I just dropped off a donation box at P.O. of beauty products etc to go to Project Beauty Share in Spokane WA 👍🏻

@3katz4me the sold filter will obly bring up sold items ans, unless they tool best offer, it will display the price it sold for

3katz, I sold a bunch of Brighton jewelry as a bundle on Poshmark not too long ago. I was surprised by how much it went for. There is a market for Brighton things on Poshmark.

So far I've packed up a box of nice clothes that were barely worn or new and donated them to our local church for their upcoming "tag sale". They do so much good for our community and I plan to visit their tag sale just to support them. It felt good to purge these items from my closet and plan to find more before the end of the week. I may even do a weekly purge.

Huh, good reminder ... our church is doing a coat drive. Haven't even looked in that closet yet.

Re large bags: People joke that if you get rid of stuff you will need it a few weeks later. To me, I'm over the 'I'll keep this in a drawer because it might come in handy some day' line of thinking. But I do think it is wise to keep a few larger size bags on hand. If you have small grandchildren you can carry tissues, snacks, a small toy, etc. And those who have Dr. visits and sometimes is is a bit of a wait in the waiting room, your Kindle or other entertainment can make it more bearable and you might need more room than a small crossbody.

We have three large bags of clothing ready to donate today

Thank you spanish and deeg. I will do a little more investigation. I guess there must still be a market for the handbags as Brighton has many for sale - now in the $400-$500 range which is probably close to twice what I paid.

I’ve made 2 trips to the nearby thrift store to donate stuff I’ve cleaned out in the past couple of weeks. DD had a yard sale last Saturday morning so I helped her and piggy-backed with some items of my own and managed to sell several things. I mostly sold household stuff like a couple of lamps, mirror, kitchen items in good shape, a few handbags and some seasonal things (Halloween and Christmas). Her neighborhood was having a neighborhood-wide sale, so there was a lot of traffic. The rest I boxed up and took directly to the Thrift store that afternoom. I had some other things at home and took another load yesterday morning. The better clothing I take to a different thrift shop and I’m probably going by there later in the week. They have a better arrangement for the clothing they take in and sell.

I’ve told DH we’re going to tackle the multiple boxes of stuff in our attic when it is cooler. He didn’t say anything, but he did contribute a little to the latest cleanout. He got rid of 15 belts and 4 pair of ski pants among a few other things that no longer fit. He has no idea that one of the boxes I took yesterday contained an ugly winter jacket that he probably has not worn in 15 or more years.

If you have a program in your area that helps women find a job, you might consider donating the purses. Clothing appropriate for job interviews are also appreciated. Sometimes battered women’s shelters will take these type items to help the women find employment.

People joke that if you get rid of stuff you will need it a few weeks later.

One of the most helpful things I read in a book about this topic was that this will happen. It is not a failure if it happens, it is inevitable and you have to accept it or you will be paralyzed.

To me, I'm over the 'I'll keep this in a drawer because it might come in handy some day' line of thinking.

Yup. I am not a warehouse, I am a home. I am also not in the frozen tundra or destitute. If I need it someday, I will go get it (maybe even thrifted!)

I've moved and purged a lot and truly the only thing I have kicked myself about was a Brita water pitcher that I had not used for 5 years. About 18 months later I needed one. Oh well,

HU….642, that is a good reminder. I did that not long after I retired. At the time the large church my brother and his wife attend hosted a Women’s Job corp training program and accepted business clothing and accessories for their graduates. It felt good donating those work clothes and handbags, and I felt like it really put an exclamation point on my Retirement. I’m not sure they still do it, but it should be easy enough to find out.

I just posted a desk lamp on my local Buy Nothing. I had it listed on FBM with no takers. DBF finally said just get it gone. It should be out of here tomorrow. I need to go through my posts and pans. I’ve picked up some vintage Dansk over the last year and I need to let so e stuff go.

I just came across this on FB, seems relevant to this discussion ( maybe more stuff than clothing but still good).

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/08/how-to-practice

^^ link^^

My name is Gardener, I am the keeper of the stuff, and in desperate need of Patchett’s inspo.
My living quarters are minimalist—but my basement? All the stuff that no one wanted in their home (TBH neither did I) but didn’t want to part with, came here. Serving platters and tureens, classic bedroom sets, a turn of the century intricately carved fireplace, a three-generations-old cedar chest, and Christmas boxes. I’m at a total standstill and it stresses me out.

