Works For Me: Backwards Edition

Today is another edition of Works-For-Me Wednesday Backwards Edition, in which you ask a question of your readers instead of sharing a piece of advice.

Here's my dilemma:

The DVDs are OVERTAKING MY LIFE.  I've told you before that we store our kids' DVDs in a regular music CD case.  This works great for us--it goes back and forth easily between the car and home.  The idea is working so well that I think we extend the system to the grown-up DVDs (I nearly said "adult DVDs", but can you imagine the rumors that would've started?)

The problem is that as nicely as all this works for us, the cabinet where I store all the empty, un-used DVD cases looks like this:

Look at all those empty cases!  That is a LOT of wasted space.  But do you think I can throw them away?  Please.  Someone.  Give me permission to THROW AWAY THE DVD CASES.  Tell me that they serve no purpose sitting there empty and they're taking up an entire valuable shelf.   It's not like the original DVD case for Weekend at Bernie's is fetching big bucks on Ebay these days. 

(Oh, and speaking of completely worthless things...see that clear plastic container on the bottom?  That is my cassette tape collection.  Cassette tapes.  If you enlarge the photo and look closely, you can see the original case for the single of Blame It On the Rain.  Collector's item, baby.)

Anyway, if you'd like to participate in WFMW Backwards Day, please leave your link below.  Remember to link directly to your WFMW post.  As always, thanks for playing.

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Comments

[Jill]

One of my claim to fames in life is that I once saw Milli Vanilli in concert. I still have the tshirt. Anyway, uh...throw away the DVD's. Yeah, I got nothin'

[Scott]

I give you permission to throw every last one of those cases away.

Or if that's too painful, pass that permission on to someone else to do it for you. Maybe someone knows another use to recycle them for.

[Ronnica]

If you have to keep the cases (which isn't a bad idea...my mom long ago convinced me to keep the cases to my CD's which is necessary if you ever want to sell them), why not put them in a Rubbermaid container and put them in the attic, or whatever storage place you have? You won't need to access them except if you are cleaning out things, and that way you can use that cabinet for more important things like knick knacks and toys. =)

When you get a new DVD, just stack the cases in there until you have enough to warrant a trip to take them to their permanent home in storage.

[Christy]

Try to freecycle the empty cases. If they don't go....toss 'em. We just did this with all of our DVDs and CDs. It was refreshing!

[Karla ~ Looking Towards Heaven]

TOSS them!

[Gina]

I say toss the cases. For the movies, we put them in a CD book. It saves even more space than the small crystal cases. We "try" and keep them in alphabetical order. This also works great for Playstation games, too!

[~*~ Jennifer ~*~]

WAIT!!! (My friends make fun of me because I'm a saver -- just so ya know)... don't throw them away... You'll need them there cases if you ever want to do Swap-A-DVD! Get a shoe box storage thing to put them in and shove them under a bed somewheres...

Or in the attic.

Or in the garage.

Or under the eves.

Or... or.. something... Don't throw them away!!

(I know... I've got it bad...)

[Devildogwife]

We gave our old, empty dvd cases to our local library. They go through a lot of cases and will thrilled to receive them. We were thrilled to have the extra space back. I did put the inserts in a box in the attic though. ;)

So, yes, get rid of those cases!!

[CanadianCarrie]

I bought a binder and some inserts to put the cds/dvd's in, took out all the papers and the cover papers off the cases, then freecycled them, you'd be surprised who will want them.
I don't have a blog, besides my neglected windows live space, but thoroughly enjoy WFMW! LOVE IT!!

[Jen]

When you throw them away, let me know. I have been trying to get my husband to throw his away. He has probably two thousand DVDs. He is a movie and DVD buff.

[Angela]

We have our dvds in a locking binder and its so nice. But I was worried about the covers and proof of purchases and just yeah wasn't ready to toss it all. So, we have a file with the covers of the dvds and then the cases went in the trash. I kept two or three in case we needed them. But we have around 200 dvds and its so not worth keeping them on a shelf. Oh, we also, keep the special features discs in a spindle, like that blank dvds come on, so that its not using up space in the binder. Unless of course there are a few disc 2s that you use a bunch. Oh, just toss the cassettes. Unless you listen to them. If you do, buy the album on itunes and chunk it! You can do it!

[ellen b]

My dvd's look the same or I'd offer some help! :) It sounds like the commenters before me have some genius suggestions...

[Jo Gram]

Oh just get rid of them. They serve no purpose but to cause you angst.

ROUND FILE!!

[phyllis]

dump 'em! do it! it will make you feel so good and empowered and awesome...do it!

we use a book. we are embarking on a new system of organization since the alphabetical one has failed with new additions. it's going to involve numbers and a database. i'm sure it will happen before my children go off to college. i did win a big coup with my husband by getting him to dump the cases. now i don't ask. a new dvd comes in, i dump the case, put the dvd in the book and i'm golden.

go on...dump 'em! (and for sure dump the cassettes. just no point any more...)

[Deanna]

I wouldn't throw them out either. I'd like to say you should, but I agreee that if you ever need to loan one out or something, you may need the case. But definately box them up and stick them in a storage spot. not out in the open, but somewhere you could get to them if needed. Good luck!

[Angela]

Really don't keep them. You're storing STUFF! If you feel you need some, save 10 max. Because you'll buy more dvds that can replenish that stock of 10 if needed as they get used. You may need a couple but it kills me to see people saying to keep them. All of htem. In case you need one. You have kids and a house full of stuff. The last thing you need is a bunch of empty dvd cases. And 10 is a random number. You'd be ok with 5 or less. Really.

[Holly Smith]

Great...now you've stuck the Milli Vanilli song in my head. Arg!

[Dana]

I have a friend who calls herself a "saver". I call her a "pathological packrat to the nth degree." She made me a latte' and I purged her pantry. I went in with empty black garbage bags and came out with full ones, which I took to my car (NO PEEKING!) and drove to the dump. Then I did her utility room, which cost her a pedicure.

My suggestion is to find someone who's not attached to your stuff, fix her a latte' and let her have at it.

[Tina in Thailand]

I think the idea about giving those empty cases to the library was brilliant!
We had an un-yardsale before we moved and I put several paper grocery bags of them out hoping someone would take them.

They did! And I did not have to throw them away myself. I had been resisting it because they do seem so very useful, but if they are just taking up space and creating clutter, they are not useful to you.

No matter what you do with them, get them out of your house! The pile is clearly bothering you, so say goodbye. :)

[Makeshift Mama]

I would say toss them, but as you do look at each one. If there are movies that you don't want to keep, keep the cases so that you can donate or ebay them with their cases.

I recently did this with out CD cases. It was nerve-wracking to throw them away, but I'm so glad I did!

[Karen @ Simply A Musing Blog]

Save the covers, toss the cases. You have my permission. :)

[Steff]

I just bought a thing @ wal mart for 9$ that looks like a mini file cabinet and holds up to 80 cds or dvds. i am filing all the kids in one, mine in another and C;s in another. it has a place @ the top to write the 2 titles that are in each sleeve and i figure as we play it we can put that sleeve in the front. i plan to donate our cases to the library keeping a few for ones we dont care for(may just donate whole movie to the library) and keep the fronts of sleeves in a pagekeeper type notebook for reference if we ever need/want them
Steff

[Heidi]

When I struggle throwing something away, I take a picture of it so I can look at it IF I were to ever miss it (which I never have, it just makes me feel better in the moment).

If I still can't bear to throw it away myself, I have hubby do it. I'm ALWAYS glad in the end.

BTW~ we've tossed the cd cases and I haven't regretted it once. never thought of the dvd cases. Thanks, they'll be next.

[Jennifer]

Throw them out!! I've been meaning to get one of those dvd and cd organizers because they get separated from their cases too easily. I must do this very soon and then I to will "Throw them out!!"

[Not the Queen]

PLEASE toss them! We tossed ours and it's so freeing! Think of all the glorious space you'll reclaim! You could even store something else there that you can't seem to throw away. So many possibilities!

[Deborah Li]

This is what I do with my millions of CDs and DVDs, take the disc out of the case and place them in those DVD/CD storage booklets. Then Take out the BACK sleeve from the DVD case (because it has tons of useful info about the movie), fold it, than slot it into the same sleeve as the disc. Then THROW THE CASE AWAY! :)

[Shannon Miller]

I store ours in a cd binder thing, too, so I cut off part of the label from the movie and put it behind the dvd in the binder, then through the case away - it was easier once I had the pretty picture to hold onto:) And now each slot in the binder belongs to a specific dvd which makes it easy to see which ones are missing. And the kids know which dvd is which.

[Wendy]

I can't with a good conscience tell you to throw them away....I wouldn't. Cause I have a mom whose motto is, "you might need that someday...." And Lord knows, I just might need a whole shelf full of empty CD and DVD cases someday.....
Where is the Flylady when you need her??

[Elizabeth]

Shannon--I knew you had nothing better to do, so I put my link up twice. I'm so sorry. Will you please delete #59?

[Q&Q]

I've seen this tip in your comments already but yes give them to a library. I used to work in one and they will find plenty of uses for your old cases. Or you could off them as a lot on ebay. Resellers sometimes need a nice newer case for their products.

[Mommy Cracked]

I purchased two huge DVD binders, saved the papers from the cases to store with the DVD's, then tossed the plastic cases.

[Stephanie]

Oh yes, throw those babies out! My hubby had several rubbermaids full of empty CD jewel cases when we got married. Even though he kept the CD's in CD binders. Even though he never, ever, ever looked at the cases. (However, I'm sure that I have things that he would love for me to throw out, if he could have his way)

During our most recent move, I finally convinced him to throw them out. Ahhhh... what a relief.

Get some binders, chuck the cases, and feel liberated. :)

[The Chatty Housewife]

Toss em. I toss all my cd cases, and put the cd's in a leather binder. Can't see why empty DVD cases would be any different!

[Emily]

I'd save the inserts and toss (or give away, or recycle) the cases. I hate wasted space. :)

[Rebecca]

Our DVDs are a mess, too... Ugh...

And I did the Mr. Linky thing wrong. Again. I shouldn't post 5 minutes after waking up, apparently. :)

[Alice]

Throw them away.

And the cassettes too.

[Andi]

I am so glad to know that someone else on God's green earth is holding onto their cassette tapes too! I still have my very first New Kids On The Block tape that I spent my hard-earned babysitting money on. It was my first cassette, so there's an emotional tie to it. LOL!

As for DVD Cases, we have our stored in boxes in the garage. I threw a few away once and later regretted it when I tried to just sell the DVDs at our yard sale. Not one sold. I really miss the .50 those would have fetched me. LOL!

[mumo3]

Great ideas! It had NEVER EVER occurred to me to toss the cases. I am going to check out WalMart for the mini file cabinet-y thing-y (comment above). I'm strangely attached to the cases. I just got a little breathless thinking about getting rid of them- obvously bigger issues at work......

[Michelle]

I vote for storing them out of sight, or donating them to the library!

[Rachel May]

I JUST did this over the Christmas break. We had an extra CD-storage book laying around (it's HUGE), so I put all of the DVDs in that. I tried to sell the cases, but I'm about to put them on freecycle. If that doesn't work, I'll try the library (thanks for the tip!).

It's SO NICE to not have all that clutter! DO IT. You won't regret it.

P.S. We did take some time to go through them and weed out the ones we didn't want anymore. Hubby took those somewhere and sold them (Half Price Books, maybe?).

[Edi]

First go through the dvds and see if you really want to keep them all. We have very limited storage space in our home, so like outgrown clothes, toys and books - if a dvd is "outgrown" (Barney dvds for your 13 yr old??) or it was lame to begin with and no one watches it - it gets donated.

The idea is to only keep around the dvds you know are getting watched and enjoyed. And if these are favorites - I'd hold onto the cases.

But if the cases are not being used for their original purpose - don't waste valuable "real estate" to store them! Throw them in the attic, shove them in the basement - somewhere you don't have to look at.

[chocolatechic]

I give you permission to purge.

Please...it is killing the OCD in me!!!

[Michelle]

I would not throw them out. We do alot of trading / selling our old CDs and DVDs and without the cases they would be totally worthless. There will come a time when your kids are bored with what they have and when that happens you can easily exchange those for new ones.

[Jenn]

Blame it on the Rain...classic.

Throw away the DVD cases. Toss 'em. Chuck 'em. Let them go. They no longer fulfill their purpose and they are aware of that and are ready to let go :)

[[email protected] I Said So!]

If you chuck them, guaranteed you will need them for a fundraiser or something in two weeks. Stick them in a box (or two or three), label all four sides and the top of the box DVD BOXES PRIOR TO JAN 2008 and store them together. Add a box when you get enough to fill it. When you come across them in a year, open it, take out half, fill with the matching discs and drop off at the nearest kids hospital and/or rec centre. Do that every year or so. You'll feel wonderful.

[Melissa Markham]

Toss them, toss them, toss them! I have put my CD's in a CD binder and tossed the cased. It's a bit traumatic for a few moments, but I don't miss them at all. And toss those cassettes! This is the 21st century gal!

I need to do this to our DVD's...put them in cases. Right now, we have two bookshelves full of DVDs. We have been collecting them since the days when you could only get DVDs at Circuit City. We were cutting edge, let me tell you! Our friends love us too! We are a lending library!

[Melissa]

We did a similar thing with our CDs during one of our "purge cuz we're movin' " days. We took out all the literature, stored those in a photo box and threw away the plastic cases (maybe keep a few in case you need to lend out a DVD or sell or trade in). I think for most DVD cases you can pull out the sleeve from the outside, and the little insert. It's really the artwork of our CDs we wanted, not all the plastic.

[Tara]

Never thought of the dvd cases. Before we moved I had a paper sack full of Christmas CD cases. (I had my Christmas music all together in a CD book.) When we moved I tossed the thing out. Hummm, never thought of doing the same with the DVDs! Thanks for the idea!

[Sunday]

I tend to hang on to stuff like that so I'm not the one to ask.

But I read above that someone said to donate them to the library? Why would they want them? When the library buys a DVD they just use the case it comes in.

I say...if they are bugging you enough then put them in a bag and toss in the attic until you discover them and then throw them out. That is usually how it goes in my house. (Just put the decision off). :)

[Amanda]

We are military and move all the time. I finally threw all the DVD cases away and do not miss them at all. Happy Tossing! Amanda

[fullheartandhands mama]

Pitch them and don't look back!

[Nonnie]

If you don't think you'll be trying to sell the dvds at a later date, chuck the cases. Otherwise, pack them up in a box and hide them in the garage rafters or the attic!

[Randall]

I think that we all give you permission to THROW THEM AWAY!

[pam]

I think the consensus has already spoken . . . but let me add my opinion . . . send them flying to the nearest donation center or to the curb in a trash bag. Think of the relief you'll feel once the space is clean!!

[Jen @ JenuineJen]

I store my dvds in a DVD case rather than a music CD case. The DVD case allows you to store the papers that come with the DVDs. I throw the cases and the packaging away. I have to say that I cannot remember a time that I have actually looked at the those papers that came with the dvds so moving to a CD case and dumping all that paper would probably be a good idea on my part.

For what it is worth, you have my permission to throw those cases away. You do not need them. If for some reason you ever need jewel cases for the DVDs, you can always buy a pack of 50 for as little as $15 at an office supply store.

Thanks for hosting WWFM! Have a happy Wednesday!

[ames]

I would suggest you recycle them or donate them to a college/library/school/tech business rather than keep storing them (you'll feel very liberated once they're gone) or trashing them (landfill fodder!).

You can check earth911.org to see if you can find a recycling center near you that takes them, and there's also technotrash recycling places like www.greendisk.com, you just pack all your trash in a box and send it to them to deal with.

[aimee]

How's this for good timing? What went into MY trashcan last night? All our DVD cases! I liked your idea of putting the kids DVDs into a CD binder that I put all of ours into one. Now that you've helped me so much I give you my personal permission to throw them away!!!!!! (Oh, yeah, and all those cassette tapes, too!)

[Amanda]

Throw all but 2 or 3 away. That way if a movie goes to a friend's house or needs to travel without the others you have a case for it but you don't need the rest.

[heather]

No, don't through them away. Put them in a box and store them out of reach--since you aren't using them. However, if you throw them away and decide you are sick to death of Weekend at Bernies you won't be able to sell them. I would suggest, instead, that you sign up for Swapadvd.com and put the dvd's you are kind of sick of up and exchange them for movies you want to watch NOW--which will free up lots of space and mean you don't have to go and buy brand new ones.

[heather]

err...throw.

[Kathy Days]

(chanting) Trash them! Trash them! Trash them!

[Jes]

Oh, I never thought of putting the DVD's in a CD case like that! What a good idea. We throw away all our CD cases when we get new CDs. it's just easier. So I would say throw them away. The only think I've noticed is that CD's seem to get scratched easier in those cases that you slide them in. Do you have that problem?

[Kathy Days]

(chanting) Trash them! Trash them! Trash them!

[Linda c]

I say keep them. I know, it's radical. I've been both routes, the original cases and the temporary cases. Now I wish I had the originals back because you want to switch them out, but you can't because you don't have the protective cover.

[Amy]

Here's a rule for when you're not sure whether or not you can toss something:

Put it in a non-descript cardboard box. Put a date on the outside of the box in Sharpie (the more doubt you have about whether or not you should keep it, the further out the date should be, but aim for a year). Tape it up. Put it in the attic.

If you are in the attic and you see a box whose date has passed, and you haven't had to get into it for something, you know you can safely get rid of it without even opening it.

Do not write what's in the box on the outside. If you like, write "trash" or "donate," but nothing more.

If it's so important that you'd go searching through boxes for it, you need to keep it. I'll bet you NEVER get into the DVD box.

[Jamie]

I am what I like to think of as an Organized Pack Rat so I will be of no help in telling you to throw them out. We keep our DVDs in a giant book that is designed to hold them and look nice on the coffee table (if we had a coffee table, and no one-year-old to get into them.) All of the original jackets are in a storage container in the garage marked "CD/DVD cases".

[Sarah]

Get rid of them! I just did it with my CD cases and it was liberating. I felt bad about throwing them away so I put them on Freecycle...believe it or not, I had ten people who wanted the empty containers. Not only is my entertainmnet center less cluttered, but they're also not in a landfill...

[Amanda]

I say toss them. I did a few months ago and have never felt better. Bye, Bye clutter.

[Cyn]

Check to see if you can recycle the plastic cases? Then they aren't wasting space and your not filling a land fill.

[Angie]

Your question is just the motivation I need to go out and buy a binder for DVDs and a binder for games. I think I'll keep just a few of the boxes (but pull out all the inserts and put them into a file of game inserts and a file of movie inserts), and then get rid of the rest.

Thanks for asking this!

[allysha]

I agonized about the same thing and so I kept a few around in the event I ever needed a case to put one in and take it somewhere.

Besides, isn't this the year you're getting rid of things?

[Tickled Pink]

Purge, baby, purge! It's incredibly freeing!

I did it years ago, and as much as the kids balk (I don't know what's up with that), they don't miss them the next day. When we're ready to pass the DVDs/CDs on to my brother's kids I buy a cheap CD case give them in there.

This year were practicing 1 in/1 out and we've already put some media in the give-away-case.

Thanks for all your inspiration! I can't wait to hear about your trip to Africa!

Go Shannon! Woo!

[Queen B]

Throw them away. Now.

I keep all of our kid dvds in a binder thing. I've also got one for the grown up dvds. For kid music. For grown up music. For Christmas music. For video games (by system).

Nowhere do I have a case. All in the trash. Throw them out.

[Jeni]

OK, go get one of those giant black lawn & leaf trash bags, open that cabinet, and rake everything out into the trash bag. Tie up bag, and send child to the curb with the bag for trash pick-up. Now.

[Sharon]

We also store our DVD's in a CD case and I have tossed out the cases. It is amazing how much room you have after you get rid of them.

[Jenny]

Throw them away! These are kids dvds right? They will never be in a dvd swap, they will be too scratched up. Throw away the cassettes too, you can't even get a penny a piece for those and they deteriorate anyway. Throw it all away!

[Karen]

comment #6721:
I packed ours up neatly in a box and they're stored in the garage. Out of sight, out of mind.

[Smockity Frocks]

I'm with the throw them away crowd, too. Thanks for this WFMW, Shannon. These Backwards Editions are my fave!

[Nicole]

I think if you feel like you should keep them (maybe to sell later), box 'em up & stash the box in the attic or garage. That cabinet looks like prime storage space for things you actually use on a regular basis.

[Liz C]

Go through the cassettes, and anything you're desperate to hear, search for on YouTube.com. 80's videos rock.

Otherwise, Toss the Cases. We're using a binder now, and I ADORE it. The day we tossed the cases, I cheered. (We also chucked all the ancient software discs that day... it was a landmark period for my DH, who likes to save things "just in case.")

[maria]

without reading all the comments before me...
a) throw out the dvd/cd cases. if you find yourself desperately missing a case you can buy a whole new dvd for $7.

b) ditch the casettes, i know it's hard, but in a couple years you won't even be able to find anything to play them on. d/l your favs from itunes and be done with the clutter.

I struggled with these issues myself for many a year, and since trashing them I haven't even missed them.

[Emily]

Hi!
Well...here are some option:
1. File them alphabetically in a shoe box, labelled on the outside, and store in a closet.
2. Throw them.
3. Check out this recycling link http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20071001/how-can-i-reuse-or-recycle-dvd-cases
or this one: http://www.dosomething.org/tipsheet/recycle_technotrash_ewaste
(sorry, I don't know how to make a clickable link of these...)

[Hayley]

I agree with the idea of tossing all of the cases (you might keep one or two), and keeping the inserts. If you don't want to use a file for the inserts, either use a binder, or fold the scene guide and shove it in the dvd album behind the dvd. That way you have the scenes reference and you know exactly where your dvd goes (in alphabetical order of course) in your dvd album.

[Kirstin]

My first thought was, "if they're empty just throw them away", so sounds like you now have permission to throw every one away!

Years ago...like several years ago, our local video store was going out of business and they were selling tons of their plastic "video cassette" cases. At that time that was all we owned and I bought them to better organize our videos. They worked beautifully. I made stickers and if the video still happened to have a case I cut the cover of the case off and taped it to the inside of the plastic container. Worked like a charm and looked much more organized.

[Emily]

Hi!
Well...here are some option:
1. File them alphabetically in a shoe box, labelled on the outside, and store in a closet.
2. Throw them.
3. Check out this recycling link
or this one

[Dawn]

At first I was going to say to box them all up and store them in the garage or attic, but after reading some of the other comments I think keeping the inserts in a folder and getting rid of the cases is the better thing to do. As long as you have the information that goes with the DVD you don't need the cases.

