Getting rid of "inherited" books

**kathirynne** · 01-14-2009, 02:09 PM

My uncle just cleaned out his basement and gave us a ton of books.

Some I will keep, but I am considering taking the rest to the used bookshop in town. (Paperbacks for credit, hardcovers for cash)

Would you do this? Am I being ungrateful? (I am keeping quite a few of them - Gray's Anatomy for instance. I just don't have room to keep all of them!)

**homesteadmamma** · 01-14-2009, 02:12 PM

Once inherited, you can do what you want with them. If you don't have room, take them to the used bookshop. You can also donate them to the library. If I didn't have room for them or couldn't use them, I'd donate them in a heartbeat.

**mombottoo** · 01-14-2009, 02:40 PM

Nope, you are not being ungrateful...you are being wise and frugal

! I'm sure your uncle would be thrilled to know that you were able to use his books to get books you will use. When I give stuff away I consider it as belonging to the person I gave it to.

**PrairieRose** · 01-14-2009, 03:16 PM

Nah....not at all. You can't possibly keep everything. Go ahead....keep some, get rid of some....give them a chance at having another life.

**forHISglory** · 01-14-2009, 04:40 PM

I agree; don't throw them away. Are there others in your family that would appreciate any of them? Would you able to use them as gifts? I'm such a book lover that it pains me to even think of books going in the trash (unless they are "trashy" books!).

**Persimmon Lace** · 01-14-2009, 04:49 PM

They are yours! Do what you need to with them!

QM · 01-14-2009, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by kathirynne

...Am I being ungrateful?...

I have the same mentality when it comes to inherited things. The problem with thinking this way is that I collect way too much "stuff" and feel obligated to keep it because it was given to me from an ancestor or friend. I'm definitely getting better at getting rid of things, but it's still very hard. Just remind yourself "Out of sight...out of mind." Once it's gone, there's a really high chance that you'll never think about the specific items again. (I've learned this from experience.)

**IntlMom** · 01-14-2009, 05:06 PM

I agree with everyone else.
Absolutely pass them on to someone else, or the used book store.

**Gibs** · 01-14-2009, 06:35 PM

I agree with what everyone else has said, they are yours and if you cannot use or do not want all of them, the used bookstore is fine.

**SandNOceanGirl** · 01-15-2009, 08:18 AM

I agree with everyone also. If you have no use for them turn them into store credit for books that you can use or donate to other people or library.

**fizzie** · 01-17-2009, 03:25 PM

I sell our extra books on ebay's half.com & get a lot more for them than at our local used bookstore---but you do have to mail them out individually as they sell.

**brennasmom** · 01-17-2009, 04:21 PM

I would take the ones I didn't want to the bookstore. You are certainly not obligated to keep them and shouldn't feel bad about passing them along

**writtenonmybody** · 01-17-2009, 04:47 PM

I agree with what everyone else said, with saying that, speaking in regards to keeping your home organized it's smart to keep that which you would cherish, read, enjoy and get rid of what you would not.

There's nothing wrong with that at all.

**Katybird** · 01-17-2009, 05:42 PM

I agree that they are yours to do with as you see fit. If you decide not to sell them to the bookstore another great place to donate them to other than the library is the Adult Literacy commission of your town. It is so sad to me to think of adults that can not read, the literacy commission is a great charity and they are always willing to accept books.