Gardener, I feel your stress. Do what is best for you. Whether that is finding someone (or more) to come in and make offers, have an estate bargain basement sale or donate away. One of these things takes much less time than the others. There are people in your area that would like to be the next keeper of these things (they are not "your" things). Let them.

I have fourteen of these. Apparently I thought i'd be marrying into French royalty. Won't DH be surprised when I need to explain I'm movin' on.

mtn, LOL, but they are beautiful!

Gardener, you are in good company. When you are the eldest of your siblings, the eldest one who is left after the parents have passed, the one grandmother who values a lot of family things, you do this.

I have no big problems with clothing. It’s the things like Mtn posted and like you mentioned that I find hard to let go. I am getting there though. I’ll have to post a pic of a pretty coffee set when i get home that is in that category. WTH was i thinking?

Still purging a little bit here and there. Did a clean out about half of a small walk-in closet where most of our luggage and holiday decor is stored. Plus it gets a lot of other junk in there. I reorganized about half of it and threw away a big bag with a few items in the donate pile. Next I’ll have DH go thru the hundred ties he has in there plus the multitude of jackets.

Mtn the flutes look as if they are Louis XIV - I have wine glasses and brandy snifters of this mfgr - they need a new home - have not used them in over 40 years. Thanks for the nudge.

This is what I should let go. I think it’s beautiful. Spode Blue Regent. Some call it an Espresso set, some a Demitasse set. I’m not sure I know the difference. There are only 5 cups & saucers so I guess the previous owner broke one set. I acquired it when she died and things were being let go before a big estate sale. I helped the family get a better price on her sterling and some other pieces with a local antique dealer so they were extremely happy and told me to pick some things. And I did with their blessing.

You would not believe the boxes that came out of that attic. Linens she had received for her first wedding back who knows when (50’s?), many that had never been opened, and many looked as if they had not been used much if at all. There were probably 3-4 large tupperware storage tubs full.

Oh, that is sooo pretty @OutsidePlaying. I love the way the pink roses peak out from inside. Can you conjure up an event to use them, before you give them away? Friends over for lunch?

Hmm, this is an idea. Think of it as the anti-purge or the pre-purge. Once a month drag out something you don't use enough. I actually use my champagne flutes a few times a year, but I have other things that need to be used!

Great idea, Mtn! I need to do that anyway and a perfect excuse to use it before i say goodbye.

No, i think you are onto something @Sueb20. Most of us have plenty to purge without giving up these things that are pulling on our heartstrings. I will not let Marie Kondo bully me anymore!

But we also have to start using the things we love. Even if only to serve ourselves breakfast.

Maybe take two place settings of your DM's china, and use them for dinner at home with DH every Friday. Something like that.

@gardener123 - I've been that person who becomes the keeper of all the dead relatives stuff. Slowly but surely I've gotten rid of most of it with each move over the last 10-15 years. You just take it a little bit at a time. Your situation reminds me of DH's cousin whose mother recently passed. She is now cleaning out the home where her grandparents lived - her mother returned to the home to care for grandmother in later years. The cousins cared for their mother in the same home. Cousin says she is going through five generations of things including an ancient grand piano in the basement. The grand piano they actually used is in the living room. And there's much more in the basement. I would love to see what all is in there, in part because I've done a bunch of Ancestry work on DH's family, but there is no way they'd let any curiosity seeker like me in there.

And on a different topic - I'm back in SC where I thought I didn't have any excess stuff. However I see the tendency to keep useless things has crept in here. The plastic sleeves Apple watchbands come in, empty shoeboxes, a plastic zipper container a comforter came in. All gone now. 😊

plastic zipper container a comforter came in

Why are these so hard to throw out? They seem so useful, yet I don't really have a use for them

@mtnrdredux_gw - yeah, I always save them and I have NEVER used one.

Thank you for starting the post @hhireno! I have not done anything. Yet.

But, and this is a big one, I came home from my doctor appt today and DH was in the basement going through boxes and throwing things in a trash bag. This is huge!

I am newly retired. I am going to start on purging/organizing very soon. Hopefully next week.

Congrats on your retirement, JSK

For those items that you don't use, but still love, the purpose may not be in the usefulness, but the happiness just looking at them brings.

