Boxes, and what to do with them

We are clearing out, with the intention of a drastic downsize. Currently I have drawers full of empty boxes, for the camera, lenses and accessories. They take up a huge amount of space, and I don't know whether to keep them all or throw them.
So - what do you do with the boxes your toys come in? Keep them or throw them? Where do you store them if you keep them?

Some of the lenses are not used but are also not worth a lot to sell on and I don't know what to do about them either. The cost of sending them to anyone in the UK would be more than they are worth probably, so no point trying to sell them here, especially as there is no UK travel planned.

Hi Gwyn,

I keep mine in the loft, then if I sell the item the original box is always available. out of sight out of..............

isn't this what garages were invented for?

Future home is unlikely to have either a loft or a garage, that is one of the problems. Plus the fact His Nibs has so much stuff for his hobbies (guitar playing computing and beer making) that he is already laying claim to any spare room we may have in whatever we move to.
I've been keeping the boxes in case I want to sell stuff. I guess I'll just have to find somewhere for them.

Sounds like you need to negotiate a fair division of space! I keep boxes on a high shelf in a studio, after all they don't weigh much and smaller ones fit inside larger boxes. Lenses and stuff could also go in small crates on a shelf rather than drawers.

Can you not break the boxes down flat and store them that way?

so what lenses was you thinking of geting shut of some one may just pay the cost off postage

I try and keep boxes whenever I can - I store them in the back of a wardrobe, behind jackets/coats, etc. It's a 'dead' space.

Phil

That might be the best bet and keep them flat in drawer
All mine are in the loft with other boxes for telescope, RC cars and transmitters
And not to forget Christmas trees and decorations
Computer printer boxes
Neil

I agree that you need to negotiate fair use of the space, whatever's available. Apart from that, have a go at selling whatever you don't want (if anything) and look into breaking the boxes down flat for storage. It's always a good idea to keep them in case you sell them in the future.

Divorce His Nibs, and keep your boxes in the space he was planning to use for beer making.

Thanks for the responses. Divorce is not an option. Nor is collapsing the boxes - many have complicated insides to them designed to protect the original contents.
I have put them all in a removal box, along with some other bits and bobs of photographic stuff. We will end up sharing a room for hobbies no doubt, so there must be room for them somewhere.
I have thrown out the decrepit Ikea chest of drawers they were stored in, along with my recently defunct printer.

Have to think about it a bit more stu, but when I have decided I'll put them on here and see if anyone bites.

Now back to the de-cluttering.

you have baited the lure already by the sounds of it you just have to cast