Family is super important to some people, not at all important to others. It's rather a personal thing.

Family is important to me. And yet, I have cut ties with my younger brother and have minimal contact with everyone else. I maintain contact with my older brother and SIL as I keep contact with my nieces and nephew, and they have always been nice, caring, and stable people.

But the rest? Most of them are decent folks, but it was still easier to just keep everything minimized so that I don't spend all my time feeling hurt and like an outcast.

It sounds like your family is already not a "family" in many ways. You don't have to even announce it that you're cutting ties - just do it. If they notice and miss you they'll contact you. If they contact you JUST because they want you to do something? Just hold your ground and say that you don't have the time right now or don't have the money to help them. They might rage, but, oh well!

You said that you have SOME family members who aren't total jerks, right? Don't cut them out. If you have contact with them already then maintain that because they don't deserve to get cut out!