I had a Bitossi elephant that belonged to my mother. The color wasn't great with my decor, but I always found a place for it because it reminded me of mom. It got broken a couple of years ago and I have missed it's presence in my life. I just saw one on Etsy and purchased it for $250,00. I need it like I need a hole in my head, but every time I see it I will have that warm memory of my mom.

I have far more glassware and dinner ware than I will ever use, but I enjoy the display in my china cabinet.

We don't need to get rid of the things that still have true purpose, even if it is just to make us smile. What I won't do is store stuff for 10 years in the basement in some box and not let the item bring joy to someone else. That is just selfish.

I also do look at things and really decide if that item still brings me joy. Our tastes change and that vase I loved 10 years ago may now just sit there because it has found a home, but it no longer makes me smile - it's only purpose now is to gather dust that I need to clean. It is time for it to go to some other home where it will bring joy to some other home.

Yes those comforter bags! I always think I should save them and have that moment…but then I toss.

I have taken to checking everything containing oil - cooking oil, sesame oil, hand lotion, face lotion, etc. It is amazing how many things have gotten old and gone rancid. An easy pitch, but something we often over look.

We recently purged our attic, as if we were moving. Now it only holds what we actually use and one box of DH’s Runner’s World magazine and marathon tee shirts.

last year I purged my china cabinet but put most of the miniature knick knack/souvenirs in boxes in my basement. This past summer, I went them and took most to our recycling center. There is a wall there that people leave things others might like.

I first gave my house cleaner first dibs and she took few things.

Jennifer Hogan expressed beautifully what I have been feeling. If my remaining family member have to get a dumpster, so be it.

The best thing about our house is lack of storage. No attic (it was converted to 2 bedrooms and a bath by PO) and not much basement, because about 2/3 of that space is finished too. But we do have a 2-car garage which is a mess of stuff. Garage purge is on the late fall agenda.

The bad news is we have a second home with garage space too LOL. Sooo still plenty of junk but not as much as a lot of people with more space. And the beach garage has less of the ”we might need this someday” and more fun stuff like beach chairs and bikes.

About 1/3 of my summer clothes closet is in a pile waiting to go to the donation place. I need to address shoes next… we have no big clothing closets, either, another bummer when we first moved in but it’s really a good thing in the end.

I haven't done much yet but plan to. I had my attic sealed off after insulation was replaced and electrical updated when I bought this place, and garage is clean, BUT my basement is another story as it a repository of family member's tag sale items which didn't happen again this year, and stuff from one of my kids house as she has a very small basement filled with her major woodshop equipment and powertools with really no other storage space. Another area awaiting a major purge: holiday items. Tried to let go of items last year and was only minimally successful; many items I've had for decades and just. couldn't. I do agree with what Jennifer said, but.................

Two things.

First. Holiday items are one thing that realllllly takes up space in most people's homes. It is prime territory for purging. If you are celebrating Halloween buy some gourds and forget the rest. Same with almost all holidays. Ditch the junk and celebrate with foods or flowers. You won't need to store them anywhere.

And aren't most of us doing less Christmas decorating than we used to (it is Fall, it is now ok to say that word)? Purge now, before November, when there is demand for your donated items. Don't be that person that donated holiday stuff in January. It is time to give a lot of that to new young families!

Second - I put in practice my own advice. I made a point of using something that usually just takes up space and could be on a purge-able list. A few years ago I fell in love with a set of asian china teacups in a thrift store. I bought eight, because I sure do need more fine china, right? But I liked them, so there.

Fast forward to today. A chilly rainy day, and I am hosting afternoon Mahjong. I made a pot of tea just so that I could take out and enjoy these cups. Maybe I knew I was destined to take up MJ and would *need* these!

FYI. Today's NYT:

After storing my grandmother’s patchwork quilt for 40 years, I donated it to a charity thrift shop. It was lumpy, and no one ever used it. I thought I was clearing out the old to make room for something fresh and new. But now I realize it gave me comfort just to see it in my linen closet. I miss it terribly!

@Jennifer Hogan DD wanted the Bitossi lidded jar my parents purchased in the late 50s. It used to be kept on top of a modern Danish chest in my room at her house. But since she adopted two adult cats, I have kept it stored in the top of my closet. I don't even get it out when I am there, for fear they might jump up there and break it. Or the housekeepers might break. But I do enjoy seeing it in the closet. I would miss it if broken.

