Late response, but I used to do the same thing several others mentioned: fold the sectional (fairly unnaturally, I may add), and clip it to the knee board. We also had to do all of our course calculations in true headings, figure out the wind, then convert to magnetic (and correct for deviation). Doing this over a break in the map meant you had to flip and transpose the chart (or use two of the same chart). There was an art to all of it.
I kept all my old sectionals, IFR enroute charts, Airport/facility directories, terminal procedures charts, etc. It’s fun to see how airports and procedures have evolved over the years. One thing is for sure, there are a lot fewer NDBs out there and it’s getting that way for VORs as well.
The aircraft I flew as a student pilot had one CDI-only VOR gauge (no GS) and a standard six-pack with a manual-card DG. No GPS until well into instrument training and even then it was an old KLN 89B until the GNS came out a few years later. Still have the KLN 89B manual.
Today, I use ForeFlight on a GPS-enabled iPad mounted to the yoke and also have a G1000NXi in the plane and FF on my iPhone as a backup. Love the G1000 except I still prefer the old-style turn coordinators (hate how the G1000 does it). I still carry a paper chart just in case, but so many things would have to fail…
Still, I’ve led a bunch of sessions on my stream regarding how to plan and navigate using paper charts, and I do it frequently to keep my skills up. Plus, it’s absolutely fun.