My neighbors husband was a collector of anything and held onto it "just in case". He passed away last year and she has been on a tare. She ordered a dumpster and started tossing. Donation truck were pulling up weekly. She is now down to a sofa , chair and an end table in her living room, a small table and chairs in her kitchen (dining room is empty), a bed, bureau and night stand in her bedroom. She kept minimal supplies in her kitchen and cleared out tons of old documents that weren't necessary to keep. She has very little and said she's never felt so free. She's grateful to be out from under the burden of stuff. Not just the younger generation wants less stuff. Many senior adults feel the same way and regret the money they wasted on things they really didn't need.
I had to clean out my sister's house and property after she died. What a nightmare. It took forever as she was quite a hoarder. But she had a lot of nice clothes. A lot of the practical things I washed up and donated to the local nursing home. I knew many of the patients there ran out of clean sleepwear and day wear and get stuck in ratty old hospital gowns. The staff was delighted to receive the items. And I felt I'd brightened some patient's day.
Much the same on my end. MIL died in nursing home and as local child, the cleanup and house sale fell to me. Almost three years to complete. Two days of sales, donations of an incredible amount of stuff to local charities, and all her and her husbands clothes went to the nursing home that cared for them. Friends and family sale first, estate sale next, garage sale last. Then there was the 40 years of bad decor to remove and a three story house to paint. Wow. I want a tiny house!
I'm almost 70 and downsizing. Just threw out several photo albums of photos from my youth. It hurt but my kids don't want them and I get it. Stop acquiring stuff people!!
That hurt 😔, but better you make the decision than relatives feeling like they had to keep them or have to make the choice to get rid of. You're very strong ❤ and thoughtful
On photos if you have very good cell phone or digital camera take pictures of your photo albums . Also take pictures of things you know should downsize donate throw away . Put the digital pictures on many devises . As you get older it will bring you pleasure . Remembering the nice thoughts of the past also happy to many things not cluttering up your home and feels good .
Pianos... selling for nearly nothing or being given away. As a musician, I always wanted a baby grand. A couple of years ago, I purchased a gorgeous 5 ft maple baby grand that is about 90 years old that was in 8/10 condition. Buying a new one of comparable quality would cost $15k+- plus, you'd never get the construction materials in this instrument (ivory keys, old growth timber.) I bought it for $1000, and paid half that much again to have it moved. I dubbed her "Mabel" and she occupies a place of honor in my home. But spinets and uprights? You could pick them up free all day, every day.
I see very little demand for quality wood antiques. Younger folks seem to like trendy, poorly made stuff, which is a shame. Or they want to piant beautiful walnut, cherry, and mahogany pieces, which should be a crime.
Actually, painted wood furniture has lately fallen out of fashion, and quality wood antiques are rapidly regaining popularity. Watch any interior designer’s recent videos and you’ll see a return to an appreciation for *good* old pieces, often used sparingly throughout the home to add character to a contemporary esthetic.
People are buying well made stuff. Or at least some are. Only they are concerned vintage pieces won't hold 300 lb adults. Also, so many people shop furniture online. They want a delivery to their home.
We collect walnut marble top furniture c1870s, and hand knotted oriental rugs early 20th Century. I guess we’re sunk. (Hint, there is a market for both of those items, it just isn’t in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.)
@@garyowen9044I collect furniture from 1775-1875. lots of bronzes, marble statues, 18th and 19th century paintings, silver and rugs. I don't know anyone that would want any of it when I am gone.
I supplemented our five kids first on their own- homes with the extra furniture, kitchen ware, linens and window treatments. Worked well for me, I just gave it away, if kids didn’t want it, I donated. I cleared so much “useful stuff “ .
