Use USB stick as extra permanent storage.

Due to lack of funds, I’m replacing my XP computer with a smaller XP computer with only 40 GB HDD. I’d like to use a 32 GB permanently plugged in USB stick as extra space. Can I put folders like Programs on it, and if so, will a simple COPY to the stick and then delete the original work? Any suggestions welcome, but as simple as possible please, as I’m 82, and not very technical! Thanks.