Have you heard of a memory box? Do you even know what a memory box is?
I call those boxes you have in your storage area memory boxes. Because they are holding items that are memories to you.
But I have found that a lot of people end up holding onto items that do not need to be placed in a memory box. So I am sharing some simple ideas for what to put in your memory box, along with ways you can create your own memory box. Because it can help to have examples!
Type Of Memory Boxes
I feel there are two types of memory boxes we naturally create.
One type is for all your personal items. Things like baby blankets, letterman jackets, and photos. I am calling these personal memory boxes. And inside them you keep things that mean something to you.
Another type of memory box is for events. These could be life events like a wedding or a holiday. Or they could be in honor of someone who has passed away.
Knowing the difference between the two types of boxes will help you decide what items should go in the type of memory box. This way you don’t end up collecting random items inside your memory.
For us, I have a memory box for each family member. I do have a memory box from my college years, along with my husbands’ college years. We also have a wedding memory box.
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How To Make A Memory Box
After you have decided the type of memory box to make, there are some steps to follow to create a memory box that is worth creating.
You can use any type of box, but I prefer one that has a secure top. I have used large boxes for personal memory boxes. And shoeboxes for travel and event types of memory boxes. Just find a container that you feel will hold all the items and you can store it easily. Getting an extra large container that cannot be stored wouldn’t help you at all. So make sure you can fit it in your home.
This video playlist below is perfect for you to create a memory box, decide what items you should (or shouldn’t add), and declutter other people’s sentimental items.
What To Put In a Memory Box
Deciding on what to store in a memory box can get tricky, because everything can seem so important. So how do you decide what items must go in the memory box?
I first suggest that you declutter your sentimental items. Those are typically the items you store in memory boxes. Any item that may hold sentimental value to you is considered a sentimental item. So declutter the items that you do not find special.
If you need help with decluttering those items, I recommend the Workbook for Decluttering Sentimental Items.
Questions you must ask yourself while decluttering are the key to parting with items you once thought were special. That is why this workbook is so supportive while you declutter.
After you declutter those sentimental items, you can start creating memory boxes.
I strongly encourage you to use this list as a resource, not as an all-inclusive list. For me, I have thrown away all my yearbooks from school because I find them to be clutter. But my husband doesn’t view his that way. So he has them stored in his memory box.
Decide what is actually important and special to you, and keep those items inside your memory box. The rest you can consider clutter!
Baby Memory Box
I am pretty sure you probably have a baby memory box for at least one of your kiddos’. These are usually the very first type of memory boxes we make. So I am sure some of these suggestions you may already have in your baby memory box.
- Outfit they came home from hospital in
- Bracelet from hospital
- First tooth
- First haircut clippings
- Baby shoes
- Baby blanket
- Favorite book they enjoyed reading
- Baby book or memory notebook
- Newspaper from day they were born
- Favorite baby toy
- Cards from when baby was born
Kids Memory Box
Now kids’ memory boxes have much more stuff in them. I have found that a big piece of the kids’ memory boxes needs to have the kids involved in the creation of the box. Mine started helping decide what they wanted to keep and get rid of when they were around 4 years old. Since I was making this memory box for them, I wanted them to have a say. As they get older, they can have even more say in what items they want to keep and what they don’t.
- Awards
- Certificates
- Trophies
- Artwork
- School projects
- Favorite toy
- Favorite book
- Blanket
- Stuffed animal
Adult Memory Box
I consider adult memory boxes to be things from high school and college. These are things that you feel are important to keep because you cherish those items. If you don’t find an item to be important, then you don’t have to save it. Like I shared earlier, I did not find yearbooks from school to be of any importance. So I recycled them. Only keep the items you find special, and toss the rest.
- Yearbooks
- Letterman jackets
- Awards
- Trophies
- Diaries
- Journals
- Cards from loved ones
- Photos
- Tickets from events
Wedding Memory Box
I have to say that originally I wasn’t going to create a wedding memory box. But with all the stuff from our wedding I wanted to keep, I quickly realized it was important to give this life event its own memory box. Some items we have stored in our wedding memory box are included along with other ideas if you find those items important to save.
- Wedding dress
- Cake topper
- Photo album
- Invitation
- Save-The-Date
- Cards
- Copy of wedding service
- Wedding favor
- Dried flowers in a box or other type of containment
- Honeymoon momentos
- Special items you received on that day
- Special items from that day
- Ring bearer pillow
- Flower girl basket
- Menus from day
Travel Memory Box
Whenever we travel somewhere, I like to create a daily journal. Each day I add notes from what we did, saw, and ate. I will also glue into the journal things like postcards or napkins. And I leave places for photos. But I have some friends who create travel memory boxes. They use shoeboxes for each place they travel, so all the items they collect must fit in a shoebox. I think that is a great idea for limiting what you can bring back from a trip!
- Travel journal
- Tickets from flights
- Tickets from places you visited
- Pamphlets from places you visited
- Photos
- Itinerary of trip
- Small keepsakes
- Collectables
Loved Ones Memory Box
Sometimes you want to hold onto items that were from a loved one. I do recommend that you create a photo album or scrapbook to leave out so you can frequently view these items from that loved one. It will make holding onto these things more meaningful because you can seem them on a daily or weekly basis. Here are some ideas of things you can keep in that loved ones’ memory box.
- Photos
- Special items
- Diary or journal
- Items they were proud of
- Jewelry
- Clothing
- Awards they received
Things To Leave Out Of Your Memory Box
Now there are always items you should leave out of a memory box because not everything is worthy of being saved. Below are some ideas of things you do not need to include in your memory box.
Items that give you a bad memory
Any item that gives you a bad memory or bad feeling should not be stored in a memory box. That was a big reason my yearbook needed to go. I didn’t love high school, so why would I hold onto something that reminded me of those times? The memory is still there, but I don’t need the physical reminder of that.
Things that can deteriorate over time
If an item can deteriorate, then you should preserve that. And sometimes that means that it doesn’t go in a memory box. My wedding flowers didn’t dry as nicely as we hoped so I had to throw them away. The newspapers from my kiddos birth day are in a newspaper protector sleeve that helps it not yellow over time. If I didn’t have it in a protector sleeve, it would turn yellow and break apart.
So try to protect things before putting in your memory box. Otherwise do not save it.
Multiples of an item
This one should seem obvious. If you have multiples of an item, only keep one. Why keep all of them?
Instead, keep the most precious one and get rid of the rest.
Items you cannot remember why you still have
If you are holding onto something you don’t remember why you still have it, that is a clear sign you can let it go. Do not hold onto something just because someone else told you it was special, either. I have seen a lot of people hold onto things because other family members told them that item was special. But it wasn’t to that person. So stop holding onto those things. You don’t need that kind of clutter in your life.
Now It’s Your Turn
I truly believe that holding onto special items is important. But I don’t believe every item is worthy of saving. And only you can decide which items fall into which category.
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