topic A Retirement Hope Chest in Community Chat

A Retirement Hope Chest

Desert Lily — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:50:13 GMT

This past year, I started a "Retirement Hope Chest." I won't qualify for Medicare for another 3 years, but I'm looking ahead after working hard all my life. My plan is to downsize from my house and move to a condo in a different state. Maybe it will lessen the stress and chaos when I finally move and I won't be scrambling. I've been going through everything: bed linens, kitchen towels, bath towels, all of my furniture, mattresses, electonics, flatware, and on and on. I'll probably throw out half of my clothes and replace only some with new later. I'm missing some pieces of silverware, so I bought myself a lovely set. I already purchased a few bath towels, laundered them, and put them in those plastic vac bags. My plain white set of dishes is no longer complete, so I bought a new set and am keeping them in the boxes so I won't have to pack them later when I choose what other dish sets I'll keep. I also bought new baking pans (still in their box) and downsized with a new set of cooking utensils. I've thrown out a lot of stuff and given away some furniture. I bought a new laptop and will likely need a new one before I retire. I'm waiting until the year before I retire to refresh my TV's with technology changing so often. I see it as just one way I can prepare for a new beginning. One of my friends has decided to start her own hope chest.

Re: A Retirement Hope Chest

Catty2 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:55:26 GMT

I think your retirement hope chest is a wonderful plan. You will be all set when the time comes.

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Carmie — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:55:45 GMT

That sounds like a wonderful idea and a good plan to start early.

i started my hope chest when I was around 15 years old. When I got married, I had just about everything I needed to set up housekeeping. I never thought about a hope chest for a retiree, but I like your way of thinking.

Have fun collecting new things and downsizing the old.

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Another new name Sue — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:57:09 GMT

You sound like a smart lady, looking forward to retirement.

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mac116 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:02:33 GMT

I love your idea! I am in the midst of purging my over stuffed house. I swear that I dump and donate, and it never looks like less stuff.

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Lilysmom — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:10:19 GMT

@Desert Lily, what a great move!

If you are moving from a house to a condo, sometimes the house furniture does not fit either...it's too big.

I love your attitude. Best wishes to you. Retirement has been wonderful for us and I hope for you as well. LM

Re: A Retirement Hope Chest

Snowpuppy — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:12:37 GMT

I'm in the process of something similar but I'm not storing anything, I'm using it.

I bought a good quantity of Fiesta and donated my old kitchen dishes. Also bought a couple of badly needed baking pans and donated 2 very large dutch ovens. I bought property and hoping to build a retirement retreat.

Retirement may come sooner than I had planned as my employer keeps downsizing so I need to get ready for any surprises they haven't told us about!

Re: A Retirement Hope Chest

GCR18 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:21:02 GMT

It's great you have a plan that you can work on gradually. That's a good point about furniture. Your current furniture may not work in a smaller setting. Plenty of time to think about that.

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Sweet_Serenity — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:21:24 GMT

Did the same...freedom from stuff priceless.

Best regards on your retirement.

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SeaMaiden — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:41:56 GMT

@Desert Lily Sounds like a wonderful plan! It is a good thing to prepare for retirement....Just remember, retirement, when you get there, should be partly just going with the flow and not having everything planned out to where your life is structured. That is retirement...yes plan for it...but expect the unexpected....taking the left turn in the road rather than the right turn ......that is the beauty of it!

Make your move if you think that is what you need....clear out the clutter....buy new if that is what fancies you....

It is hard to let go when for years you have been living in a controlled time based day for many years. Sounds a bit like you still are trying to control the future three years from now. Many things could change in three years. In your life...in the world economy...

I wish you every happiness! I love retirement! You will too🙂

Re: A Retirement Hope Chest

OfCourse — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:46:52 GMT

My aunt did something similar when she retired at 62. Her employer fired her unexpectedly, presumably to avoid paying her the pension she'd earned after working for the company for decades. She got a lovely little apartment in a subsidized senior complex and bought new furniture for the move to fit the tiny apartment with a galley kitchen, a bedroom, and a living area. Those were probably the happiest 17 years of her life. She met many friends there and had a lot of fun. She hosted the family on Easter in the complex's community room. I hope your retirement (and mine when it comes) is as happy as hers.

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Kachina624 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 22:41:48 GMT

Just keep in mind that youll have to pay movers to move all the things you buy. When I retired, I got rid of my older furniture, big things like a china cabinet and large sofa, heavy bedroom furniture and bought new after I bought a new house and determined what pieces were appropriate. My bill for moving was considerably less than than the estimate, which included the heavy pieces.

