Re: How Can Anyone Save So Much STUFF??

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@1jenniferjuniper wrote:
I agree Pam. Also depends on how old the home owners are and the state of their health. Op is very judgmental.
we'll see how she does with all of "her stuff".

I'm judgmental about it too because I grew up with these people. While they had clean houses to the eye, the closets and garages were JAMMED with decades of receipts, newspaper clippings, recipes, started and never finished craft and sewing projects, etc. etc. Some of it dated back to the 40's. They simpy didn't throw it out because it was hard and they didn't want to deal with it.

And if something was precious and was sentimental to them, it doesn't mean it is to YOU and you have every right and obligation to throw it out if you don't want it. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT! You are not a museum, you have a life and space of your own. I got rid of a glass basket my aunt got as a wedding present in the 1940's. She gave it to me before she died. Now the kicker here is that was in the 1990's (late 90's) and I HAD NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE. I was raised at her house.

So, let me ask you, how much did it mean to her? Don't feel obligated to someone else's stuff. I just can't say this enough. It took me a long hard painful road to figure that out. And I wish to heaven someone had said that to me earlier.

SunValley · ‎04-19-2010

@PamfromCT wrote:
I'm not saying I have too much to offer here. Sometimes people who are savers just might not be conscious of how much they have accumulated. Then, as they age and become frail, the task of cleaning out would be overwhelming, and then they don't do it. If it's overwhelming to a much younger person in good health, think of how it would be for them. This may be the case in some instances. We are in the process of getting rid of stuff, and it takes a lot of time and energy. We throw away, donate, and offer some goodies to the kids.

@PamfromCT this is a good summary of what happens. We collect and save while mobile and energetic, and then when we get elderly it's too much work. I have been trying to go through closets every two years in an attempt to keep the "stuff" under control. After cleaning out my mother's house, I don't want to put my kids through that. I have passed on to them all the growing up artwork, school records, birthday cards, etc. so at least that much is done. Now they can toss it and I won't feel guilty!

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@PamfromCT wrote:
I'm not saying I have too much to offer here. Sometimes people who are savers just might not be conscious of how much they have accumulated. Then, as they age and become frail, the task of cleaning out would be overwhelming, and then they don't do it. If it's overwhelming to a much younger person in good health, think of how it would be for them. This may be the case in some instances. We are in the process of getting rid of stuff, and it takes a lot of time and energy. We throw away, donate, and offer some goodies to the kids.

@PamfromCT

ITA .... and if they are still living in the family home, there's usually space for it. If they were in a smaller place, much more would get tossed ... sooner.

meglet · ‎03-10-2010

I'm an only child, not married, no kids, in the position of doing this now. Yes, it's overwhelming and exhausting. I guess I'm lucky that I'm living in the home and don't feel like I HAVE to get this finished in a short amount of time. I think many of the things my parents saved, they did because they thought they might be valuable monetarily some day to help me when I was old and alone. In other things I see especially my mother's hopes and dreams for what her life might have been. Cartons of what is called "milk glass" china for the beach home she hoped to have some day.

newname0 · ‎06-20-2015

Briggsie

Save yourself a lot of time and trouble. Have an estate sale. These estate sale people go crazy over a lot of stuff accumulated. I went to an estate sale where they had a price tag on a bottle of asprins. What you consider junk they consider a gold mine. Try it.

PenneyT · ‎02-27-2015

@newlook456 wrote:

Briggsie

Save yourself a lot of time and trouble. Have an estate sale. These estate sale people go crazy over a lot of stuff accumulated. I went to an estate sale where they had a price tag on a bottle of asprins. What you consider junk they consider a gold mine. Try it.

I agree!

Someone cared enough to give someone their probably hard earned and probably well loved possessions.

Hire a clean-out company and or an estate sale company. If it's just seen as so much junk, save the headaches and ill feelings and just sell it.

Either way, it is usually a loving gesture on the part of the giver, even if it is seen as a burden to the recipient. One is not obligated to go through everything piece by piece. In fact, one can always refuse a bequest. But I suspect most who inherit appreciate the money they recieve when all is said and done. And many people never inherit a single thing, and would love to have the 'burden' for a while.

violann · ‎03-10-2010

As to saving receipts from 1928 ( found when we cleared my MIL's house) some of you may not be aware that having proof of a paid bill, or documentation of a similar life situation, could mean the difference between keeping your home or losing it in those financially precarious times.

When my MIL entered required residential care, the mountain of receipts and proofs of ownership and payment of bills that DH was able to present meant the difference between keeping the homestead or losing it as payment for her care.

I'm also noticing that computerized record keeping is not necessarily any better than paper copies, and however independent some of the very alder ly are able to remain, not many of them are computer literate.

For ANYONE that has ever had to take charge of a very elderly person and manage affairs that were once his/her personal business, I say Blessings and Strength to you.

For those who haven't (yet) undertaken this, I think the most realistic thought is "There but for the Grace of God......"

BriggsiePeawiggle · ‎03-09-2010

@goldensrbest wrote:
Those things meant something to her, the tablets your husband used as a child, meant something to her,that was her little boy.

Mine meant something to my mother too, but she didn't hang onto them for no reason. Also, I would like to say that if you see hostility in my post, (not you but one of the posters), that's YOUR interpretation. I loved my inlaws, but I don't love secret hoarding.....not one bit. So perhaps I am hostile about it. It's not fun having mold spores blowing in your face all day as you go through all this stuff. She didn't let it 'accidentally' accumulate. She actually MOVED this stuff several times over the years.

Don't act all high and mighty about hanging onto stuff until YOU have to do this sort of clean up yourself........while you are recuperating from 2 surgeries within the past 5 months.......and are disabled.

Speaking of hostility, there are some pretty hostile people on here.....TIME TO JUMP ON THIS PERSON.....I see it all the time. Mean people will always suck.

BriggsiePeawiggle · ‎03-09-2010

@1jenniferjuniper wrote:
I agree Pam. Also depends on how old the home owners are and the state of their health. Op is very judgmental.
we'll see how she does with all of "her stuff".

You bet I'm judgemental. I CLEANED IT OUT. YOU DIDN'T. I am not a hoarder.

BriggsiePeawiggle · ‎03-09-2010

@newlook456 wrote:

Briggsie

Save yourself a lot of time and trouble. Have an estate sale. These estate sale people go crazy over a lot of stuff accumulated. I went to an estate sale where they had a price tag on a bottle of asprins. What you consider junk they consider a gold mine. Try it.

We thought about that, but most of the stuff wasn't worth a lot. Most of it was second-hand because these were budgeters, and they bought most of their stuff second hand.