Perhaps I'm too casual about my data security. I have a 500Gb SSD in my MBP with 170Gb free. I have a 1Tb CCC HDD backup for security and convenience and a 512Gb HDD Time Machine backup. I also have a 1Tb external HDD which I call overflow. This disk contains videos, photos and documents I consider non essential but I'm not willing to throw away just yet but I don't bother to back it up.
I preserve my laptop for essential information, apps and data that I use day to day.
When I trash something it's because it no longer has any value to me or anyone else.
Yes, there have been times where I remembered something that in retrospect I should have kept but there has to be a sensible limit.
In a recent post on these forums an OP divulged that he had never emptied his trash. I don't wish to be unkind but if one is not going to empty the trash then its contents might as well be in a folder. Not emptying the trash would cause functional problems for me, eg how could I clear items from a USB flash drive?
I do have other data that I could not afford to lose which is backed up either on portable devices or encrypted cloud based syncing services such as my password manager, identity documents, tax files etc.
So I empty my Trash daily with no regrets.
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