"Why do we think we need to hang on to an item when it is no longer a benefit to us?"
In my life, it's a carryover from grandparents and parents who experienced the Depression. They held onto everything possible that came their way because there was precious little money to just go buy something. We've all heard the saying - "Use up, wear out, make do, or do without."
I was talking with a dear friend last week about how long it's taking us to downsize. She said, it's interesting, during our working years we collect stuff, then we spend our retirement getting rid of it. LOL
We change, we grow, and what we once wanted, we want no longer. I just donated 4 boxes of stuff to a resale shop, 1 box of fabric and 1 bag of yarn to the Senior Center. I think of it as "freeing it up to the universe" so someone else may find something they can use or perhaps find a treasure.