topic Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks! in Among Friends

Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

Starpolisher — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 23:44:56 GMT

Since I retired in June I've been decluttering my house. Today I found several cookbooks from Marybeth Roe, Joanna Lund and Suzanne Somers. I have rarely used them and really don't have much room for storage. Besides why store them and not use them. I'm having a hard time discarding them for fear I'll regret it later! In the past I've gotten rid of books only to re-buy them just to have. I never read them again. I finally cleaned out my cosmetic and bath gel stash and it was really hard for me to do but I really hate to get rid of books! Help...I need therapy! What would you do?

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

GCR18 — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 23:51:35 GMT

I'd move them along.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

Bellabutterfly — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 00:21:36 GMT

About 2 years ago, I went through all my books...Lots and Lots of books, reading material, cookbooks, garden books, craft books...OMG I can not even tell you how good it felt to get rid of them. I got rid of close to 75 maybe more...It was a pain lugging them to unhall...But freeing to one's soul.

My advise to you is to call one of your local library's...Many will take good books. Another place is an Assisted Living Residence...Many have their own library, for the residents.

I did both...

Just do it...You will never be sorry!

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

sidsmom — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 00:31:12 GMT

How about donating them to a library?

You could go 'visit' them whenever your want!

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

aprilskies — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 01:04:04 GMT

I am in the same boat regarding my cookbooks. I have gotten rid of so many but am having trouble with the rest. I really dont use them. Every time I need a recipe, I go online instead of paging through them all. Just seems like too much trouble. But, I havent been able to part with the rest so far.

I donated all of my books to the library. The only books I have left are on a 5 shelf bookcase and it includes my remaining cookbooks and regular books. I need to do another culling.

If it helps at all, the books I already donated, I dont even remember what they were except for a few, but the space that I gained was priceless. Now, I really dont buy many books, I check them out of the library and if I do buy one, it is only because I know it is the type of book I need for the long haul.

If you bought some books back and havent used them, you have to figure out why you thought you needed them back.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

GingerPeach — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 01:10:31 GMT

@Starpolisher wrote:
Since I retired in June I've been decluttering my house. Today I found several cookbooks from Marybeth Roe, Joanna Lund and Suzanne Somers. I have rarely used them and really don't have much room for storage. Besides why store them and not use them. I'm having a hard time discarding them for fear I'll regret it later! In the past I've gotten rid of books only to re-buy them just to have. I never read them again. I finally cleaned out my cosmetic and bath gel stash and it was really hard for me to do but I really hate to get rid of books! Help...I need therapy! What would you do?

Hi @Starpolisher

I donated over 40 bags of books (over a two year period) to my local library. I still have almost a whole wall of books left, not including the couple of shelves in my kitchen of cooking and food books. So you are in a good spot.

What I did, and what might help you, is to just create a table or spreadsheet and list all the books you donate. That way you can not only have a record for IRS purposes, but for your own memory. You could even sort by title and/or author or subject - or however you wanted to. Don't forget to add the date you donated them.

Just as an fyi,, since I had so many to donate, I sorted them by hardback, paperback, and "trade" softcover. Your local libraries will be delighted to receive them.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

qualitygal — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 11:25:21 GMT

@Starpolisher wrote:
Since I retired in June I've been decluttering my house. Today I found several cookbooks from Marybeth Roe, Joanna Lund and Suzanne Somers. I have rarely used them and really don't have much room for storage. Besides why store them and not use them. I'm having a hard time discarding them for fear I'll regret it later! In the past I've gotten rid of books only to re-buy them just to have. I never read them again. I finally cleaned out my cosmetic and bath gel stash and it was really hard for me to do but I really hate to get rid of books! Help...I need therapy! What would you do?

If your library has book sales, take them there. Maybe it will be my library! LOL

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

lovescats — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:54:01 GMT

I know it's hard to get rid of stuff but for cookbooks if you really need a recipe most likely you're going to be able to find it online.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

AnikaBrodie — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:29:05 GMT

Our public library has book sales spring and fall as a fundraiser. They have a lot of cookbooks in their collection and they go like "hot cakes." Donate the ones you don't want to your library. They'll appreciate it.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

ChynnaBlue — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:38:52 GMT

I would donate them. If you're not using them, you have no reason to regret not having them. If you have a single recipe you like, make a photocopy or scan it into the computer and give the book away.

There is limited space in our homes - save it for things you love and use.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

ValuSkr — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:48:00 GMT

You can probably get rid of the Marybeth Roe and Suzanne Somers cookbooks. But the other ones I don't know, maybe hang on to them a while longer.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

Starpolisher — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 18:26:05 GMT

Thanks for all your suggestions.

@ValuSkr wrote:
You can probably get rid of the Marybeth Roe and Suzanne Somers cookbooks. But the other ones I don't know, maybe hang on to them a while longer.

