Overloaded with stuff? Ideas for thinning it out

SUCCESSFUL AGING

If you want to get rid of some of your possessions but can’t find family or friends to take them, consider charities like Goodwill. Getty Images

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Q: I just read your 2019 article “Retiree has too few friends, too much stuff.” I try to weed out my possessions and ask my three children and their families what they would like. The answers are much the same as you stated in your article. (Not much.) I pray you have an answer, at least in part, to my question: How and to whom do I bequeath or preferably sell my stuff, some of which is of value? Are there organizations or institutions that can help dispose or sell my treasures?

— A.R.

A: Thank you for raising a question relevant to many.

We know each generation has a different sense of what is important. So, a “no thanks, Mom” is not necessarily a personal rejection, but just a sign of different times, according to AARP newsletter The Ethel.

For example, the World War II generation was frugal. That meant lights out when not in use, rubber bands were saved, and tinfoil often was washed and reused. At the same time, this generation loved to “share their belongings with grace,” writes Dena Kouremetis in Psychology Today. For many, that included using linens, crystal and china. It was not to show off but rather to treat their guests well.

The baby boomers (born 1946-1964) are now the grown kids. Kouremetis writes, “While (my mother) gazed lovingly at the lit-up contents of her china cabinet, I wondered why we had to have a department store window in our dining room — a place that was simply kept dusted all the time and rarely used as she got older.”

Millennials, children of the baby boomers (born 1981-1996), generally value experience over things. They want to seize the moment with joy, without a plethora of material possessions. They feel that less is more and opt for less formality, preferring items from stores like Crate & Barrel and Pier 1 and hosting barbecues or casual dinners. Furthermore, they live in smaller spaces and often don’t have the room to store extra items that are being offered. Many do not have the sentimental attachments to things that the parents do, or the same interests or tastes.

They do have preferences in what that want or don’t want, according to The Ethel. For example, they mostly don’t want china, hutches, silver or collectibles. They might want linens, appliances, electronics and beds. They do often want antique furniture, tools, artwork and jewelry.

There are organizations to help. Here are just three: Goodwill accepts clothing, furniture, toys, books and computers. The Salvation Army accepts clothing, furniture, electronics and more. And Habitat for Humanity accepts new and gently used household items, appliances, furniture and building materials. All three will pick up furniture from your residence.

The website Ramsey Solutions describes 10 sites where items can be sold online. Here are just three examples. Craigslist is a free website that works best for furniture, cars, collectibles and home goods. Then there is eBay for selling collectible items, electronics and vintage or antique pieces. Etsy’s marketplace is good for selling original art and accessories. Each website will tell you what to do to place your items for sale.

There are thrift stores and houses of worship that frequently have a call for donations for families and individuals in need. A special organization to donate new or gently used pairs of shoes to is Shoes for Souls. The organization has provided more than 62,000 pairs of shoes to the homeless and those in need. See shoesforsouls.com.

You can donate books to local libraries, bookstores and charities. Some libraries place them on their bookshelves or sell them as fundraisers.

Consider your friends and family members. Are there specific items you think they would like that have meaning for them, particularly if it comes from you? If you have a grandchild, think about a memento you would like the child to have. And then there is the kind neighbor. Consider giving the neighbor something special to you as a thank you. Giving a book to a friend that he or she would enjoy also is a special gift.

A.R., you are ahead of the game in downsizing during your lifetime. So often, that task is left to the heirs and occurs only when parents have no choice but to pare down because of illness or a move into a smaller residence.

Professionals can help with the task. Search the internet for “decluttering.” These people can help with sorting, organizing and selling items and arranging for donation pick-ups.

Thank you for your important question. Stay well and know your donations are acts of kindness.

Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and retirement, with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com. Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her at facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity.