my mother used to keep old things for future use which was never used

Yes akn, people of that age group and earlier used to store all the goodies for future use. That was possible because they didnt have to shift their place of work frequently. Again, there was more of an emotional attachment with those things. Today who cares about emotions? Again, in today's world, you never know what future has in store for you and you might receive a promotion or a transfer to another place, many of us have become adjusted to staying in rented flats/apartments and this possibility of shifting to relocate emphasizes the fact that you should keep the luggage to the basic minimum. I think the joint families too had a role to play in the collections but today one rarely finds a joint family...

Well both my mum and dad are same like that. Although those really old ones we managed to give away (donations to the poor and stuff) or sometimes made good use of it by giving it to one relative who's fond of selling old stuff in your house. It gets a bit annoying though since it's clogging up spaces.

it really is important for future use....

Why should I go to elders. My husband used to do so. But I hate this habit. I like to through them away. i like to live with few things.

My boyfriends mother who lives in another state lives like a pack rat as she has her house and garage filled of all kinds of things she has no use for, and I do not get it. She can't even park her car in the garage as it is too full of junk as I call it. She says these will come in handy someday. The way I see it she should be rid of all this stuff and enjoy her home, as she lives a lone and should not have so much.

ya..my mother does dat too..ended up making the hse so hard to clean with full of unwanted items. it was only until my sis came along and made the hse better...

don't think it's waste of effort, it might still have a use. i am like your mom to. sometimes my dad gets irritated because i keep these old stuff at my room. but afters years or so i'd fins something to do with it, maybe not the same use as it is when it was new but something that you'll earn from. or maybe your mother is keeping it for special value.