ValuSkr

Why do you think I should keep JoAnna Lund's longer?

For those who weren't around then, JoAnna Lund use to be on Q during the 90's. She wrote several cookbooks. She was from a small town, DeWitt, Iowa. She developed healthy recipes to change the way she and her family ate and help her to lose weight. She said at age 46 she weighed close to 300 pounds By age 50 she had lost 130 pounds and kept it off for more than six years. She was a very down to earth and sweet person. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2006 from Breast cancer. I liked and admired her and her story. I guess that's one of the reasons I was having a problem getting rid of her books.

ValuEd you are right! I just decided to keep JoAnna Lund's and donate the others!

Thanks everyone!

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

Starpolisher — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 18:52:52 GMT

@Starpolisher wrote:
Thanks for all your suggestions.
@ValuSkr wrote:
You can probably get rid of the Marybeth Roe and Suzanne Somers cookbooks. But the other ones I don't know, maybe hang on to them a while longer.
ValuSkr
Why do you think I should keep JoAnna Lund's longer?

For those who weren't around then, JoAnna Lund use to be on Q during the 90's. She wrote several cookbooks. She was from a small town, DeWitt, Iowa. She developed healthy recipes to change the way she and her family ate and help her to lose weight. She said at age 46 she weighed close to 300 pounds By age 50 she had lost 130 pounds and kept it off for more than six years. She was a very down to earth and sweet person. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2006 from Breast cancer. I liked and admired her and her story. I guess that's one of the reasons I was having a problem getting rid of her books.

ValuEd you are right! I just decided to keep JoAnna Lund's and donate the others!

Thanks everyone!

@Starpolisher wrote:
Thanks for all your suggestions.
@ValuSkr wrote:
You can probably get rid of the Marybeth Roe and Suzanne Somers cookbooks. But the other ones I don't know, maybe hang on to them a while longer.
ValuSkr
Why do you think I should keep JoAnna Lund's longer?

For those who weren't around then, JoAnna Lund use to be on Q during the 90's. She wrote several cookbooks. She was from a small town, DeWitt, Iowa. She developed healthy recipes to change the way she and her family ate and help her to lose weight. She said at age 46 she weighed close to 300 pounds By age 50 she had lost 130 pounds and kept it off for more than six years. She was a very down to earth and sweet person. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2006 from Breast cancer. I liked and admired her and her story. I guess that's one of the reasons I was having a problem getting rid of her books.

ValuSkr you are right! I just decided to keep JoAnna Lund's and donate the others!

Thanks everyone!

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

jackthebear — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 19:00:15 GMT

over the past 5 or so years I have got rid of books, either by selling some on Amz or donating.

By now you know which ones you need, let them go to good homes. I have to say I have not regretted getting rid of any of them.

Some one in our town has just started a "swap and barter" group on Facebook, perhaps there is something similar in your town, or donate to a local library book sale

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

AuntJudyQ — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 19:07:39 GMT

Starpolisher

I have been searching for a couple of years for Mary Beth's cookbooks all over. I would buy those from you. As for the others, the library is a great idea. I just did that myself. I have over 400 cookbooks. Talk about a problem! I donated a lot but will keep the ones i really like.

Judy

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

tkins — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 20:56:16 GMT

Hi starpolisher,

I had to do the same thing a few years ago when we moved and it was so hard trying to decide which ones to keep. I had a lot of them, so I separated them into 2 piles, definite keep and undecided. I looked through the recipes in each of the undecided books, marking the recipes I either had made before or that sounded good. If I had only marked a few recipes, I made copies and put it in a donate pile and if I marked a lot, I kept it. Yes, it was time consuming, but in the end, I didn't have that nagging feeling of I wish I had kept it. When I had a good but managable size pile, I shared with friends, then coworkers and then our neighborhood library and continued that way until there weren't any left. I do like homegirls idea of creating a list or chart, wish I would have done that. Good luck

tkins

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

pattypeep — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 16:23:08 GMT

I donated most of mine to our local library. I found myself using the Betty Crocker cookbook most of the time that was given to us as a wedding present back in 1964. I also have a notebook where I've saved favorites from friends and family over the years. With the internet these days, you can find a recipe for whatever your heart desires on-line.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

JCF — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 16:37:51 GMT

starpolisher, Maybe now that you've retired you may use then more. Take a few minutes one day and go through them one more time to see if you really want to get rid of them.

You will probably still have some to get rid of, and that will be your decluttering solution.

I have given discarded cookbooks to Goodwill.

Re: Need help decluttering...Cookbooks!

NoelSeven — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 19:54:40 GMT

We have a lot of books. I go through sections of them at a time and either sell them to a used bookstore we frequent or donate them to the public library.

The library has a once a year sale on donated books to help fund their projects, so it's a good cause.