 2022 to finish purging the rest of my sentimental items.

[@melindareuter1098]

I love the ending “credits”!!😂

[@janethunt4037]

Thank you for the freedom to skip things. I've decluttered my kitchen but needed to skip 2 entire cabinets because they are just too hard right now. You just removed the guilt I had in thinking that I wasn't decluttering "right."

[@VolcanoGroupie]

Omg, the plaid box in your thumbnail is identical to the metal picnic box my family had back in the late 1960s 😀

[@whit7862]

I have a whole tote (not full) for sentimental baby/kids clothes, but having it so large has allowed me to get all the rest of the clothes out of the door as my youngest grows out of them. There were a LOT, 6 or 7 huge totes? all sizes from nb to 18 months and now those are all gone. She's two now. At some point I will pare it down probably but making the job easier was worth it for now.

[@miarenee6703]

This Christmas I started using our son’s first pair of baby shoes as a decoration for our Christmas tree, along with all of the special ornaments he’s made over the years. I, of course, keep them with the Christmas decorations now. Dana, I love Organizing For The Rest Of Us! Also happy the audio version is in your voice. I have your other books in my audiobook library also, I can’t remember whether or not they’re in your voice; I bought them way back before I found your KZbin channel. Thanks for putting that valuable information out there “for the rest of us.” Best wishes! 💜

[@KeeperofHome]

Yeah, I agree. I do not use a keep box anymore. Better to make a choice to keep and put away or decide to let it go and get it out of the house! Love your videos! I definitely had the goal of "better" when recently decluttering and organizing my linen closet, and am content with the result.

[@elvisiac]

I have to say, the editor’s comments at the end are the best way to keep me watching until the very end. Always clever and entertaining. Great job, y’all (and belated congratulations on your multiple science fair wins 🤣)

[@chelseashea2477]

Heheheeheheh love Reid's comments, as always!!!!🤣 I love that keepsake box Dana, it's lovely, and so special. Thanks for this great video, much needed.

[@kathycook8310]

Just received a copy of your latest book. It is a beautiful book with lots of colored photos, can’t wait to start decluttering and organizing, thank you

[@Ann.CreatedToCreate]

Thank you Dana & Reid. Awesome. 😂 Love the new book… I got the kindle version and it’s so pretty! I thought it might be “plainer” because of being digital but it’s great! The colors are so fun. My favorite new tip so far: dishes don’t need to soak. I tried it and it is true! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@micheledryden1057]

This week through my library's app I've listened to two of your books and enjoyed them immensely! I've put in a request for them to purchase your new book. Also, I showed my daughter some of your videos and she's taken off in decluttering her home. I'm not sure how much she's donated or thrown away due to stains/tears but it's several hundred!!! Thank you for helping us transform our homes!! I'm sure our husbands thank you, too!!! Smiles.

[@julietannOsfan1972]

Great tips. A couple of things I have in my memory box is a pink rattle from when I was a baby & a Blue Peter badge. Blue Peter badges are really special in the UK.

[@juliatepe5760]

Ok, my goal this week is to downsize my adult child's keepsake box from 3 containers to 1, lol. Thanks for the motivation Dana. I'm not at all surprised you won first place at a science fair! Hoping to buy your book today.

[@dougandgerimonroe4848]

I've always referred to the "keep" box as the "put away" box. I do like your idea of going and putting it away at the time of declutter. But if I'm cleaning or organizing in a room, I do wait until I have several things that need to go somewhere, as we have a basement and upstairs from the main floor and though the exercise is good, it takes a lot of time! 😂

[@sarahsmom1002]

This was super helpful, Dana. Thanks!

[@hayleyredd5092]

Omg thank you so much I have definitely been working on this for me and my kids!!!!

[@marymikemays896]

Perfect timing on this super helpful, quick video! TY!

[@MelindaPlainandSimple]

My copy of your book arrived yesterday!!! Weeee!!!!

[@cellinamc]

Great tips!!

[@oatssettle846]

Dana, I L❤VE your new book. Full of colored pictures and it is the perfect size to hold. Full of great advice. Also the paper is sooo smooth. I love it❣ Oh, just a thought, maybe it might be better to call the keepsake box a Memory Bin, and then there's no confusion with the keep box.

[@astrongmama]

The credits on this one are a hoot!

[@LynzieLou2]

🤣🤣🤣 Love the closing comments by Reid! (my son would have done the same!) 🤣🤣🤣

[@randommam58]

This was helpful . Thanks Dana!

[@cindygillespie206]

I really enjoy the credits, nice little chuckle to end on :)

[@catherinedouglas8049]

Love your new book, Dana!!

[@julialarson8163]

Love the ending credits!!

[@juliejackman2649]

I have a cedar chest my parents gave me as a teen that I have keepsakes in. It has my wedding bouquet and both my kids' blessing clothes from when they were babies in it. And lots of other stuff in it.

[@MoveYourMind2]

I was in Oklahoma too! I played Ado Annie. Loving your new book by the way. Listening to the audio version.

