Today in the decluttering sentimental items series we're decluttering home videos... especially those saved on non-digital formats like video cassettes, super 8 tapes, and film reels. These lose quality over time and as technology changes we stop having a means to view them. So why are we storing all of these videos?
Why Home Movies are Hard to Let Go Of
I don't know if I even need to say anything about this... home videos are a record of things that happened in our family! First steps, first home run, solo in the school concert, Christmas morning. All memories. That makes them hard to let go of.
Tips for Letting Go of Home Movies
You may not be able to let go of many home movies, but here are a few tips that may help:
- Declutter any that are no longer good enough quality to watch.
- Let go of movies that bring back sad or negative memories.
- Eliminate home movies that don't hold any meaning to you any more.
- Purge duplicates or ones that you have a lot of similar versions of.
Digitizing Home Movies
Once you've paired down your collection to just those favourite videos that bring back great memories and are still in great condition, look for ways to digitize your videos. There are places that are local and you can drop your video tapes off. Or there are places you can send your tapes to (Legacybox.com is one option I've heard of but I haven't tried them).
If you have a lot of videos to convert, you can buy a VHS to DVD converter and do it yourself. It might end up being more economical (and you could sell the machine after you're finished).
There are lots of options out there but here are two of the most popular styles of converters:
1. A Combination VHS and DVD recorder {affiliate link}
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2. A VHS to DVD device to connect to your computer {affiliate link}
I haven't tried these these specific models, but I've tried each style before. Both produce a digital copy of your video so you can declutter the original. Aside from saving yourself physical space, you also don't have to worry about the quality of your videos deteriorating.
The concept is good if you want to convert a lot of home videos. You could possibly rent a device too, which would make the process less costly. Or buy it and then rent it to friends and family so they can convert their videos. One 365 Items in 365 Days FB group member said she might buy it and then charge others to convert their home movies for them to help re-coup the costs.
If you go the convert-your-videos-yourself route, it takes time to convert each one. If you have them converted for you, it costs more the more you convert. So either way, declutter your collection first!
Don't Start Your Decluttering Journey With Sentimental Items
Just a quick reminder that if you have "regular" (non-sentimental) clutter in your home, it's better to deal with that first and set aside your sentimental clutter until your home is less cluttered. Decluttering your everyday items will likely make more of an impact on your daily life than sentimental decluttering will. And sentimental items are generally more difficult to tackle so it's better to build up to them.
Whether you're decluttering sentimental items or general clutter, join our 365 Items in 365 Days Facebook group! You'll find lots of encouragement, motivation, and tips as we all declutter our homes and lives together. You can find more details about the 365 Items in 365 Days challenge here too.
For More Decluttering Sentimental Items Tips
Want more tips? Check these the 31 Days of Easy Decluttering series!
Or the Decluttering From A to Z series from last October!
If you'd like more decluttering ideas, you can check out my Decluttering/Purging Tips & Ideas board on Pinterest.
Your turn!
Do you have home movies you've been holding on to? Are they treasures or clutter? What makes it hard for you to let go of them?
As you declutter your home videos, take pictures and share them on social media using the hashtag #declutteringsentimentalitems so you can inspire all of us to declutter our sentimental items!
If you decluttered your home videos how did you decide what to keep and what to declutter? What did you use to convert them? What tips can you share for those who are having trouble letting go of their home videos?
Happy
Here are all the posts in this challenge in case you missed any or want to share some with your friends or family!
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