I used to work for an elderly lady who had a den/library with quite a large collection of books in it. When she passed, her kids were boxing up the books to donate, and they dropped one, and several $20 bills fell out of it. They decided to go through all the books and found tens of thousands of dollars tucked in those books in small amounts here and there.
Good job they looked. My gran was a farmer and in later years she wasn't very particular. She would freeze a pheasant with the feathers on! But when she died we found she'd wrapped up parcels of money in newspaper and put them in the freezer mixed in with all the food parcels. Everything had to be checked.
There's a 70's made for TV movie about a guy who falls in love and she tells him she's filthy rich, even though she lives very humble. She's quite eccentric. Well, she dies and he's left to take care of her stuff. Still puzzled about her claims to have lots and lots of money...well, he finds a bunch of $20's in a book and thinks that all the books have money...which he finds out nope, after going through a shelf of books...then finds another load of $20's and finally figures out that she stored her money only in books that were dark blue LOL. Yes, a fortune in $20 bills Can't remember the title or the actors in it, but it was a long time ago.
I knew my mom had life insurance. My brother disagreed. And she was an antique dealer. He was clueless. As we went through everything, literally everything, I had to tell him what to keep, sell or toss. He thought I was nuts going through a 2' stack of newspapers page by page until the single sheet for the life insurance dropped out.
It would have been impossible for him to go through this amount of stuff…makes me determined not to leave this situation for my kids. I am actively working on it!!
I totally agree with you. Recently I have learned that I also diffently need to do the same thing. My mother just past away, She was so neat and tidy, but she could get the most items into any corner. We were so surprised what all we found. She had a 3 bedroom home, with a basement. One thing I regret is that I should have asked my Mom (years ago) questions of the items. And what she really wants done with them.
So, I wonder if renting a storage locker for items that may be valuable and then deliberately not paying for it, allowing an auction to be held and treasure hunters will be thrilled? No one wants anything free, even if it is valuable? You have to pretend to protect it in an outdoor storage shed with a faulty lock, put a sign “sell on eBay” and then allow folks to steal it! After thinking this through, call a dumpster company and rent one for a week and make sure to leave it open at night? P.S. I am exhausted!❤
Thank you for that. My father has been in the same home for 60 years. Two stories, a basement, and a 2 car garage full of hoarding, with piles of items expanded into the driveway. Add to that never updating the home or performing normal home maintenance, and one option on the table is to walk away from the giant mess and let the state take it after my father passes.
@@debbielandis4811horrible but probably true. My mom was an antique dealer and I worked for the local show promoter. The horror stories we'd hear or see.
If the gentleman who owned the house is depressed, he should have the inside of the house painted a light color and get rid of the dark carpets and the dark cabinets in the kitchen. The floor in the kitchen is nice. Light colors would help to lift his spirits. God bless the gentleman. It is so hard to lose loved ones. It is wonderful there are people like you to help people who are struggling.
My husband and mother are hoarders. Every three-five years I order a big dumpster for two weeks. When it shows up they both know I have been pushed too far. I am not a cruel, cold person but I can only stand so much. I do make it a practice to toss a few things every day but cannot keep up with what they hoard. I sometimes break things and cut things up to keep it from being retrieved from the trash. People ask me if I care about their illness. After decades, I care more about my own mental status. That and being able to get out of my house without things falling on my head or if there is a fire. Being able to have family over would be nice, too. We have grandchildren. It’s a losing battle. If I survive them, I will be the best minimalist in the world.
It’s certainly a challenge to live with people who hoard. I wonder if you could create your own space, in a room in the house or by moving out, or otherwise add boundaries? Hoarding happens because stuff makes them feel safe, so while tossing and breaking things keeps the mess down it may also be contributing to the cycle of stress that causes them to acquire more. But you need a space that is safe and manageable. Of course, we don’t know your situation, and you should do whatever you need to to stay sane.
