me_irl

Stay out of my second room closet. There are no "good boxes" tossed haphazardly in there. None at all.

I got a paper shredder for like $10 from the thrift store and it fucking eats cardboard boxes like nothing. I now look forward to getting boxes so I can shred them to fuel my compost pile.

Last time my wife and I moved, we spent a ridiculous amount of money on large boxes and totes and stuff for packing. After that, I definitely feel a bit of pain breaking down a large sturdy box for the recycling bin, but it's just not worth the storage space.

We do still keep boxes for high-dollar items that have special packaging like TVs and other electronics. Both in case we need to move them, and it generally bumps the resale price if you have original packaging.

I have hoarding tendencies due to a history of poverty. Not poor any more, at least not grindingly poor, but the trauma remains.

As a result, over the last two decades I have built up a rather brutally pragmatic system of “does it have long-term utility” style of purging and standardization that allows me to let go of a lot of junk.

For example, we have standardized on six different box configurations, starting with avocado boxes from Costco (the more square kind without the access dip on the one long side) as the physically largest ones, due to their high utility and frequent likelihood of being used. All other box styles get tossed unless we have an immediate use for it, whereupon it gets tossed into the recycling as soon as that use is over.

Is it perfect? No. But it’s effective and the simplicity lowers decision-based stress.

Reusing things that are reusable is definitely people don't do enough of these days. If a box / jar / container / bottle / bag / piece of paper can enjoy a second or third life then why not do it? Too many objects are treated as "disposable", "single use" and then they get tossed - sometimes for recycling but often straight into the general trash.

Boxes are for squares.
Jars, however...!

I just use them as a makeshift trash can (trash box?) for other cardboard stuff. That way it's never dirty enough to be unusable but I don't feel bad for throwing it out whenever it fills up because it was already used twice.

Even worse if you have cats. Now any box can be kept based on the excuse that the cats can use it. And the thing is, they will use them! It's just a balancing act of not having so many boxes you turn into a hoarder house.

Even more important if you have a cat

Jars too.

Cardboard boxes are so expensive if you have to buy them for some reason, but free in a lot of scenarios, bulky to keep if you don’t need them and moisture sensitive, but you will need them again, but is it soon enough to be worth the inconvenience of storing them... It’s not trivial.

Gotta love Lemmy for premium shitposts like this, where one gets actual, high-value advice on effective box upcycling in the exploding comments, along with a complimentary, self-conscious chuckle.

I have "hoarder" in my blood, and every day is a struggle to just throw things away and fight the urge of "that might be useful one day".

Last time my wife and I moved, we spent a ridiculous amount of money on large boxes and totes and stuff for packing. After that, I definitely feel a bit of pain breaking down a large sturdy box for the recycling bin, but it's just not worth the storage space.

We do still keep boxes for high-dollar items that have special packaging like TVs and other electronics. Both in case we need to move them, and it generally bumps the resale price if you have original packaging.

And when you finally have too much and decide to throw them out, something comes up the next day where you need boxes.

Happened to me recently. Family was visiting so we did some major cleaning around the house. I threw out a couple of perfectly useable moving boxes. Then when my brother arrived, he told us they were moving apartments in 2 weeks and were looking for boxes.

As someone who grew up poor, I have the hardest time tossing cardboard. I built so many cardboard and masking tape toys, including entire forts and landscapes for my hand me down (donated) action figures.

I just moved house, and several boxes lost structural integrity during the move, but one that finally gave out, I've had for over 25 years. It was originally the box for a CRT computer monitor, and it was a very good box.

I don't debate myself about keeping boxes, I debate my 4yr old .. I lose more often than I'd like to admit ..

"I should save this box, I might return this Macaroni and cheese."

Same goes for "good" plastic bags, like the ones made of thicker plastic with sturdy handles that you can use over and over again.

Or the packing materials, too, “because you know how much this shit costs at Home Depot?”

They’re good ~~dogs~~ boxes Brent

Or that one weird looking piece of wood in the corner of the garage.

I'll need it one day! I swear!

Can you imagine the days of milk crates? I would have needed a separate shed. The jars in my house are already out of control.