What to keep and what to get rid of ????

[C.Ann]

Well - my DD and her DH officially put their house up for sale today.. That means that as soon as they sell (and believe me, the houses up here are just flying off the market in as little as 2 or 3 days - in many cases for more than the asking price) they'll be finding another house to purchase and it will be time for us to begin the process of moving in with them..

We've decided to move my DH in first (so people won't become unglued by walking past him and his medical machinery) and I'll be going back and forth - staying with them and staying here part of the time too so I can pack, hold a garage sale for the larger items, etc..

Even if they're able to find a place with an in-law apt. (which isn't looking too promising) we are really, really, REALLY going to have to pare down on what we bring along.. Not much room at the lake house for anything, so I've got to make some hard decisions about what to keep..

If you were in my shoes, what kind of things would you feel are the MOST important to bring? I already know that all of my scrapbook supplies, photographs, and things to go in the scrapbooks will definitely be coming with us, but I'm stumped after that.. I have zillions of books, but I guess it doesn't make much sense to drag them with me.. I have waaaaaaaay too many clothes, so a lot of them don't have to go..

What should I do about all of my Christmas stuff? Like 30 HUGE boxes full? Just pick out the stuff with the most sentimental value?

This is going to be a HARD job, but things happen, life changes and you just have to roll with the punches - right?

I just feel blessed that the kids are willing do this for us.. I have two others that wouldn't......

 

[Cruisin]

It sounds like you have a tough job ahead of you.

It is hard to get rid of things if they have sentimental value to you.

Maybe if you find it hard you could put some things that you want to keep into storage until you can decide exactly what to do with them.

Then you wouldn't have to make quick decisions that you might regret.

Is this a permanent move in with your daughter? Maybe you will need or want some of your things in the future.

Good luck with your decisions.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think you just have to weed through it and decide what's important for you to have.

Do you have family that might want some of the stuff you can't take...you'd be amazed at what things hold sentimental memeories for people that younever would think of. When my in-laws passed, my one money-grubbing SIL wanted the stuff that had monetary value...jewlery etc...I wanted the spaghetti sauce pot!

When you do decide what's got to go, before you get rid of it to strangers, call any family or friends that you are close to and ask them if they would like to come and look. You'll be surprised.

Just a suggestion...we donated a lot of my in-laws stuff to the battered women's shelter in our area. My DSIL knew the coordinator, and it's not something you think about, but these woman sometimes leave with literally just the clothes on their back, and are starting from scratch. They were overjoyed to get household items, such as dishes, pots, pans, silverware, glasses etc.

 

[Cindy B]

Books sell well on Ebay. I just unloaded a lot of 37 books. (I didn't get exactly what I paid for it, but I figured it was better than giving them to the Goodwill store)

I also have been putting things on half.com
I have sold some things within two days of listing them. The listing fees are about the same as Ebay, but they do give you a shipping allowance.


Or you can just give them to Salvation Army, goodwill, etc.


You could do some massive listing (like 100's of auctions at once) or just give it up.

We've been paring down here, and its liberating.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My parents have had to pare down significantly (and still going). Just remember this is a process it might take a few "decluttering times".

1) Go to ALL THE KIDS, grandkids and give them the items that they want/you want to give from you. Kind of like "Willing" it to them now. My mom is having the best time with that.

2) Get rid of things you absolutely know you don't want to keep.

3) Christmas? My mom has yet to part with the 30 boxes of stuff she has in my sisters basement. It has been 5yrs. She is in a tiny apartment right now and hopes to get a villa or condo eventually. So she is not sure want to do with Christmas.

4) Until the house is bought you won't know about your big ticket furniture. Hold back on that.

5) Key is to get rid of little things, knick-knacks, collections, dishes, appliances you really don't use either by selling, giving it to family or donating.

When the house is bought it will be easier to plan what goes. Good Luck to you C. Ann.

 

[Serena]

I would start out with 4 piles. Keep forever, Maybe, Give away, and Trash.
Trash and Keep forever are easy. Maybe and Give away will be more difficult.
Or you just might go through everything once to get rid of all the things you feel comfortable just throwing away. Then sort the rest of you things out.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Disney Doll
I think you just have to weed through it and decide what's important for you to have.

Do you have family that might want some of the stuff you can't take...you'd be amazed at what things hold sentimental memeories for people that younever would think of. When my in-laws passed, my one money-grubbing SIL wanted the stuff that had monetary value...jewlery etc...I wanted the spaghetti sauce pot!

When you do decide what's got to go, before you get rid of it to strangers, call any family or friends that you are close to and ask them if they would like to come and look. You'll be surprised.

Just a suggestion...we donated a lot of my in-laws stuff to the battered women's shelter in our area. My DSIL knew the coordinator, and it's not something you think about, but these woman sometimes leave with literally just the clothes on their back, and are starting from scratch. They were overjoyed to get household items, such as dishes, pots, pans, silverware, glasses etc.

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funny - the "family" thing - because right now everyone in my family are paring down themselves in anticipation of moves! LOL
My brother already got rid of everything and moved to Florida; my sister is in the process of trying to empty out her house so she can spend part of the time in Florida and the other part in her travel trailer up here; of course DD and her DH have been on a massive tossing out spree; and my Mom is paring down in anticipation of eventually going in a nursing home..

So - I guess donating a lot of stuff is the way to go! Anything I think might sell decent I'll probably put up on eBay at least once or twice (because we can certainly use the money), but after a relisting I'll probably just add it to the pile of things to donate..

I really can't think of anything worth paying a storage fee for - I've just been a pack rat all my life so it's hard for me to give things up.. Gonna have to get tough with myself though and emotionally detach myself from a lot of this stuff..

Or.......I could have a massive garage sale and invite 55,000+ DISer's!!!

Seriously though - who has totes on sale this week? Might as well start packing now.... At least this way I might actually have time to label the totes with what's inside of them!