Not poor; just a different lifestyle. I’m 60 so I get where you’re coming from. But I’ve told my adult kids to tell me what they want so they have lovely memories not being burdened by dust collectors
I recently moved from my home of almost 40 years; a 100 year old colonial with much of the original woodwork. I had loved buying (dark) period pieces to fill it over the years. My 'new' home, however, is a 'cabin in the woods'. I dreaded the thought of getting rid of my furniture - but knew there was no way mahogany would look good in "1980s cheap rustic". But, at my age, frankly, I just didn't care how bizarre it was going to look. Lol! And was delighted when I calculated that none of my cherished pieces had to find a new home or be tossed. Even more delightful: they actually look pretty good in my new house! I never would have imagined. :-)
my son has no room for anything and my dtr is a minimalist...so what I have collected over the years will never be wanted by them yet I think they have some value....sadly, I am no good at marketing or selling....
@@leelauralAre there any antique malls near you? Maybe you could sell to them (an actual person and physical location) instead of online. That’s what I did.
Freecycle is another resource. And now that I'm old and don't want my family to have to deal with my stuff later on, occasionally I've been renting tables at a local firehouse's weekly fundraiser flea market and putting out items for free. I'm not interested in haggling with people over a quarter.
I was going through a bin of things that my mother sent me today. I noticed the only things that I wanted to keep our things that were associated with a happy memory for me. That being the case, I think the only things of their parents that kids want to keep our things that are associated with happy memories for them. I think we care more about happy memories and less about monetary worth.
There are ways to prevent some things from going to the landfill. Seek out furniture flippers- they love remaking out-of-style furniture because it’s cheap or free. Cut hole-y clothes, etc., into quilt blocks ( avoiding the holes) and donate marked as such. There are local crafters that often use parts of out-of-style items to update them or make new crafts. Help that Elderly person set a room full of things for crafter/flippers to come and get and set supervised times for the visitor-shoppers so that Granny is never in danger. Mechanics have to buy rags- things that don’t sell or walk out the door can be cut into rags. Some people make beautiful bird feeders and bird baths out of old plates- thin china plates are very easy to glue together with an E-6000 type of glue. Prevention of so much stuff accumulating is best but 🌳Please 🌲Try 🌵folks to find ways to help the earth 🌎 before dumping more into it.
I have my fathers stamp collection....something I specifically requested. I remember looking at them when I was little and it makes me feel closer to him. I realize they are worth nothing to anyone else. I have some vintage jewelry and about a dozen Beatrix Potter Beswick which I love and have only for me. I have no living family to leave anything to so I don't collect with that in mind. I don't have anything to excess but what I have I enjoy immensely. It kind of makes me sad when people get rid of everything sort of virtue seeking. My things tie me to my past.
Young people today are more transient and don't want to move a bunch of heavy things around every couple of years. Also minimalism has caught on with a lot of people. I'm 58 and have embraced having less of some things.
59 w/ acreage, love old stuff/cars. It got away from me, lotta cleaning going on. My gen is the the only one that puts any value to this stuff, after this......
Many of us want the 19th century photos. And interesting books. Not best sellers or other mass market. I was lucky enough to inherit a collection of costume books from a friend.
Look....keep classic books....keep the non fiction and keep the highly touted fiction books....with our internet, everything will go digital and there will be NO record of history that can be relied on.....
You did a great job hitting on things people overlook, but you are so right. Downsizing is emotional, but beginning to detach can be helpful for ALL involved, including the owner of all of these items
I just went thru my mom’s aunt’s photo album from the 1930’s and 40’s. I took out about a dozen pictures of people I know in them and wrote on the back who they are. But the rest, I got rid of. I’m 58, and starting my declutter process already
@@cjhoward409 love it!! I did this exact process for photos of my grandmothers. Sadly, after she passed, those albums completely disappeared. I’m still sad about that almost 20 years later.
DO NOT just throw out family photographs. If you don't have a family archivist to give them to then have them digitized before disposing of them. Try giving the collection to a local history group or museum. Even if you don't have time to label everything a family historian can still piece together who's who with reasonable accuracy. Turfing a couple of suitcases full of old black and white photographs because "nobody's interested in that old junk" will risk you becoming the stuff of family legend, that crazy aunt who...
