Do I keep it or do I let it go?

What a find! This Return of the Jedi mini movie poster from 1983 was once the prized possession of a little boy who got to see it for the first time at the Rivoli cinema in Camberwell.

This poster became a discussion point with a client who was downsizing when we were talking about the value of things.

Undoubtedly this little poster will have some monetary value because original Star Wars paraphernalia is highly collectible, but for the owner, its true value sits somewhere else because that little boy grew up and passed on his love of the Star Wars trilogy to his own children. Bedtimes were filled with stories from the three films complete with sound effects and impersonations of the characters. So instead of selling this poster, it’s been framed and placed on display.

When it comes to the things we own, value is a deeply personal thing. There are many things to consider; not only the item’s monetary value, but other questions such as;

·        does it serve its purpose,

·        is it easy to use,

·        have you perhaps moved on from the item,

·        is it worth keeping for the amount of space or maintenance it requires,

·        or does it bring back strong memories?

For the movie poster, it was the memories and the small size that factored into the decision to keep it.

For you though, what are the things you think about when deciding to keep something or to let it go?