I feel your pain, son. When my mother-in-law died, we found every rubber band off the newspaper, twist tie off a loaf of bread, plastic bag also from the newspaper. Greeting cards from when her husband died 25 years ago. Rather than buy new underwear, she sewed elastic shoulder straps so her knickers wouldn’t hit the floor in a public place. In her last years she didn’t feel like walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night, so instead of buying a bedside commode, she cut down milk jugs and used them. And spilled plenty of urine on the floor. She wasn’t poor. She had plenty of money. She was really nice and I loved her but I cannot understand why she did some of these things.
@@christineriehl9228 I have done it twice in 40 years. Numerous times I have cleaned and burned. It’s definitely a never ending chore. Heaped upon the shoulders of others because they do not want to admit they are mentally ill. It’s not fair to everyone else living in the home. It makes me think I am losing MY mind. I started therapy 5 years ago to cope. Still go. Still have anger issues.
This was like a clown car closet! I couldn't believe when the rocking horses came out after all of those game boxes etc. Someone packed that thing well. Thank you, Scully.
Love the art. It is cool that you aren't just helping the guy declutter, but you have saved the memories for him in these videos. He will always be able to have a memory of the things, and his mom with this recording. He can also see the care in which you have handled the items, it really shows.
The part where you sorted all the collectible games, toys, and dolls into categorized plastic bins was just as satisfying as the full dumpster. Preserving so much value there! Also the fireworks in the closet. Imagine if there had been a house fire 🙃
As someone with hoarding tendencies, I get so frustrated with people who can't understand that sometimes you just need to throw things away even if they're in good condition. So thank you for putting your client's mental health above the desire to save usable stuff. He needed the house cleaned more than charity shops needed more items.
Why do you need to? You’re carrying the stuff out of the house and into a container, instead put it in a truck or even a pile on the curb for others to take and whatever is left at the end of the day scrap it. I do this for a living and there literally is no reason to throw it all away. I also have hoarding tendencies (that’s what sparked me to start this business) so I can understand the need to just purge but that makes no difference to where good, useable items can go. This is not a criticism of this channel in particular, it’s an observation on how much waste there is in a world where we cannot afford to make more waste unnecessarily.
@@brennagreenglasspeacock some people don't have the spoons left to do that. I just spent 3 years cleaning out a hoarding house. At the end, I just had to recycle the 4,000 th plain, generic, glass vase. I sold/donated/repurposed/gave away stuff for YEARS and at the end, I just needed it fkn GONE for my sanity's sake.
@@Cole_Cross not trying to be argumentative but I’m not sure how that’s relevant to my comment. Totally different than collectibles that could have benefited this home owner being sold or other items that were still in good condition. If the answer to my question is just because we want to, then that’s that.
I think in many cases, the problem would be solved a bit more if countries -like America- would stop their useless overconsumption and the produce and waste of items that are discarded before they are even used. So much forced labour, pain, money, time, water and efforts are wasted on items that you don't use and chuck away. Landfill is not normal.
A closet full of childhood treasures lovingly kept by a mother. I kept imagining the Christmas mornings those toys must have represented. It's amazing how you two manage to organize so well, I'd be lost. Blessings on this gentleman for his perseverance and strength. Thanks for another awesome video!
i’m so jealous about how many vintage books were in this house, i’m a 2003 baby but i remember my elementary school always was a little more outdated than other schools so we had a lot of 1970s/80s/90s books and i loved them! i loved this video so much, i enjoy watching you guys show every single little thing :) thanks for helping out these people 💚
I was talking to a friend yesterday about the sunk cost fallacy. It took me many, many years to learn how to cut my losses. There was probably several thousand dollar's worth of stuff going in the dumpster. Lots of valuable stuff being donated, too. Your client was suffocating under the burden of his mother's hoard. His mental health and physical well-being are worth many times more than those old treasures. I feel bad when I see usable items going into the trash, but it isn't the end of the world. I can guarantee you that the gentlemen will not miss one thing that was discarded. I'm going to assume that since he had so many shirts to hang up that some of them are too big. Clothing for plus sized people is expensive. I hope he will be able to go through his too big clothes and donate them. Since his cooking habits are different now, he probably could get rid of half or more of the cookware and dishes, too. I wish him the best of luck.
