I saw someone online say, “your kids do not have enough PTO to deal with your clutter”. Wow. And keep in mind too, this doesn’t necessarily mean after you are gone. This often means you go into care of some sort, and your kids (or other descendants) are the ones going through your stuff.
Have you tried going through any of the items in your home with your kids? Was it especially difficult because they don’t have memories attached to things you do? This is SO common. I promise, unless your kids have already told you what items of yours they would like to keep, they will probably get rid of stuff you think they will keep.
We all remember experiences and even people differently. For instance, when my grandma died, my brother wanted her sewing basket and I wanted her recipes. He had memories of her using that basket and it sitting next to her chair each day. I wanted to carry on family recipes and create new memories with my kids where I could tell them more about my grandma. We grew up in the same household and family, and yet, we had two very different views of where our memories came from.
I understand this can be difficult, but you need to shift your perspective on items in your home. Here are a few things to consider:
- Do I use it regularly? By this I mean, at least once a month. If you use it at least once a week, it should be at the easiest access in the room you keep it in. If you do not use it at least once a month, do you really need it?
Items for holiday meals and baking on occasion can often be a sticking point. One thing to think about here: Are you really cooking more than a side dish anymore for those meals or are you just storing these items because you might need them some day? If there might be a rare occasion you would need it, consider making sure someone else in your family has something similar, or give it to them. Then if you make it instead of them, just ask to borrow it. - Have I looked at it in the last year? This is a big one. Has this item, or items, been in a bin unseen for a year or more? If so, do you really need it or are you just storing it for the “some day” when you might want it?
If it is an item with great sentimental value, then display it. Otherwise, it is time to donate it so someone else can appreciate it. - Has this item become a hazard? Is it where you can easily trip over it or run into it? Do you have so many items in a room that you cannot use the room for its purpose? Then it is time to go through it all.
All of these points are to help you have easy access to the things you need, as well as making it so you don’t trip over other things you don’t need or use. As a bonus, it makes it so you can more easily decide what you can actually take with you when you either move into a smaller place or go into care. And, you are giving your descendants a gift by making your estate more manageable.
Need more help in going through the process? Schedule your FREE consultation.
Contact denise hudak at 330-414-0963 or denise.hudak@gmail.com
