Letting go of possessions before planning to downsize

Posted by Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn, Mar 25 2:54pm

The Swedish call it "Death Cleaning" even though it really isn't about death.

Following the example of my parents who downsized their possessions and living space several times in retirement we have been honing down our belongings for several years now. We are still in the same home, but now with actual open space in closets and sheds. Feels great clearing out corners after over 40 years, rediscovering treasures and letting go of excess belongings.

It is also a relief for our kids, who saw how different the process was between grandparents homes - one filled with 50 years of stuff, the other pared to the beloved keepsakes and just the necessities.

Has anyone else started thinking about how to do this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

walk4life | @walk4life | Mar 30 7:56am

We downsized last year from 3700 sq ft to 2000 sq ft. My children took furniture that they wanted before we moved. I had things from clearing my mother’s home after she passed away. I also donated and consigned furniture and smaller things, clothes,books,china, etc. It still wasn’t enough. I am still going through our house and finding things to let go of.It is a process.

Susan F, Volunteer Mentor | @susanf8 | Mar 30 3:36pm

In reply to @pmhpesp5 "My husband did not share the importance of decluttering the properties until he has had to..." + (show)

@pmhpesp5 please consider donating your old electronics to an organization like PCs for People or (if you are in Arizona) AZ STRUT.
https://www.pcsforpeople.org/
https://azstrut.org/
Usable electronics will go somewhere they can help, or disposed of in a environmentally friendly way.

Apple has a recycling program as well. Talk to the folks at the Apple store.
https://www.apple.com/reuse-recycle/

pmhpesp5 | @pmhpesp5 | Mar 30 5:33pm

In reply to @susanf8 "@pmhpesp5 please consider donating your old electronics to an organization like PCs for People or (if..." + (show)

@susanf8
I will definitely check out your suggestions. I kinda said the smash party in a tongue-in-cheek way. Thank you.

joanland | @joanland | Mar 31 1:01pm

In reply to @susanf8 "@pmhpesp5 please consider donating your old electronics to an organization like PCs for People or (if..." + (show)

@susanf8
Best Buy will also recycle electronics. Do check for which items and see if there is any fee.

Susan F, Volunteer Mentor | @susanf8 | Mar 31 4:59pm

In reply to @joanland "@susanf8 Best Buy will also recycle electronics. Do check for which items and see if there..." + (show)

@joanland thanks for the tip! Our community just had a electronic recycle event so I was happy to avail myself of that!

blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | 6 days ago

In reply to @sueinmn "@joanland You can read about it here. There are a number of ways to do it...." + (show)

@sueinmn Some of the used record, music stores have so much they also are particular about what they will take.
Here is Oklahoma City they have as part of the library system "Friends of the Libary." They have a huge warehouse and once a year they have a huge, very huge, building where all items donated to the Friends of the Library are sold. Books, records etc. That is where I, with a broken heart, donated all but one L.P. and most of my books.
Barbara

erikasdesigns | @erikasdesigns | 5 days ago

It is definitely a process. We just moved from a 3,000ft trilevel to a 1,700 ft single story for health reasons. Two “full” long bed pickup trucks of stuff went to Goodwill. One extra large trailer filled with old paint and “junk” left by previous owner went to donations and the dump. Quite a lot of “good” stuff went to the children. And as I reevaluate what’s left, I am expecting several more trips to Goodwill. It is very energizing to get “rid” of the extra distracting unused stuff and be able to focus on essentials.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | 5 days ago

In reply to @erikasdesigns "It is definitely a process. We just moved from a 3,000ft trilevel to a 1,700 ft..." + (show)

@erikasdesigns Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I bet your story rings true for many of us! Not too far up the road from us is an organization that takes furniture, appliances, building materials, etc. It is a treasure trove of memories, definitely. There are times I have gone in there to look at different things, and can't help but wonder at the stories that might be held in the wood of that dining table, or old kitchen appliance.
Ginger

joanland | @joanland | 5 days ago

In reply to @blm1007blm1007 "@sueinmn Some of the used record, music stores have so much they also are particular about..." + (show)

@blm1007blm1007
Good to know. Here in my own we used to have a Friends of the Library, but our main library is closed for renovations and we're awaiting the opening of a new library. When the dust settles we may again have a Friends of the Library book sale.

pachab00 | @pachab00 | 3 days ago

I went through a dozen photo albums my sister sent after Mom died last year. I threw away hundreds and organized the rest into albums. When my daughter was here last week, she looked at one from her childhood--not much interest in the ancestors. I'm realizing that writing down the stories that are illustrated by the photos may create something that lasts longer than the photos. Who knows...maybe one of the grandkids or theirs may be interested in our family history.
The process of managing the photos helped me through the grief of losing my last parent. Not all is lost. It spurred me on to discard other stuff, but I still have plenty that's meaningful to me and am not interested in downsizing to move or "death cleaning." No judgment, it's an individual decision.