This has to be one of the most emotional ones you have done. Even I felt sad seeing all those things that were once so loved and enjoyed by the family. Real nostalgia even as a stranger - the son is very brave to part with so much stuff, and you have done an amazing thing for him - you are an angel
Seeing all those books go bye-bye was giving me major anxiety! I'm a baby boomer and I remember so many of those books and games that were popular when I was a child. However, it's wonderful to let these things go and release oneself from the burden of so many things. You and your son are a blessing and I hope your channel encourages other people to reach out and help someone in any way they know how.
I, too, remember many of the books and had fun seeing them again. We had a set of children's encyclopedias that I enjoyed reading when I was young. It is not the same to look at a computer screen.
As fellow rural Illinoisan (“No, not Chicago.” 😂) and child of the same generation, I so appreciate your cultural references! This homeowner has shed the weight and allowed you to purge a heavy burden for him. Well done, sir. Well done.
@@Rollimggiant There’s nothing wrong with Chicago. I like to visit. People just always assume when you say you’re from Illinois that you are from Chicago. 😁
Wow! Those albums! Still sealed! And for this to be a hoarder situation, so many things aren't damaged, from mold, mice, etc. It's actually incredible.
A parents' love knows no bounds. I still honor them with letting them know that it is their face that needs a round-house. Especially, their MoMs' face! ..."Mean Old Mother". That is how you get Mom out of mother. Oh that reminds me! I need to get my boys' Muthas Day cards. Specially crafted for their disturbing faces.
But it’s not over! The son is still there, and can now look forward to better living conditions and a less-burdened life. He surely didn’t even know that most of that stuff still existed, let alone could enjoy it.
Yes and it also makes me consider what I will eventually leave behind. The THINGS we leave behind aren’t our real legacy anyway. We leave our influence, our kindnesses, the ways we’ve touched other lives without even knowing it. Like the butterfly effect, one single kind interaction may have changed the course of a stranger’s life. So we ARE leaving behind a legacy, even if every physical item of ours is gone. That thought comforts me as I go through and pare down my “things.” Hope this encourages you too friend. 😊
You did the right thing to get rid of things as fast as possible. This poor man needs a clean house and a clean start. Thanks so much for sharing this.
This is what reminds me how valuable & enjoyable window shopping is. I just look at stuff and never buy it when I think of the beautiful, organised, free space at my place. Everything I own, gets used everyday, otherwise it won't get purchased. Nothing is more freeing than having less and living more. Good job guys
Watching this type of show and having to clean out Mom's house has made me reevaluate my purchases. My kids won't want to go thru things that meant something to me but not much to anyone else.
That was so kind to bring hangers and put away his clothes, along with doing another run-through the kitchen. You made that house into his home. What a marvelous thing to do.
God bless your little pea picking heart for being such a compassionate human being! I love that you don’t judge people and demonstrate by your example that people deserve respect. I’m a borderline hoarder and totally understand how hard it is to let go of things that others consider trash. It takes me hours to sort through my boxes of memorabilia and I have gotten better at parting ways with those old rubber bands and pictures of scenery that I have no clue where it is, lol. Videos like yours inspire me to make better decisions on what I want cluttering up my life. Thank you so much! I love your sense of humor too! Keep the videos coming please! ❤
Today is my 52nd birthday, and this video was like an awesome time capsule of my childhood. What a treat! I know it has to be a huge relief for the owner. Grief makes everything harder to deal with. You're doing a huge service for folks, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Thank you for all you do, and for sharing!
I’m 60 and my grandmother had a series of the Best In Children’s Books at her house for my brother and me. Core memory unlocked when I saw that book cover! 😊
I lost my dad about 20 years ago and many of these things look like they’d be in his hoard. He worked out of town on the railroad (he built track) and he’d come home every weekend. That little tv and it’s antenna entertained him in his truck bed camper he had that he stayed in all week. He was cheap enough to not want to spend money on motels and never got rid of things because he refused to spend money on something twice, so getting rid of of things was not what he EVER did. He also had many bowling balls and golf clubs! When you got to those big bear house slippers it triggered a memory of weekend mornings and pancakes with him and I lost my shit crying and crying! Thanks for what you do, man. Thanks for not judging that man or his house or anyone else that you help. I appreciate people like you so damn much and I’m so sad that more people like you don’t exist in the world! From the bottom of my heart, thank you. 🥺❤️
Omg….seriously, you’ve opened a portal to where all my childhood toys were hiding! Right down to the cap gun…used to take a whole roll of caps and hit it with a hammer! Ah, memories.