[@luthergirl106]

I had my very 1st pair of cowboy boots that my parents saved… then our girls got to use them as babies. 😊 such sweet memories 💕

[@sparklewithsprinkles7470]

Each of my kids has a keepsake box for Boy Scouts. It holds all of their old unit and camp shirts they have outgrown. My plan is to turn them into a tshirt quilt before their Eagle ceremonies. Thankfully my "fantasy self" has a local scout mom that makes them on a regular basis so I have help making this happen.

[@bethheerten1132]

What a great idea! We were a Scout family as well and my husband stepped in to help with a grandsons troop when our son's woek schedule prevented him from being able to participate in camping trips. That grandson will graduate college this year. My husband ran across all his adult shirts and was going to donate them to a friend who is'atill active in scouting. I took off all

[@bethheerten1132]

Sorry, an errant finger hit send. Anyway, I removed all the special badges and hike/campout badges and put them in a shadowbox for each of our boys, including the council & troop numbers from the 3 different troops we were in due to moves. Our (now grown) sons were delighted.

[@srd7175]

@@bethheerten1132 i’m in a similar situation thank you for the idea with the shadow boxes I put all the scouting stuff in a plastic storage box and have to figure out what to do with it. I do know how expensive the shirts are so I donated some of them, I was also a Cub Scout leader and wasn’t sure what to do with my stuff either. I guess it’s possible I can make my own shadowbox!

[@bethheerten1132]

@@srd7175 Yes, make a shadowbox for yourself! We donated all the shirts (after I removed the patches that were special.) I know it will help some families who can't afford them. I was a den leader and then scouting coordinator and my husband was an assistant scout leader. We had adult shirts to donate as well as all the various sizes from our boys. Our boys were 5 years apart, so that was a lot of scout years. So many good memories; not to mention wonderful recipes from 15 years of monthly potluck dinners.

[@christinedisneyqueen]

Loving this! 💜

[@ninak8506]

The credits 😂 I have zero doubt you won science fairs! Thanks Dana.

[@carakroeker4493]

I shake my head at myself as I realize what a GREAT IDEA to write on the back of the ribbon what it was for! Although it’s way easier to toss them since I’ve no idea what they were for!

[@laurat7324]

I'm impressed that you won multiple science fairs. I always hated science projects. Definitely not my thing when I was in school.

[@lizziemcdougall2767]

Great tips! Many thanks!

[@Samus419]

I should get a keepsake box like that. Nice and small.

[@sandraklukas3279]

I'm wondering if people are equating 'established home' to 'permanent home'. There's some things I've got an 'established home' for, but I'm not sure that will stay the established home as I do more decluttering.

[@Candiegirl13]

Miss your daily videos.

[@Charlie-558]

Hi! I would love to order your book, but I don't think it's available in Germany yet... It is available in Audio, but not as a printable version. Do you know, when it will be available here? Thank you for all your wonderful work ❤ Charlotte

[@maria_w311]

Hi Dana 👋

[@sylviapearson301]

I got your book but failed to get the printable. Actually I order two books by accident. I thought I would gift one to my sister or our small town library. 🤩

[@DanaKWhite]

The preorder form is actually still up! Just use your order number: www.aslobcomesclean.com/preorder

[@kcee9111]

Ooooo memory boxes I have at least 10 totes between me and my 3 kids 😫

[@sylviabol640]

🍀💚

[@creativelycountry3343]

Dana- at risk of sounding like a strange stalker, which i assure you I’m not… do you know why your oldest podcasts aren’t on Apple podcasts? Earliest March 2014, which is # 20 something Just curious I like to listen to the old ones too 😀

[@travelwell6049]

My interpretation of a keepsake box was a box that contained useless sentimental stuff that only means something to you or your immediate family. Keep for the sake of keeping. Keeping for keepsake?-keepsake box.

[@JOSWEBCROCHET]

💜👍👍

[@AliWade1971]

What age do you think we should start? My nearly 8 year old granddaughter has moved home a lot and never had the chance to keep anything special in one place. Thinking that choosing a box with her would be a great thing to do?

[@olivemaycards]

It's never too soon to create a space where kids get to keep their most special things, especially for a kid who moves around a lot. The box may change over the years - I know mine has - but having a container that is totally their private space is really important IMO.

[@heatherrenee729]

Oh, Reid (lol) :)

[@joycemitchell2092]

So the keepsake box is same as a memory box. 💡

[@deebeingme]

What about photos?

[@coyote8996]

Still confused about a keepsake container. Sounds like a bunch of junk that has no meaningful purpose in your life. I now have 2 funeral flags for my dad and my husband that are just hiding in the closet. If I display then I have to maintain (dust):

[@jodeeclarklompa852]

Sorry, but you just about lost me for good on your last video. I got so tired of hearing you put down "Keep boxes" without explaining the difference between "Keep boxes" and "Keepsake boxes" until the end of the video. In the years that I've been listening to organizers and minimalists I had not previously heard the term "Keep boxes". Now, I know you have your devotees who will follow you no matter what and scorn me for having a negative view of that video, but your viewers really do deserve better clarification.

[@beatrizaceiton3691]

She needs to work on her communication skills