Jump to content

Menu

Drowning in stuff from parents' home


PrairieSong
 Share

Recommended Posts

Thank you to all for sharing your stories.  You have motivated me this evening to keep pushing forward on my own stuff.  Last year I thought we were moving and was able to dejunk some but it was nowhere near enough.

 

For me, the problem is BOOKS!!!

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you to all for sharing your stories. You have motivated me this evening to keep pushing forward on my own stuff. Last year I thought we were moving and was able to dejunk some but it was nowhere near enough.

 

For me, the problem is BOOKS!!!

Me too, Polly. Books and fabric. Good luck with your books and the rest of the things you are decluttering.

 

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dh and I were just talking about this. His father keeps having different health issues so it seems at some point all too soon they will have to downsize. His Dad hasn't been as bad with keeping things but his Mom would nearly qualify for hoarders. They have a 3500+ ft house entirely full, the basement just has paths through it. Then there is a massive shop, 2 stories high in part of it, the outside utility room, the "mower" shed that can no longer hold mowers because it is too full, and a barn. Everything is packed to the gills, they just keep building more storage space. Sadly, my mil still has her Mom's place as well, she died 5 years ago but still haven't sold it. She can't bare to part with the stuff but yet she doesn't have room for it. She was even more of a hoarder. I mentioned to dh that there is no way his Mom could come live with us, where would she put all her stuff? She'd have to rent a million storage buildings. On the plus side dh's father takes care of all the paperwork and is very orderly with it all, we know where all the important papers are so we don't have to worry about accidently missing anything big (unless his mom has some stuff hidden- we should probably confirm with her that she doesn't!).

 

My own parents are a fair amount younger, so there is no imminent worry. Thankfully they have a lot less stuff than the in-laws but it will still be quite a bit by my standards. I've got my mom on the decluttering bandwagon a bit, I keep telling her I'll come help her clear out but she is too scare to agree :) 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had to hire someone to do my bachelor uncle's house. He was a hoarder, and I would have had to move all the way across the country for a month to do it. He intermingled important papers with his stuff. Thankfully there was money in the estate to do that.

 

My aunt and uncle have pared down, but they have a huge house with valuable art and rare books. They have left the bank accounts and investments to charity, and the house to me. Sigh.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been home for less than 24 hours and I already have a box of stuff to take to the thrift store.  :0)

 

Lesson learned, at least for a couple of days. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, I just found Mom's little notebook diary of a trip to NYC and Paris that she took with her sister in the 60's. They saw Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl and she wrote how impressive the show was and that it "made us hope Barbra is around a long time." 🙂

 

Some of these finds are worth all the sorting.

 

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

Yes!

 

I found some old journals from my dad. And his report cards from school! That was quite interesting.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A household still just has so much stuff.

This is the truth. Just things one needs to live take up a lot of space. Many things that older people keep for their day-to-day life are older, too, and not worth anything. However, when they were living and using them, they served a purpose. That doesn't mean the things are worthwhile to pass on to a new generation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Minimalism is big right now. Or are we just in a cycle? Will the pendulum swing back?

 

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

I'm thinking the pendulum will not swing back. I think after the Great Depression and War, with a booming economy, people were in a spend, spend,spend mode for cheap available goods after not having much. I think that mentality spilled over to their children, but not their children's children, most of whom grew up in times of plenty.

 

I don't think our society will progress the same way again, unless there is devastating war that doesn't wipe out the planet. People are spending more money on services than goods, and frankly, they don't need as much stuff as a result.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...