As far as the cassette tapes go, I have no idea. I have a ton of old cassette tapes and even LP's that I just can't get rid of. In fact, we even have a turntable and once in a great while we will pull out some of the albums and play them. It is really fun and the kids get a kick out of it.

[Dawn @ Baby Addiction]

You have my permission to throw away the empty DVD cases. (I know that's what you were waiting for...)

If you feel bad getting rid of them, find someplace that recycles plastic and that's where they should go. Imagine your empty DVD cases reincarnated and set them free!

[Mary]

I recommend saving them for any you plan to keep. Aren't they to protect them? Goodwill would love to have any videos you aren't keeping as long as they are in the cases. I'm with the crate in the attic so you will have them if you need them.

[marlise]

If you ever decide to sell or donate unwanted DVDs you will want sleeves and cases.

So how about a compromise? My suggestion: You could keep just a few cases (because you probably won't ever get rid of ALL the DVDs unless DVD players become obsolete) and all the sleeves/inserts in a small plastic storage container. Throw out, donate, or recycle the rest of the cases. This opens up precious storage space in the cabinet, and lets you have a few empty cases on-hand for selling or donating unwanted movies.

[Melanie]

I hereby grant you permission to throw them away!! Store the larger notebook style CD/DVD holders in your new space.

Or you could just keep them all and then blame it on the rain.

[Hotomom]

I am the wrong person to ask!! I wouldn't have the courage to toss them either. I am not a tosser! But do what you need to do to have organization. I HATE dvd cases by the way. Be my inspiration... TOSS THEM!!

[Devildogwife]

"But I read above that someone said to donate them to the library? Why would they want them? When the library buys a DVD they just use the case it comes in."

FYI: Those cases get broken all of the time when people check them out, so they're constantly having to change out the cases. ;)

[Kellyn]

I can't tell you to throw them away. Mainly because like everything, you may "grow out" of a movie. If you want to sell it, or donate it, most places require the case. Get a tub, label it, put them in your "storage area" that won't interfere with everyday life.

[Carrie]

Box them and store them somewhere else. I have mine packed away in the basement. AND now that I have a DVD burner on my puter I will be copying the originals and putting them BACK in their cases and putting the copies in the cd case.

[Kari]

I am the worst to give advice about throwing things out because I never do (case in point- I still have the New Kids on the Block CD Step by Step- how often do you think that gets into the CD player!?!?!) so I would agree with some of the other responses to put them in a rubber maid container (the big 32 gallon size) and stick it in the attic or the basement under the stairs and then when you feel like you are better equiped to handle it-toss them! Good luck!

[Mommy, the Human Napkin]

When we get a new DVD, I put it in the CD case with the rest. But if I tried to toss the case right away, my kids would have a meltdown. So I let them keep the case and play with it until they start leaving it out in the middle of the floor (usually about a week), and then I toss it when they're not looking. Works well for me and they never even notice! Now, I just need to get a new CD case since our DVD collection grew over the holidays...

[Ann'Re]

I'm sorry I messed up my link. :(

We have a binder for all our music CD's...and we toss out the cases. Now that we're accumulating so many DVD's, I'm going to be doing the same thing with them as soon as I save the money for some sort of a case to put them in. It really does keep them organized nicely. Ann'Re

[Alana]

I give you my full permission to toss them. I bet you are not the only one in your circle of friends who has this problem. Many you could combine all that you want to get rid of and check out http://www.greendisk.com/ - you can get containers to put and mail most type of "techie" equipment to them and they will recycle it. Sort of helps you feel better about the tossing process.

[Jen]

You can throw them away! Life will go on, and you will have more space. And by the way, I have been desperately wanting a Milli Vanilli cd, and they are quite pricey.

[Jennifer in OR]

Tough call on the cases, personally I'd keep them...

Sorry, I realized after I wrote my post that it's backwards day...so if it's okay, I have a regular WFMW...