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Step 1
Go through cookbooks. Keep one basic cookbook that you use most frequently. If there are one or two recipes in other books that you like, either copy or tear out the pages you use and discard the rest of the book. Toss any cookbooks that you don't use at all.
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Step 2
Go through current recipes. Throw away ones that you don't like or don't want to make in the future.
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Step 3
If there are recipes you haven't tried but still want, keep them separated from the recipes you use frequently. Put them in a labeled Zip loc bag. Try one when you feel like being adventurous. If you think the cost of ingredients isn't worth making the recipe, then toss it. If you try a new recipe you like better than one of your current ones, replace your old recipe with the new one and throw the old one out.
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Step 4
If you have multiple recipes of one thing, make them at the same time so you can compare them and then keep only the recipe you like best. By culling through recipes this way, it is easier to find the recipe needed and you know you will like what you make because the recipes left are tried and true.
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Step 5
Before buying a recipe book, check it out from the library and try a couple of recipes in it first. If you don't really like them, save yourself the money and clutter from buying the book. If your library doesn't currently have the book, ask to have them get it through interlibrary loan.
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Step 6
If you enjoy using computers, put your recipes on the computer. This makes it easier to add and delete recipes and to send recipes to others when they request.
