As a general email management technique for a home user, my Inbox and folders are getting embarrassing large. I have all kinds of files stored in my email...pps, xls, doc, jpg's etc... ad nauseum.
Many of these files I do retrieve for current use, but I think I'd rather have them available OFFLINE.

I don't use Outlook, but rather Thunderbird.
If I just back up my mailbox folder to another volume, then delete the content of my folders would that be a sufficient home remedy for out of control mailboxes ? I think this way, I can continue to use the current folder structure and the email rules I have created for the past few years. Then later, I can reconnect to my backed up email folders to retrieve anything I want.

Or alternatively, for a home user, I could set up a secondary older computer with Thunderbird loaded onto it for the only purpose of standing ready to retrieve backed up mail or any other data for that matter.

Would this be a good enough strategy to use (for a home user).

Great Thanks