My thrift shops sells crsft, home, cooking magazines and recycles what they can't sell. I enjoy the decorsting, cooking, gsrdening, crafting etc. I then give them back yo be repurposed again. 😍😊😍
Not all but key family ancestor photos should be saved. Identify them all now while someone still remembers who they were! If no one in the immediate family wants them, (they're out of the will) look outward to cousins in other parts of the country or the world. Start on it now so it isn't a huge job when everything "has to go". Everything else, talk with family and friends now and start a list of who wants what and make sure it's easy to find.
I have a set of china that my mother bought when we were overseas. My oldest said he didn’t want it at first, after really looking at the pattern he changed his mind. It’s rather plain and you can buy replacements online still although they are pricey.
My son just ask for that dark old furniture you talk, all heavy rosewood old n beautiful till today, also my daughter ask for paintings n lithographs, including some paintings with no market value. They both ask for some figurines too. Nobody ask for the books, you right about that, but one single book n occult philosophy’s is worth more the five thousand, I’m sure someone will wanted. I hope they don’t change their mind.😊
Not true for everyone. My mom’s piano is the only thing I want from my parents’ house! But yes, you see pianos for free all the time, so not everyone feels like I do.
Pianos are very hard to get rid of. When I do find someone who wants one, they are usually shocked at the cost to have it moved. You can't just throw them in the back of a pickup.
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, etc. may bring more success. Recruit some help posting or shipping, and get some basic advice on avoiding scams!
We have 100 year old bedroom set with green marble tops. Old furniture sucks. The drawers stick and are heavy. You'll break your back moving them. New furniture is made precise and the drawers slide so easily. For good selling items at yard sale, TOOLS and metal working machinery. In any case you never get what you paid. Order on-line, a new living room set, it was delivered and set up. Came home to see it was made for little people. I had a hard time donating it to a church group.
Everyone needs a trust designation of items instructions . Many people are very uncomfortable going through dead peoples things . As a senior my family can’t even talk they panic . I helped my brother go through one our family’s items and it was ok . I will leave detailed instructions some items ship to a friend . Remaining put add in craig’s list or offer up “ALL FREE must take all or nothing “ Then family will enjoy the insurance money .
We had to empty 65 yrs of marriage collection from my In-Laws. Lovely stuff, but when we called an auctioneer who informed us that antique furniture is often referred to as ‘brown turds’ by people trying to sell them. Young people aren’t interested, and older ones already have plenty.
its not that we are "pawning" stuff off to you....we bought it and kept it because we thought it would be valuable for you....maybe we were wrong but our hearts were in the right spot.
That means she's trying to start to get rid of things. Help her find a home for those things but don't lie to her and act like it's going to your house if it really isn't!
So I should get rid of family photos of ancestors up to 160 years old as my family does not want them? Also, I should get rid of the research my grandmother spent years researching on her family back to the 1680s immigrants because the younger members are not interested? The young ones want furniture made from saw dust rather than solid wood. I should toss my mothers china made in America because the young one wants dishes made in Asia that are basically not worth the price. The young do not know what quality is. No wonder civilization is on the verge of collapse.
Donate any old yearbooks to Ancestry.com. I did. All 4 from my high school years. '72-'75. I have a friend I've known since '69 7th grade and she keeps everything. So if I hear of a death of a classmate, I can check with her to refresh my memory.
Another way to frame to issue: all those things we have spent a lifetime accumulating may take another lifetime of someone's time to rehome. When you pass on, your heirs will not be able to spend a couple of years finding the highest price buyers. Certain quality items may find ready buyers, all the rest will need super low prices or donations (or the dumpster!). What happens in most houses where a person has lived for decades is that all the nooks and crannies get filled up and there is way more stuff than anyone expects. Maybe you are guilty of storing things underneath or behind your sofa(s) - and have closets at the bursting point, and so on throughout your house. I have been steadily thinning out storage spaces, closets, and especially my garage for several years - and I still have a house full it seems! It is very agonizing and stressful for your family to honor your memory while distributing and selling off your estate. Be a nice senior and get the job started while you can take some of that burden away from your heirs. Best wishes.
