Memory Down to 23%

My computer memory hovers around 23%. With all the photos and videos I take, this has me worried. It also makes it impossible for me to transfer my family videos onto a DVD because without enough memory (like now), it won't let me. How aggravating. I can clear up a lot of memory if I can transfer video over to DVD but I can't do that without more memory. It starts to transfer it and then shuts down about a quarter of the way through. ARGH! What a Catch-22.