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After cleaning out several old relative's homes, I have swore I would never leave that mess for someone else to dispose of. If I don't wear it or use it for a year, out it goes. Whether I give it away, put it on the road with a FREE sign, or donate it, it's gone.
One thing I found out about, in general, many younger Senior ladies don't like to get rid of some clothes cause they are always "thinking" they will lose enough weight to fit back into the old clothes they use to wear 10 yrs ago. My wife can be like that!
Another thing that will slow-to-stop some people from getting rid of certain things is the money they spent to buy the items. After a number of years, a lot of things lose a lot of value from their original cost. People, young and old, want to get as much as they can (or close to what they paid for it, or even more) from items they sell. My wife has squaredance dresses that she can no longer wear and we no longer squaredance, but she paid good money for them. She knows that she won't get what she paid for them, so we still have them!
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,722 posts, read 58,067,115 times
Reputation: 46190
Quote:
Originally Posted by Janeace
Seeing all my parents have left behind .... Who deals with their STUFF? ..., I want it gone now while I can deal with it and not when it has to be gone. Get rid of stuff and stop bringing new stuff into the house as you age.
My desire, carry 2 bags OUT for every one bag IN. That will increase as (physical) departure draws near.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wwanderer
If you have an active "freecycle" website where you live, you can give things away ..
Someone earlier mentioned a 'free-garage-sale', where you advertise, and then when they show up It's free!! I can see that as working in combination with 'nice stuff'. Just price that stuff attractive; and give the rest away free. I bet you will get rid of most everything that way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by riverbird
...I get a thrill everytime I get rid of something I don't need. I love not having so much crap to dust, store, and move.
reps to you! And saving some $$ moving too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowsnow
.... I am the daughter of a packrat ... you start serving your belongings instead of them serving you. I have been fighting this tendency all my life....
reps to U 2 ! My genes are definately 'pat-rat' BUT (false justification) Still using grandma's treadle sewing machine (but I likely don't need EACH grandma's machine) Still using grandpa's tools, but a whole shop full
I don't need a moving truck.... I need a DUMP TRUCK.
I will be downsizing from a farm and 3 rural props to a VW van. Anyone need tractors, rototillers, food driers / canning supplies, barns full of 'projects? ?? (28 vw diesel cars that get 50mpg? (I got most for $35-$100, some for free ) Bad Rabbit Habit
I lived in my last place for nine months and because I knew I wouldn't be there long, I unpacked only things I used frequently. When I listed the place for sale, I packed away even more things (including the toaster) so the place would look clean and bare, to the point where I was told buyers asked 'does someone live here?'
I grew to like uncluttered walls and open space. I know I won't be in this place more than nine more months, so I'm even more careful about leaving things in boxes here. Packing is a pain and time goes quickly, so there's no point in unpacking much.
I haven't seen any of my decorative items since July of last year. I'm so used to a minimalist look that next spring, when I move to a place where I expect to live for several years, I'll probably think the place looks cluttered if I hang some of my favorite pictures on the wall.
I moved recently from a 2-story home to a townhome...spent months literally getting rid of the stuff.
Donated to Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, the local orphanage, Boy Scouts. My neighbors got furniture/items for $1 or free. My neighbors kids got my old toys, etc.
It was tiring but fun. The best part:
The more I gave away/got rid of, the better I felt!! Truly a freeing experience~
Quote:
Originally Posted by Janeace
Seeing all my parents have left behind and looking down the short road to retirement I believe getting rid of STUFF, downsizing items if you will, is necessary as we age. If my father nailed a picture to the wall, 40 years later it is still there, along with many others. Now he is demented and flat on his back in a VA hospital and mom is frail and blind. Who deals with their STUFF? For myself, with no children, I have no one to leave the STUFF to. Pictures on the wall, prints, posters, if they can't be tossed easily later, I want them gone now. Items from hobbies past, gone. The weighty futon used less than a dozen times, I want it gone now while I can deal with it and not when it has to be gone. Get rid of stuff and stop bringing new stuff into the house as you age.
Seeing all my parents have left behind and looking down the short road to retirement I believe getting rid of STUFF, downsizing items if you will, is necessary as we age. If my father nailed a picture to the wall, 40 years later it is still there, along with many others. Now he is demented and flat on his back in a VA hospital and mom is frail and blind. Who deals with their STUFF? For myself, with no children, I have no one to leave the STUFF to. Pictures on the wall, prints, posters, if they can't be tossed easily later, I want them gone now. Items from hobbies past, gone. The weighty futon used less than a dozen times, I want it gone now while I can deal with it and not when it has to be gone. Get rid of stuff and stop bringing new stuff into the house as you age.
The hardest thing for me is the pictures. My mother TREASURED her photographs more than anything else in life. Memories of better times, I guess. Anyway, I have albums and albums and ALBUMS of photographs that I feel I *must* keep since she loved them so.
The rest of her stuff (and mine) I could do without easily. But, oh, those damn photos!
The hardest thing for me is the pictures. My mother TREASURED her photographs more than anything else in life. Memories of better times, I guess. Anyway, I have albums and albums and ALBUMS of photographs that I feel I *must* keep since she loved them so.
20yrsinBranson
One thing I found out about, in general, many younger Senior ladies don't like to get rid of some clothes cause they are always "thinking" they will lose enough weight to fit back into the old clothes they use to wear 10 yrs ago. My wife can be like that!
Another thing that will slow-to-stop some people from getting rid of certain things is the money they spent to buy the items. After a number of years, a lot of things lose a lot of value from their original cost. People, young and old, want to get as much as they can (or close to what they paid for it, or even more) from items they sell. My wife has squaredance dresses that she can no longer wear and we no longer squaredance, but she paid good money for them. She knows that she won't get what she paid for them, so we still have them!
I can understand you wife's reluctance to dispose of her costumes. I was a professional dancer for much of my life and it is extemely difficult to dump the costumes. I've sold some but elected to keep most of them. Normal clothes are easy to get ride of although it just kills me to give away expensive clothes or shoes that were only worn a few times. But I promised myself years ago I would NOT be like so many seniors who keep their "work" clothes for ever, looking out of style, wearing ill-fitting clothing. Better to buy just a couple of good items of clothing every year to be up to date and feel good about one's self. The worst part about this aging stuff is not being able to wear those 5" high heels anymore!
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) Still using grandpa's tools, but a whole shop full
) Bad Rabbit Habit 
