What stationary do you need/own as an adult?

[Butterfly84]

So I'm tackling the desk drawer that is full to the brim with stationary: pens, pencils, Sharpies, berol felt tips, pencil crayons, pencil cases, little notepads etc etc. A lot of this stationary is the basic sort like free pens I've collected over the years and things I bought for university a few years ago now. I don't want a whole drawer full of stuff I don't use.

Please tell me...roughly how many pens do you own? Do you just have one pencil case with a few pens in? Do I need to keep scissors, hole puncher, paperclips, stapler?

And notebooks...I have approx 15 unused notebooks. When am I every going to fill 15 notebooks???

Is anyone else like this? I have hoarded stationary.

Sounds like me! Some people have too many shoes, my issue is all stationery related!
I’d keep scissors, hole punch, etc, and check which pens still work. I’d like to go down to one pencil case, but I’m not there yet.

Funny, I have just thrown out loads of notepads, etc, as they take up storage I hardly use.
However, I DO still feel the need to keep some items, pens and a stapler, etc.
Maybe 1 pencil case with a few pens and pencils is the answer.
Currently, I keep utility letters* (useful for ID), and other bsuiness letters for a while, which I file, as otherwise I know I would lose them. If filing, then you need the hole punch, etc
*Most bills are now on line, but some things still come through the post.

I'd keep some pens, pencils, sharpie in a dark colour, highlighter, stapler, hole punch, scissors.
I have a mug filled with the writing things, and a box with the other stuff in (also, glue and string).
Give two thirds of the notebook to charity?

I have shedloads of stationery, but I'm a teacher and a bullet journaler. I have my basic huge pencil case with normal grey pencils, biros, fountain pen, fineliners, highlighters, ruler, sharpener, rubber, tippex etc, then two further huge ones with coloured fineliners, sharpies, calligraphy pens coloured pencils, washi tape, gel pens etc. And lots of note books!

Right, thanks everyone.

So my mission is to get it all down to one pencil case with a few pens and pencils in and I'll keep hole puncher, stapler and scissors etc in a box.

Definitely won't be just putting stationary that works in the bin, I'll either charity shop it or see if anyone else can make use of it. It's going to be hard giving away unused notebooks though, feels like such a waste of money.

My DC are using mine...and all my old colouring pencils that are 30+ years old. No guilt at all felt here.

I have to say - "e for envelope" here!

(oh come on, you were all thinking it as well!)

That's how I always remember how to spell stationery!

Notebooks - it's just paper - recycling bin!

Don't bin things that are useable that is so wasteful. If you won't use them donate them. Ask if your local food bank or women's refuge could use them, or charities for disadvantaged kids, adult literacy etc.

Can you imagine being the kid at school who has no stationery and has to borrow a pencil each lesson? How much would they appreciate some of that excess stationery?

I gave lots of my extra stuff to the DCs school. They always need more paper/pens etc.

@Anonymous1419

Yes, i was trying to think of a nice way to say it, as I hate people being twats about. SPAG. But stationery for Envelopes and station ary for c*ars was how I was taught to remember it too.

Now, back to the important stuff. Stationery.

Let’s just say if the local WH Smith closes down, I can help out! It’s not about how many pens or notebooks I have, it’s about how many boxes of pens and notebooks I have, plus other stuff.

But I don’t buy handbags clothes or shoes over the bare minimum required. They just don’t interest me. Take me to a stationery shop and I’m a happy shopper!

WE are all different.

BUT you seem to have found a solution. But why not keep the notebooks in a box somewhere, you’ll gradually use them over the years.

Re stationery, oops my mistake. I just typed the original post quite quickly and didn't really read it over and wasn't thinking about spelling when doing the second one haha. I like the e for envelope reminder.

Honestly, I would love to have just one pencil case but don't think that's possible right now. Something to work towards I suppose.

I love stationery and have a deep drawer and cupboard full of it. Pens, pencils, notebooks of various sizes, post-its, paperclips, stapler, hole puncher, rulers, rubbers, sharpeners, stickers, folders and plastic wallets, paper, highlighters in pastel colours... It all comes in useful. If I decluttered it, I just know I would end up buying the same stuff again as soon as I saw something I liked!

OP just an idea.

Could you donate the piles of notebooks, pens and pencils that you're not going to use to a local school?
Kids can't always afford their own supplies, neither can teachers, and the school budgets just cannot stretch any further.

I did that with the surplus that I had and the school were so grateful.

Donate it. A long time ago, our school put out a call for stationery supplies to go to Rumanian orphanages. We contributed an amount: three big boxes of stuff that had just accumulated. My name is Xing, and I am a paper junkie.

I have quite a lot. I work in a Primary! Teaching staff love stationery.

I would look for a charity to send it to and you will feel good because it will be appreciated. I know supplies are short in Africa. I support a child through World Vision so they might take it.
Otherwise as suggested local schools, colleges, Uni or Women's Refuges would be glad of it.

I have lots for work but personally we have household stationery that includes;
Paper and envelopes
Correspondence cards
At home cards
A supply of assorted occasional cards - birthdays, sympathy etc.
Parcel boxes and wrapping
Notebooks

I think if you’ve lots you don’t want then give to local charities to use in their offices.