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My public (PBS) television station has an annual on-air auction of fine art and other stuff. Call yours and offer the keys with a list of what's stored. Yes, you could take the time to sell it, but what a pain. If you can put a dollar value on it, you can get a tax deduction for that amount if you get the nonprofit organization you're donating to to write a letter stating the $ value. Public television is a 501-C3 not-for-profit.
Keeps me awake at night. Wish I had never never owned all this cool stuff. I just don't know what to do with it all.
If you want to be rid of it quickly, there ARE ways to do that (rather than piecemeal). The farm property can be sold as-is with all contents intact. OR, there are companies that will hold an estate sale on your behalf. They take their cut, of course, but they do all the work. Same for the storage items -- hire someone to auction the entire contents of the units (kind of like those shows do). Have them take pics of everything and send you the CD - you can keep the memories via photos. Yes, you will get less $$ by doing it this way, but you will have your freedom from stuff sooner.
I don't know if it's true, but I once heard that people who suddenly lose all of their belongings to a fire or other disaster will at first feel quite sad, but that is followed by a sense of relief. They feel unburdened without a lifetime of "stuff" weighing them down.
I've never used them, but I understand you list what you have, and what you want, its a free exchange.
Freecycle is great. I've used them often to get rid of stuff here locally. I've gotten rid of stuff as small as wire cost hangers to as large as a hot tub that needed work on the motor.
I don't think the responders realize that the OP has a sentimental, emotional attachment to his items. Grandmother's stuff brings back thoughts of her and items bought when living in Russia have recollections of the time spent there. Also, it sounds like many items may have real intrinsic value. It's like giving away a part of your life to divest yourself of emotionally charged items. Selling those things or giving them away is a lot harder than just getting rid of an old chair, etc. to which you have no emotional connection.
I don't think the responders realize that the OP has a sentimental, emotional attachment to his items. Grandmother's stuff brings back thoughts of her and items bought when living in Russia have recollections of the time spent there. Also, it sounds like many items may have real intrinsic value. It's like giving away a part of your life to divest yourself of emotionally charged items. Selling those things or giving them away is a lot harder than just getting rid of an old chair, etc. to which you have no emotional connection.
no, it won't be easy but if the OP hasn't seen/used the stuff in ages and worrying about it is keeping him awake, it's time to let it go.
Pick one spot (CA, or the farmhouse or your own garage), keep a few things. Ask relatives if they'd like anything. It might make it easier to give it to people or charities than to sell it. At this point, I think it's the memories you're attached to, not the stuff.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azoria
..I have the last of my grandmother's stuff (born 1894) which has been in storage there since 1985. In Spokane WA I have a 4 bedroom farmload of stuff in storage which has been there since 2003. ...I have stuff galore.
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I can relate, EXCEPT my Stuff includes the farm!!! (actually 4 rural places at the moment)
I have stuff from pioneer homestead of great grandparents as well as all the furniture I and my predecessors have built and wood, mechanic, welding, and machine shops of dad and granddad. Plus many tractors, dozers, trucks, well pumps, irrigation Equip....
I will probably have a BIG sale, or donate to a church or children's camp. (Used Stuff is not selling at very high $$ at the moment). eBay could move the smaller stuff (that can be shipped) But I have thousands of items. Nice thing about wood furniture is that if you get cold, you can burn it. (I have many pieces built by family in the 1800's)
I am also outfitting a few 'rural' apartments around the country so I will feel at home wherever I am. They each get a few treasures.
I need a LOT more than a moving van... maybe a freight train. (I need something big enough to move semi trucks and bulldozers and milling machines...). Maybe... If I'm REAL lucky... I will just 'keel-over' thinking about MOVING
The 'downturn' is a bonanza for those looking for good deals on STUFF. Prices are a fraction of what they were.
After downsizing I realized how much of our stuff wasn't that important to me. I could have
eliminated more. IMO I would choose a few items that were important to me and the
suggestion of an auction is a great idea. Note: if you do an auction and have lots of stuff
go through it if you think there's something important or of value because if there is too
much "stuff" they often just auction a box of things instead of every single item.
Welcome to the Downsizing club! I am on a schedule to be otta here in about the same amount of time. I try and get rid of something every day and have bags going to Goodwill weekly and run about 8-10 items for sale on Craigslist daily. Yesterday was a bad day. I did not get rid of a thing. I have been donating things, too. Perhaps there is a Russian store, restaurant, library, club, church that would like to buy or have some of the items.
I have resolved to only by clothing if needed and consumables from here on.......
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