Our last two houses had a lot of storage spaces, in the last house it was insane. Two ginormous rooms in the basement just for storage, another large room and lower garage with a large open storage area in front of where vehicle would park (we parked our cars in the upstairs garage). Plus a fully finished attic space with HVAC. I could not even tell you how many shelves I had of things that were my parents', children's and ours. It was all organized, but still.

Do we get to an age where all our stored things start bothering us more than when we were younger?

@Allison0704 - yes we do because we start to think about the fact we aren't going to be around forever and someone is going to have to deal with all the stuff when we are no longer here.

someone is going to have to deal with all the stuff when we are no longer here.

I think sometimes this point is exaggerated.

If you don't have heirs, this is just a matter of an expense of your estate. Who cares? Why give up an ounce of pleasure to do ...what, exactly, net a bit more out of your estate for a charity? Professionals will deal with the stuff, it is their living.

And for those with heirs, presumably these heirs will also be "dealing with" the receipt of some assets, too. They can put in a few hours in your garage, or hire someone who will. Do not forego things that give you pleasure for this scenario. How much of their "stuff" did you "deal with" as their parent? OMG

That is not to say I am anti-purge, but I think it was @palimpsest who said it is not our responsibility to die on a bare mattress in an empty room.

Most people have plenty of work to do purging things that even they know have to go. If you are vacillating, don't be too hard on yourself.

" Do we get to an age where all our stored things start bothering us more than when we were younger? "

Absolutely!

Now - no two people are the same, but generally I think we collect things to support our lifestyle. When we are younger, we have nothing, have to furnish our homes, raise our kids, dress for work, grow our social network. We often can't afford the luxuries and long for the beautiful art or better furniture or that antique statement piece that we can't justify spending money on when we need to spend on more practical things. Then we hit that sweet spot - kids grown, mortgage paid, we can buy what we want when we see it. But at some point, we don't really need anything else, we satisfied that desire to buy everything we want and start thinking about the value of experiences over possessions. We're not competing with the Jones, we don't need to impress anyone, we just need to fill our remaining days with activities that bring us joy.

Agreed. But sometimes posessions bring us joy and that is okay too. I just think as one ages it is less the case.

I have often packed up boxes with things I want to purge and put them in the garage for 6 months before getting rid of them. This way, if I do find I miss something I can retrieve it. This was especially true when I would clear things from my husband's closet. If he hadn't noticed it was gone in 6 months I could give it away and he would never be the wiser, but if he did miss it I could tell him I would look for it and I miraculously found the missing item somewhere.

For some of us, opening a long stored box can = the delight in seeing an old friend. Add to that having the problem of out of sight out of mind now = delight in seeing something completely forgotten about. = increased difficulty donating/discarding....

Ok, i took a bunch of old towel and linens to the the dump today. Our local animal shelter doesn't need them. I feel lighter!

We moved eight years ago and did a huge purge then, but inevitably things we brought with us have never been used and we brought sentimental items that deserve some love. DH’s big sentimental item was the Eastlake door from his grandparents house that we did use as the side door at our old house, but just sat in a closet here. We put it on FB marketplace free and it found a home on a lovely homestead ranch where it will get the love it deserves. We’re both pleased that it found a perfect place!

My sentimental piece is my mothers punchbowl that has been to many, many, friends and family weddings and showers for more than two generations. I entertain often, but its really too formal for our casual mountain lifestyle. It found a perfect home with my cousin’s daughter whose lifestyle is more formal and is at an age when showers,weddings and other events are frequent. (I have retained borrowing rights, just in case the need ever arises). She’s trilled to get it and I’m trilled that it will be used and staying in the family!

I have lots of other silver serving pieces that I hope to give to friends and family. Really who needs six covered vegitable dishes or at least 15 silver trays of all sizes plus lots of random bowls and other pieces. I’m hoping to deliver lots next time I go ”back home” down south, I’m keeping a few trays, revere bowls, etc. but enough is enough!

I’ve also taken loads of clothes, bedding, books, pictures, luggage and other random household items to Goodwill and other local agencies.

It all feels so good!!

.

Good work, Mojo!

PS No way I'd purge anything on the 28th, when October looms. I don't want to purge now and then fail October! I have to pace myself.