The first step in the preservation process is deciding what you want to preserve. Sounds obvious, but this isn’t always an easy decision at an institution as big as the Smithsonian. That’s because no museum, not even the nation’s largest, has unlimited resources. We can’t save everything.

As the curator of the Museum of You, you face similar restrictions. Whether it’s because you have limited time, space, or money, you can’t save everything, either. So, just as I do every day, ask yourself two questions: Which of my keepsakes are worth keeping? And how can I preserve them so they can be passed down to my kids and my kids’ kids?

I can’t answer the first question for you. People save stuff for any number of reasons. If you were to ask me about my friend’s puppet Fuzzy Tail, I would say it is just a puppet. But my friend would say it represents wonderful memories of her childhood. I, meanwhile, love anything and everything to do with shellac and was thrilled recently when I won an eBay auction for an ink blotter depicting the life of the lac insect (which is where shellac comes from). I was the only bidder on the item, but to me it’s definitely worth saving.

Here are a few guidelines to help you determine which of your keepsakes are worth preserving.

Take a good look at everything you consider a keepsake — from letters you’ve saved to heirloom furniture.

Weigh each item’s sentimental and financial value against your resources (and desire) to save it properly. Does the newspaper clipping announcing your honor-roll success mean as much to you today as it did 20 years ago? How many of your children’s paintings can you afford to frame at $100 a pop? You might find that this pro-cess unleashes a bit of spring cleaning in your home. Don’t be afraid to give or throw things away.

Once you’ve decided which of your keepsakes you can save, list them on the worksheet on the following page. Then, in the space provided, write down why you value each object. Finally, enter all the factual information you have concerning each object. Where did it come from? How much did it cost? Who made it? And to whom do you hope to give it? Save this worksheet in the same place you keep your passport and any other important papers. This is the backbone of the Museum of You. It will be a great reference for you and your heirs. Who knows? Someday historians may praise you for taking the time to write it all down.

When you’ve completed this process, you’re ready to do what I like best: Save stuff.

Adapted from Saving Stuff, by Don Williams and Louisa Jaggar, to be published in June by Fireside, a division of Simon & Schuster.