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Downsizing, To Move or Not to Move? That is the Question
Aging Well | Last Active: 14 hours ago | Replies (559)Comment receiving replies
@katgob
One idea I haven't heard mentioned here that the family of friends used was: After the father had passed away and their elderly mother had moved to a senior living facility, the parents home was to be emptied and put on the market. The four adult children held a silent auction among themselves (with their spouses, I don't know if any adult grandchildren were present or not) and bid on all the items left that their mother hadn't taken with her. That way each adult child had a chance at getting whatever items held specific meaning for them, and the funds went to support their mother. From what I understood after this was completed, there were no hard feelings about "not being able to afford to get something I wanted," or "that you outbid me. " I found it a novel solution to how to divide up the family possessions.
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@joanland
We did that with my own family at the end with the most valuable possessions. My younger brother was the executor, and he would put a price on those items, and we paid for our loot deducted from the total we were getting. That gave him more as being the executor Mom gave him a 2nd share as if he was 2 kids. None of us said anything about that as it was our mother who divvied up her estate with 6 kids, but she had 5. Good ole Mom.
I got 2 rings of my mom's i had wanted. I also got her desktop, but sadly, my niece who had lived with her wiped it clean. I was downloaded files off Mom's computer like recipes, comics strips and crafts she loved to do. I did not finish.
My Mom let nothing go before she passed. It reminds me that whatever is in my house, I need to designate who gets what. Throw away those things that are not good, giveaway things I have not used in years. Have left only the items i love. If i collect umbrellas, my younger sister can sell or give them to someone else who loves them.
joanland- Your post is a smart idea.