This a Father that loves his son so much Jason, Jason & him have a sense of humor hope everyone gets it. Wonderful work both of you do to help these people. Love watching.
We had the exact same children's encyclopedia set when I was growing up - I recognized the pictures on the covers & it brought back memories. Also some of the kid's books I remember. That horse he brought out of that closet I think was that 'Marvel the Mustang! You sat on it & bounced up & down & it would move across the floor. Bet that was from the 60's! I even remember the words to the song on the commercials for it on tv, lol. ... So many vintage items! Worth a lot & a lot of reminiscing too!
@Debra Magginetti - I agree. I couldn't help but see how much love was shared year after year that built that huge amount - a life's worth - of memories. Memories that were cherished enough to save every moment.
Great video. I love what you did for this .man. His story touched my heart and I am so happy that you are able to help him through this . Thank you for being such a kind person .
@@sheilam4964 , this was such an emotional clean-out. We just watched two men unpack a mother's heart with such gentleness. There was another comment about grief and guilt walking hand-in-hand that just about laid me out flat. Such a tender gift for her son in a difficult time.
I am so happy that I came across your videos without allowing myself to to feel discussed or judged without seeing the results. Now I cannot stop watching you because I see your compassion and care for these people. I like that you do not judge them and explain in a positive way their situation. You seem honest and very thoughtful and caring. You leave nothing undone and give explanations for everything because we know that people tent to watch and then criticize. These videos also teaches in how and why we tent to become hoarders. You also give a lot of points on what to use to clean and how to organize
When my husband passed away just over 15 years ago, for some reason I didn't have a hard time getting rid of his truck, his tools, or his books but I just couldn't seem to bring myself to get rid of his clothes. I hung on to them for years! Then one day I took them off the hangers and put them in bags and put them in my car and I decided that if I ever got brave enough I would drop them off at Goodwill and if I drove around with them for a long time and still couldn't bring myself to donate them, I would simply bring them back in the house and hang them back up and just keep them. I drove around with them for a few weeks and then one day I just zipped into Goodwill and dropped them off and it was surprisingly a lot easier to do than I had thought it would be. So I totally understand why this man found it difficult to get rid of his mother's clothes. But I hope he realizes that getting rid of her clothes does not mean he is getting rid of the memories of her. He will still have all of those. BTW, I have to ask. HOW BIG WAS THAT CLOSET?
Hey, as someone that shops at Goodwill, please know it means a LOT to be able to wear nice clothes for a tiny price. I got a really good job after interviewing in a Goodwill suit.❤
@@ShellyS2060 That is my experience also. When you have extremely little money, these places are lifesavers. I still go when I can, because while I am no longer destitute, I live on a pension and I don't have much to spare. Donations can make such a difference in people's lives!
Prefer the classic clothing and bed linens in natural earth grown fibers. They "vibrate" with high energies for us. 100% linen is at 5000 units, organic cotton =100 (matching human resonance 100). Cotton = 80, linen blended with cotton cancels the high resonance. Silk is quite low at 30. A woman from Japan tested the various fabrics. This strange info was heard on a short vid Dr. (Naturopath) Shanael Wolverton's channel. *using a linen top sheet at night makes me feel comfort.
Oh my gosh. We had those encyclopedias. You got them at the grocery store each week until,you got the full set. These closets brought back lots of childhood memories. Yeah, I am really old
Really appreciate your sense of order. I have a horror of “things being in the wrong place” and go nuts when I can’t find what I want when I need it, argghh! I hope the chap you and Jason are doing this for continues to recover from the grief of losing his Mum and the after effects of having cancer. I hope, too, that what the two of you have done helps him to deal with the overwhelm of it all.
