bearisgray

I do -

I think it's kind of silly - and definitely a space taker-upper - to save as many of them as I do.

But every once in a while, one of my boxes does come in handy!

I hardly ever save banana peels, potato peelings, gum wrappers, etc.

Iceblossom

You know, for some of us the push to reduce, reuse, recycle is hard on us. Sometimes I have visions of this one episode of Monk where he is rewashing and resorting his glass recycling...

I do keep boxes for stuff like stereo equipment for as long as I have that piece. It's rather silly of me since I bought my house, they aren't going to be moved, and they are so old that they are long past warranty and/or the technology is outdated. I'm thinking I should push myself and that I'm going to get rid of a few cubic feet of box storage... No need to keep those awkward big boxes when I have stuff I want to keep that can go there instead!

I keep a few "handy" sized boxes around. I especially like some odd sized ones for project boxes, Amazon has some great ones that open on the wide side. It helps to store them if you can break the temptation to store them "whole" and slit the tape so they are flat.

I'm lucky that my hubby works for a plant that makes boxes, chances are if you've been to Costco you've seen some of their boxes. If we need a box, he can typically get one for me (helps that he controls the waste and inventory flow). If we have too many and our recycle box is full, he can take them to work.

When I mail stuff, I use the Post Office Flat Rate Boxes or envelopes. When I have gifts, I go to the Dollar Store if I need packaging. The rest of it I have decided I just don't want to keep around even though that voice inside me goes "oh, that's useful you better save it for a rainy day" -- well, I live in Seattle and have a lot of rainy days and still have burdened myself with a lot of unnecessary stuff.

annievee

I do save boxes--reuse for mailing, put items in for thrift stores, use for food bank items, etc. Some times for fabric projects. I save my grocery bags for food bank.

Tartan

I save gift bags and have a good collection of occasion bags and another of Christmas bags. I fold them flat and keep them in one larger bag and they don’t take up much room. I use them for gifts and seldom have to buy any. I sometimes keep a box if I have a purpose for it. If not they go in the cardboard recycle bin.

cashs_mom

I save plastic bags because they always get used. And gift bags for the same reason. I sometimes save boxes, but then will get a lot of them around and get tired of them and toss them all! That sort of goes for bags, too.

Kitsie

I save some boxes but always break them down to store.

Irishrose2

I save some nice sized boxes for that 'someday' when I organize my sewing rooms. I recycle smaller and larger ones. If I need any small ones, I can get them from my daughter who works for an optometrist. I don't use a lot of gift bags, though I do have a bag full. I save plastic grocery bags, but use them so there is not an oversupply.

charley26

I reuse all padded envelopes - for posting onwards. I often receive small packages in reused padded envelopes. They are difficult to recycle. All paper, and envelopes go to recycle, as do any cardboard boxes that I cannot find a use for. I reuse gift/bottle bags for Christmas, birthdays etc, when they are a bit grubby they go in the recycle bin, so long as there is no glitter on them. I take the ribbon/string out of them. Other bits of paper go towards the fire kit.
Our supermarket accepts plastic bags for recycling, I try not to have any, but visitors will always bring something in one, but if they are sturdy I will continue to use them until no longer usable. I use fabric bags for shopping, and reuse paper bags for veg at the supermarket. A large cardboard box is very handy in the boot of my car, and will stay there until it is almost wrecked, and then off to the recycle centre.
All glass (bottles and jars) go to recycle after washing, as do any tin cans. Many nice bottles are reused for various liqueurs that I make, as do many jars (for jam, marmalade) that are not damaged.

dunster

I expect that I will be moving again, so I've saved all the moving boxes from the last move. Some of them have been used for several moves now. It helps that I have a single car garage with wonderful cabinets that I can use as storage, in addition to the double car garage where I park. I have always saved boxes from big items like TVs and computers that need special packaging. If I didn't have the space, however, I would get rid of the boxes.

Mousie

yes I do. It's a joke in our family that if you give mom a gift she is sure to
say, "Oh, what a great box!"
I definitely like gifts too, lol. Every so often I feel overwhelmed and throw
most boxes out but I can't resist so they "grow back".
Many times I had "just the right box" for that!