I'm a hobby squirrel and it's costing me money. UPDATED p2 - thoughts.

[Kitsune]

How often do those "bits" actually get used or looked at again? I just chuck stuff away if I know it's got no continuing value to me and isn't worth the ebay hassle. Storing it for bits is the same as keeping it whole - yr still keeping it!

[FramFramson]

When it's something I can't bear to bin but which I know won't sell, I usually just put it up in the bazaar as "Free to whoever pays postage".

[grant]

I rarely keep bits either. If I have too many why do I need them?

Now, let's say I use 4 models from a five pack of Shermans - I'm keeping the fifth, because that's not a "bit", that's a useable model. Maybe not today, but maybe I need to add a special one and need one for conversion. Something like that.

[obsidian3d]

I keep a limited selection of bits as well. I can count at least a half dozen times where I've scrounged an old tyranid part and made an arm or neck or something completely un-tyranid-like out of that bit... If I have something that needs to go in the little bits container I keep and there's no room, something gets tossed to make room.

[Oldben1]

Strangely enough something very real happened to me in the last month, my father died.  I am now in the process of cleaning up his hobby basement.  It will take me weeks, and although I would like to treasure all the things he built and crafted, the sheer volume is staggering.  I'm forced to throw a lot of it out.  I think Grant is right.  I think most of us confuse the creative process, with creative hoarding.  I enjoy the making of things, but not the holding and reorganizing of things.  Down in the basement my Mom made an interesting point while we were cleaning up.  "I know he left us a mess, but all these things made him happy."  The only bright spot in my Dad's funeral was giving a ton of his work away.  People seemed genuinely delighted to receive it.  I think he would have been happier knowing all these items went to his friends and family.  Holding on to all that stuff must have made him sick to his stomach.  No criticism to others, but we should all be more committed to the process rather than the end result!

I just donated a ton of my 28mm stuff to my local gamestore.

[grant]

I'm very sorry for your loss. That must be very hard.

I can relate when my father passed and deciding what was important to keep and not. Tough choices.

Condolences to you.