Question for Senior Citizens: Are you in order or are you leaving it for others?

I am in order and no one will have to go through endless stuff. My husband just passed and I am having to go through endless boxes of things I never knew he had! It is hard to do! So, as I go through his things, I have done so with my own things!

I am about to sell this monster house and I am hitting the road. I do not need all the things I did when my husband was alive and my children were home! So, I am getting a RV and am hitting the road! This means little will remain for storage.Strange! You spend your life trying to collect all the gadgets for home making and when you finally get them....anyone need gadgets?

it's the norm for families to clean out the apartment or home of their family when they pass so don't think it's your "job" to clean out stuff. What the kids will do is either by themselves or with the help of others they will take the stuff to the salvation army and call in a truck to haul the stuff out and away. There might be a few things though you might want to save for family, collectibles might be one of those, family tree genealogy, maybe a few pieces of expensive jewelry, coins and such. Know that sometimes (not always) when caregivers come in stuff disappears so even intended things never get to family unless you hand it to them the years prior to your demise (and that includes jewelry). Things today don't mean the same for the kids as they did in the past. For instance I'd have wanted to save an old washboard and a rug beater and my mothers furs, but if I passed those things down yes the washboard and rug beater would end up in an old antique shop just to sit there or on ebay for someone antique dealer, and mom's furs would have been dismantled and used on some other project if at all.

I think you are doing a very thoughtful thing for your loved ones. One of the saddest things I've witnessed regarding this is adult sisters having to part with a whole house full of things...their parents held on to so many things that I don't know how they had room in their modest house for all of it. Most of it was not really collectible either, either rusty, worn-looking or in need of repair, and too much of everything for just a couple. It was very sad for their children to have to sort through it all and I'm sure that they really didn't feel it right to throw it away either. If you have vintage items that are in good shape that you no longer want or need you might even make a little money by offering them on E-bay. I think you would be surprised at the old stuff that people buy and sell, I checked out the tins and jars of buttons that were listed and there are people even buying those.

My husband passed away several years ago, so I finially sorted through everything I wanted to keep, moved to a smaller house, had an estate sale, sold my larger house, so now I'm through with it all. It was a lot of work but with my children's help, I got through it and it was worth it. I haven't regretted my move or missed the things I had to part with, and feel happy and relieved that all is in order. I love my smaller home... It's all the space I need and easier to keep clean. I have all my important papers together in a place where my children know where they are too, so they won't have to hunt for them.

You are doing just what I have for the past couple of years. Most everything is boxed and labeled. Now I want to label some antiques and other things to be left to grandchildren who have expressed an interest in them. It is a funny thing though - I recently told my son how I have sorted things and boxed them. His reply was "What makes you think we are going to go through them?". I did laugh because he does have a great sense of humor. After I'm gone I won't know the difference anyway.

Half and half. I too did what you are doing. I am leaving some things because as your husband said and I have first-hand experience, it is good while grieving to sort through things that remind you of the times and events you had with that person. I did this with my brother and my mom. I am keeping the bare minimal of my stuff, and I am telling anyone, if you want these things come and get them now. I am going through my old record collection now and still giving away clothing belonging to my mom. I gave my sister my record player. Kind of sad really but I want to travel light these days.

Hi Baw, yes I too think it's very thoughtful of you to make a start with de-cluttering.

It's one of the hardest things to do when a loved one has gone to start ploughing through all the timely reminders and family memorabilia so the least they have to do the better.

Anything that they may like and that I don't need anymore I would be happy to handover whilst I'm still here just to see their faces and of course make sure they all receive the right thing for them.

It is good to get things in order. I have been sorting and getting rid of junk. Important paperwork is filed. As far as personal effects, I will give some away, and then leave the others to the estate to be given away or sold at auction.

I think it is a good thing to do. It kinda is your way of getting rid of things on your terms and not someone elses. You have the opportunity to go thru your things and decide what to do with them. Good idea, good question.

I will let others sort out whatever I leave behind in accordance with my last will and testament.