Re: A Retirement Hope Chest

Texasmouse — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 22:55:34 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:

Just keep in mind that youll have to pay movers to move all the things you buy. When I retired, I got rid of my older furniture, big things like a china cabinet and large sofa, heavy bedroom furniture and bought new after I bought a new house and determined what pieces were appropriate. My bill for moving was considerably less than than the estimate, which included the heavy pieces.

@Kachina624 Exactly what I was going to say. Purge what you don't want to keep but it makes more sense to replenish once you've moved, rather than pay to move it.

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151949 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 23:43:45 GMT

This just sounds like an excuse to buy all new stuff - if I want or need new stuff I buy it - I don't have to invent an excuse. We did chose not to move some of our old things when we came to Florida so we got rid of things like our LR suite and our 66 year old bedroom set and replaced them when we got here. We were still using the dishes DH had before we got married in 1983 so we got rid of them and bought new ones.A few pieces of furniture we brought with us didn't fit here so we had to trash them.

Re: A Retirement Hope Chest

Desert Lily — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 02:41:16 GMT

@151949I don't need an excuse to buy new things. I was a single mom, am in my 2nd career, and am totally independent. I'm a planner with goals about my future and future lifestyle. I've been searching for the kind of city, climate, activities I'm interested in, and condo types for months. I guess I could retire earlier but I want my pension, savings plans, and equity to continue to grow while I'm preparing in other ways. At this point, I feel as though I have options. My mom passed away last summer at 88. I replenished her home a few times over the years with a new bed, dining tables, linens, etc. Some of her friends weren't so foturnate, and that stays in the back of my mind. Also having been a buyer and product developer of home decorative accessories has an impact. I'll take other posters' advice and will bring my adjustable bed, reclining sofa, and only a few other important pieces of furniture. I'm looking forward to my new beginning with time to write more books, to visit friends and family, to travel, to meet new people, and learn new ideas. I will continue to enjoy filling my retirement hope chest.

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jannabelle1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 03:29:47 GMT

Good for you for thinking ahead! I went through a divorce when I was 55 (not my idea) and was forced to downsize my big home and way too many things in order to move to a town home. It was hard at the time, but it forced me to evaluate all of the "stuff" I had accumulated over the years and I found that it just wasn't all that important. There's nothing wrong with donating or selling the old dinnerware, collections and furniture and starting over. Keep the few things that are important to you, but it's refreshing to find out that downsizing and living with less isn't a bad thing!

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homedecor1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 03:47:01 GMT

@Desert Lily

good idea & advice! Sadly, I "downsized" when I moved from NJ. I used a small POD - the guy delivered it at 8:45 am I unpacked it by 9:30!!! I told him wait this won't take me long.

I wish I had brought a few things I sold but the moving costs (traditional long distance movers) was outrageous.

Now in the past 5 years I've rebuilt my "stash" & believe me if I pass away today -- for sure my stuff will not fit in a small POD container!!!! But, it's totally organized/labeled and ready to go!!!!

Re: A Retirement Hope Chest

homedecor1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 03:50:05 GMT

@151949 wrote:
This just sounds like an excuse to buy all new stuff - if I want or need new stuff I buy it - I don't have to invent an excuse. We did chose not to move some of our old things when we came to Florida so we got rid of things like our LR suite and our 66 year old bedroom set and replaced them when we got here. We were still using the dishes DH had before we got married in 1983 so we got rid of them and bought new ones.A few pieces of furniture we brought with us didn't fit here so we had to trash them.

Ridiculous statement @151949. Some people just aren't attach to their things & honestly, when one retires that's the time to enjoy what you've worked your entire life for & one doesn't need to make "excuses" to buy new! At least, I didn't - I want it I buy it!!!

Re: A Retirement Hope Chest

TheMemphisVette — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 04:19:03 GMT

great!

planning is the key to less stress life changes. allows you to enjoy the transitions.

i have my retirement home bought and have totally furnished it. I will not be living there for a few years. right now its a nice get away.

i am a planner. hate rushing and last minute self imposed drama due to no planning.

way back, by the time i left home at 18, i had accumulated everything to furnish small apartment. always the planner.

life throws us enough curves in the road. having to modify plans is less stressful than waiting until the last minute for everything.

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CelticCrafter — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 10:31:25 GMT

Three years is a long time to save new stuff.

You're using incomplete sets of dishes and flatware but have new stuff packed away in the boxes, why?

I used to save stuff for special occasions and then realized the every day stuff was chipped or missing pieces.

I took all the stuff I had been saving and started to use it. When it was given to me or when I bought it, it was meant to be used and enjoyed - not packed away in boxes or cabinets or drawers.

Life's too short to save stuff.