This is hard for me to ask,

A.

The local dump, a charity thrift store, and needy relatives' homes, to name a few. I, too, am a saver, but my family has been training me to "get rid of." You need to look at all those collectibles and ask yourself what you're saving them for. If you had planned to use them as an investment, then you need to plan the right time to sell them for the profit you plan to make. Next, you need to decide what your future holds. For example, if you plan to travel, when will you have time to watch all the movies you collected? If you plan to just stay at home and read, why do you need all those travel brochures? With the Internet, GPS in the car, sensible clothing that lasts, versatile furniture arrangements, and organization labels, you'll find you do not need as much stuff.

Recently we had carpet installed, and we had to remove everything from the rooms. The empty rooms, with fresh new carpet, looked so good, it was a shame to put things back. I vowed to get rid of most of what would have been returned, and wow, what a difference. So you don't have to go to a hotel to feel free of your clutter after all. Just look around and ask yourself, seriously, does all this matter? Does it keep me from doing things I really want to do? Will that old stroller in the attic really be used, considering that a child you raised will want the latest one for their child? I found it ironic that kids collect albums in various forms, from old records to cassettes to CD's, only to replace all of them with an electronic device that fits in their pocket and holds thousands of songs.

Imagine this scenario: Ask yourself, would all your stuff matter if you just found out that someone close to you, who you really love, became seriously ill? You just have to decide the value of "things." That one issue can change your life. Then you can find ways to install wall units that go over and around windows and fireplaces, have cabinetry built that has fold-down surfaces to double as a desktop but folds back when not in use, drop-down racks from high ceilings in the basement and garage areas, and roll-out drawers in the toe area of furniture, to name a few. But remember, hide-away does not mean save more, it only means out of sight. If you can forget about it, you don't need it. Rooms will seem bigger, and you'll feel less burdened.

Good luck in your new home.

Readers are encouraged to send questions to: HERALD Homes, 379 Central Avenue, P.O. Box 220, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559-0220Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.