Memory boxes for decluttering?

[Tibbytibbytibby]

I'm starting a serious declutter - I have read a suggestion that each member of the family has one memory box for sentimental/important items, so I'm trying to decided how big this box needs to be - looked at the Really Useful Box 65 litre, but it looks a bit on the small side. I want to keep DCs first baby grows, the last birthday card my dad sent me before he died, the collar I kept when my dog died (there is a theme emerging here of life and death) children's first lock of hair, random items really but ones that mean something to me.

How have other people managed to successfully declutter yet keep some sentimental items safely and tidily?

I have a metal suitcase (Argos) for my dc

One each

We've got pretty boxes made of cardboard for this from wilko and whsmith.

I use those grey ugly box files (being chucked out from work). DS2, who is a hoarder, has 3 already and is only 8. DS1 who isn't a horder has only 1 despite being 3 years older. I have 3 and I'm much older! So I'd say it does help but different people will need different amounts of storage. One of the things that helps is taking photographs of beloved toys or whatever and putting the photo in the box, rather than keeping the actual thing.

I was also going to suggest taking a pic or keeping a scrap of something rather than the whole baby gro for example. I have a sentimental box but it's only got paper in it and I keep scrapbooks where I stuck tickets, brochures etc and sometimes fabric things.

But if you start keeping actual items e.g. Baby grows or dog collars you're going to end up with quite a bulky collection and really what will you ever do with it? (I'm a hypocrite though because I still have my wedding dress)

Thank you for lots of good ideas! I'm making a start on my huge decluttering project - I don't know how I have come to have so much stuff! I think that I'll join the decluttering thread too.