Downsizing possessions

[cmotherofpirl]

Sometime in the next two years I will be moving , and need to reduce my possessions from a 13 room house [plus basement and garage] to a small apartment.

So I am trying to get rid of stuff and its so bloody difficult.!!!!!

I am going thru my house and asking everything to justify its existance in my life. But when people have given you stuff. partiucularly your children. MIL, SIL or you have inherited it, its very hard to sell or give away .

HELP!

[homeschoolmom]

I have no help to offer, but you have my complete sympathy. I have tons of stuff that I "just can't part with" (and lots of stuff I'm just to lazy to get rid of)...

PS I thought of you as we passed by Pittsburgh...

[cmotherofpirl]

I didn't see you!!

[Sojourner]

My mom has that same problem. I grew up in a house full of random stuff that mom could never part with "just in case" she needed it.

I don't so much have that problem, but from talking to my mom I know it's hard to let go of some stuff.

[cmotherofpirl]

Today I am sorting knick-knacks, china, and all the little things everyone gives you.
Next week the linens.

[Era Might]

Sell it all on Craigslist.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Aug 28 2005, 01:02 PM']  I didn't see you!!
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But I waved!! And I shouted, "Hey, Cmom!! OVER HERE!!!" But you probably didn't hear me...

We didn't actually go through Pittsburgh... just sort of around it...

We should start a "What I pitched today" thread.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Era Might' date='Aug 28 2005, 02:59 PM']Sell it all on Craigslist.
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???

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Aug 28 2005, 03:14 PM']But I waved!!  And I shouted, "Hey, Cmom!! OVER HERE!!!" But you probably didn't hear me... 

We didn't actually go through Pittsburgh... just sort of around it...

We should start a "What I pitched today" thread.
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Maybe it should be "what did I break today"
Anyone know how to glue crystal vases?

[cmotherofpirl]

Taking a break from cleaning.
I still own too much stuff.

[p0lar_bear]

You might see what your kids need/want/have a particular attachment to and give those things to them. When my grandmother moved into an assisted living facility, she had the kids go through and choose what they wanted so she had a lot less possessions but didn't have to throw anything out. (It also made things a lot easier when she died because there was less to sort out). .....not that I'm suggesting you are going to die any time soon....

[FlyLikeABird]

I keep EVERYTHING, just about. And then I go through stuff and get rid of 7/8 ths! : I keep clothes I haven't worn in about 5 years or more!

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='p0lar_bear' date='Aug 29 2005, 09:36 AM']You might see what your kids need/want/have a particular attachment to and give those things to them. When my grandmother moved into an assisted living facility, she had the kids go through and choose what they wanted so she had a lot less possessions but didn't have to throw anything out. (It also made things a lot easier when she died because there was less to sort out). .....not that I'm suggesting you are going to die any time soon....
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Trouble is all my kids are still here in the house so the stuff actually never leaves the house if I give it to them.

[DeeDee]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Aug 28 2005, 10:50 AM']Sometime in the next two years I will be moving , and need to reduce my possessions from a 13 room house [plus basement and garage] to a small apartment.

So I am trying to get rid of stuff and its so bloody difficult.!!!!!

I am going thru my house and asking everything to justify its existance in my life. But when people have given you stuff. partiucularly your children. MIL, SIL or you have inherited it, its very hard to sell or give away .

HELP!
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I've never had that problem. . . . . if I haven't used something in my house in a year, out it goes. Most of the stuff in my house has been given to me. I rarely buy anything except some clothes now and then, and food of course. I guess the main reason for my frugal approach is that if I can't find something important in my house it drives me nuts. So, a long time ago I decided to live more simply. I've had people come into my house and say "It looks like nobody lives here!" You should see their place! Oh well, everybody is different.

[p0lar_bear]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Aug 29 2005, 11:08 AM']Trouble is all my kids are still here in the house so the stuff actually never leaves the house if I give it to them.
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Ummm....so kick them out....

[homeschoolmom]

I tell you, Cmom... I'm getting a dumpster, putting it right under my living room window... and OUT the stuff is going. Stuff just wanders in to this house, never to leave.

My husband brought home a trinket from work-- a glass globe about the size of a baseball. It has the company logo on it. He thought we could use it for school or something. My two year old is probably going to break something with it. And yet it sits here, waiting for me to chuck it.

Anyone want a baseball sized glass globe?

[iggy]

If there are a lot of things you don't want to part with that have sentimental meaning to you, but that you don't actually [i] use [/i] you could rent storage, and then rotate the items there, so that you can see/ have a lot of those belongings, and if the people who gave the things to you come and visit, you can still have it available to be put on display when they come to visit you in your new abode.