You guys have really improved his life and given him a fresh start! I wish this guy continued improvement and better health!! Maybe one day he will have a special bond with someone like you and Jason share (so warm and fuzzy❤)!!! Sending good wishes from Ohio!!!
Hi guys! Bless you for the work you do. After my dad passed we found change/money everywhere! Filled a kitchen garbage can! A couple hundred, thank goodness bank didn't make us put into rolls! And found a bag of keys with a label that said "don't know what these go to"...
Not sure if you'll see this message, but something I learned recently is that those Correll dishes with the green contain lead, arsenic, and cadmium in the paint. If you are still in contact with this gentleman, you might recommend that he eliminate those from his cabinet. The risk is low until the paint starts chipping, but the risk is still there.
This lady must have been a fabulous mother and grandmother or aunt. She loved children and gave them a childhood rich in books, games, and activities. Things to entertain and enrich a child's mind. No wonder the man is so aggrieved at her loss. You have done him a tremendous service in doing what he could not: removing the emotional burden that all this clutter placed on him emotionally and physically.
Oh my God, I had that Golden Book Encyclopedia set! Recognized that image of Jefferson on the cover as soon as you picked up the stack. (In my age defense, I did get a lot of things handed down from my three older siblings, one of whom is 9 years older than I, so..... eh, who am I kidding, I'm older than the dirt in that closet.
" The Golden Book Encyclopedia" is from the late 1950s - early 1960s, and I used them through public school. It was one of those encyclopedia sets sold in super markets, at the time, in a 'Special Display', and you could get a volume a week for a couple of dollars, when you did your grocery shopping. I kept them proudly on my desk, in my bedroom, back in the day. I still have my set, too ! Just one of the things I did keep - I'm really not sure why !
What a Time Capsule! The toys and books were the same types of things we cleared out of my mom's house....over 60's years of accumulated stuff. We had the time to sort through the mess; set aside items for various auctioneers who specialized in toys, model kits, model trains, appliances, and home goods to get the best prices we could get (yes, they take a cut, but they hauled the items away); donated clean usable items to charity; and still filled about five 20-yard dumpsters with junk.
This video really brought me back to the 70's. It was really fun to see the contents of those closets. The paintings were beautiful. I wonder if his mom was an artist. I laughed every time you guys found another bowling ball. haha
You and your son are truly a godsend for this young man. Now he can lie a life in the home he grew upon,which will be a safe environment for him as well. And having his kitchen organized was a good thing ,too. You and your son gave this man the relief he needed. It was amazing how his mom had all that change all over the house. Be sure to check the wheat head pennies. There are people who actually collects them. I have seen websites for it. Your helping this young man has been a true blessing GOD will bless your for your Act of Kindness for all the people you have helped. Thank You.
My parents both passed with less than 2 years of obe another. I inherited their small hoarder house, it is also in pretty bad disrepair. I'm an only child, with no other living family and its overwhelming because I'm on my own trying to sort and go through cleaning it all out. I've been trying to take it one room at a time but they were both hoarders and were sufferibg both in mental and physical health for the last few years of their lives. There is just so much and this house holds a lot of trauma for me I've not been able to make it to the worst of it yet. My dad's shop barely has walking space with tools, hardware, books, paperwork, equipment, literally everything he ever thought might be useful for more than 40 years. No mail for at least the last decade was ever thrown away, no paperwork, taxes, or receipts were ever thrown away. I really understand the struggle with this owners mothers clothing, I've not been able to face my moms things yet, facing her packed closet was so emotional and hard, I've not been able to sort through all her things yet. I really really need some help and am trying to not get too depressed and overwhelmed by it as I'm currently recovering from a mental health crisis myself. I just have no idea how I am going to be able to do it all. If you could recommend anyone/services in Southern Oklahoma that could help I would be forever grateful. Thank you so much for your videos and the care and empathy you give towards mental health awareness. I wish more people would be willing to help others as you do without passing judgment.
Oh Amber, I'm so sorry for your loss and what you have been through. :( I hope you feel a litte bit better at the moment? Do you have a good friend, who could support you or is there something like a local help center or social center, who you can ask for help? (I'm so sorry that I couldn't be THE support that you needed but I live in Germany) I wish you all the best 🌻
So many treasures! I see my childhood in that closet- things I had as a kid and things I wanted. You and your son are a blessing to these folks that need your help! The clothes is the easiest part to get rid of but I learned from my grandma to “check the pockets” she hid her jewelry in her pockets- the logic was a thief will never check her pockets.
I can't believe the amazing stuff you found in that closet, 8 track tapes...I haven't seen those in years. I'm actually old enough to know what they are. My grandparents had a huge collection of them. This would've been so fun and interesting to go through all that cool stuff.
Great video as usual! I absolutely love the way you narrate and time lapse your videos! To top that, your sense of humor keeps me in stitches 😅😅😅😅😅 I hope that the gentleman that you're cleaning for gets better. I know, it's really hard to lose loved ones. I wish everyone all the best!
I love how carefully you removed all the things.. you can see it when you open that small compact with the mirror, care is being taken. Even tho it was cracked, you still made sure. That shows everything. How much time goes in to all the cleans you do for the people that need you. It's a gift.
Former bank teller here. Regarding the change, first you probably have more money than you realize. Second, to find coin collectibles focus on the dimes and the nickels. Dimes, back in the day, were made of silver. Those are SUPER easy to distinguish from regular dimes. They feel different, they weigh less, they’re thinner, smooth on the edge, and they have a different shade of color to them. Some Nickels, back in the day, we’re called “Buffalo Nickels” because there was a buffalo on the back. Those are collectible. Pennies, not so much, but there is one style of penny that has “wheat” on the back. They’re called Wheat Pennies. Half-dollars, 50-cent pieces and the Susan B Anthony dollar coins are also always good to get appraised by a coin collector.
I hope he feels so much better & able to continue getting his health under control, but I also hope he can keep up with the house now. Unbelievable how much you guys cleaned out!!! Great job 👍
This was like watching the ‘boy’ version of my childhood. You can tell that this family was very focused on their child(ten) and took extremely good care of their items. I was kind of aching thinking of all of these things going into a dumpster. MANY of those toys are worth a lot of money. But I do understand the scope and putting the metal Health of the owner first. But those books! Homeschool families would have loved those!!! Jason needs to start a side business selling the crazy stuff you find and helping folks make repairs to their homes! As someone currently dealing with my parents farm (multiple barns and a house!) I also saved the KISS 8 track!
You really did major work on this one. Even providing organization for his clothes and pretty much everything! I bet he feels such relief, and the ability to even think clearer.
I'm also autistic and I feel so much relief when you put things in order or come back to place boxes in line. Very good job, I love watching your videos and it's like me hearing myself when you talk to your son LOL you have a new subscriber. I wish I had so many coins to count. Let me not send a hug from Spain.
Thanks! You and family are admirable for not only doing this but doing such an honest thorough job. I never thought I'd be watching a cleaning channel. Also you inspire me to clean in fast mode like you.
You both are angels to those who need help. The closets were a time machine to the past and glad you could help him. I hope he can get used to using the dresser and closet. That's a big change.
@@booboopriestess9321 I spied some blue and white Corelle dishes from the 70s. Long lasting. I have a black and white Corelle pattern but those plates last a very long time.
Wow! You and your team took on a Herculean task! Sometimes it takes someone from outside the family and removed emotionally from the stuff, to purge and make progress. Awesome job! Beautiful artwork you uncovered, btw. The artist was very gifted. Thanks for sharing.
The respect you show for these ppl has given me strength to address my own house. im realizing how some of my own past traumas has effected me especially around cleaning and being overwhelmed by it. thank you so much for posting these. I hope to never get to this point myself. But I'm glad to know there *are* ppl out there who still would respect my house and what *I* consider valuable to own.
AAAAAAA I own that EXACT SAME "Good Decorating & Home Improvement" book -- bought at a thrift store years ago, and holy cow it is SPECTACULAR. Half the decor in it is legit amazing, and the other half is "no, seriously, what the helllllll."