@@ocpersonofinterest Everybody experiences grief and loss differently, and maybe for you and your sister spending weeks going through everything was a joy. My mother had two houses and they were full of stuff. Me and my three siblings quickly identified the items of meaning After that it took a while to go through everything (and dad's stuff too, he had been gone for almost ten years and his stuff was still in place) and settle all the financial aspects. I'm being proactive and reducing my possessions now, so that my family will have it easier in that regard. I'm also taking care of some financial aspect so they won't have to spend as much time dealing with an estate attorney.
anybody out there needing to get rid of their dad's baseball card collection before listing the house, feel free to send them to me. I'll take good care of them.
Actually when they are saved to the cloud you can share the album with other family members so that when you die they still have access to all those previous pictures.
@@annainspain5176 The population of the USA has doubled in my lifetime. Keep pretending all the unnecessary crap you buy is needed or wanted. The problem keeps growing even as you ignore it.
I buy what I like not what I think will sell. I collect real antiques and you’re wrong about oriental rugs. Sorry dear. A good Persian rug will outlast your life. I have a little apartment with antiques and paintings and Russian icons. I have no chockies either. I’m not a minimalist. And I worked in the antiques field for years. You’re just wrong.
@@LifeHappens-xu8pg unfortunately- As beautiful as it is, there’s not a huge desire for it in my market area…Sad but true. Hopefully those who value those items will
@@MovingToLancaster Most furniture is now junk. I do understand how people have come to want to live lighter….much lighter, as in pressed paper garbage furniture, but it’s literally disposable, like most things. I do not want junk in my home, or collections, or special dishes, or any thing of the sort… but I do tolerate beautiful quality solid wood furniture :) “sigh”
@@LifeHappens-xu8pgMost of my furniture is pre 1880. Massive pieces like I have are hard to sell because people don't have room. My bed is 10 feet tall.
Idk man. You guys are overlooking artists. We WANT this stuff to upcycle or use to create art. But we don’t want to buy it. We want you to give it to us for free 🤷♀️ So….. nobody wants it should be changed to nobody wants to pay for it
I get invited to peoples homes for a fancy meal lately.... these kids should be ashamed. They dont even have a set of china or silver to host dinner parties because they threw it away. It screams poor!
A lot of new and very expensive homes in our market don't even have formal dining rooms. If people even have others over, it's often not in a dinner party setting. A surprising number of 20-30 year olds I've encountered can't even set a table, and they have appalling table manners to boot. Plus, their little monster spawns have to be plugged into an electronic device or they are bouncing of the walls. I've offered all the kids in the extended family a stamp collection. No takers. I like to donate stuff when appropriate. I often recommend estate type sales to folks that need to downsize. They may only get a dollars for something, but at least the buyer values the item.
Wow… Are these “kids” kind? Responsible? Compassionate? Do they help others? Make an effort to improve their community, or the world? Then they have no reason to be “ashamed.” Not regarding formal table settings a high priority is *not* a character flaw, neither is being “poor,” for that matter. 🙄 They generously invited you to a special dinner, and *this* is how you later talk about them? SMH….
@@yellowdog762jb “Little monster spawns”? …Really? The most consequential manners are those involving kindness. Clearly age doesn’t automatically teach someone that.
+@andreaebinger5436 mean comments are a reflection of the poster 😂 Thx for the laugh. Have a great week! I AM limited - to time I give to unkind people. Scroll on!
I just went thru my mom’s aunt’s photo album from the 1930’s and 40’s. I took out about a dozen pictures of people I know in them and wrote on the back who they are. But the rest, I got rid of. I’m 58, and starting my declutter process already
