How Can it Be I Still Have So Many “Things” I Don’t Want. Anyone Else?

[AnnaS]

It is so hard giving away things of our loved one. I remember the day I had to pack up my deceased husband’s clothing. I had a friend help. Not sure I would have done it at that time without her help. I still have items that we purchased during our travels. Even though I don’t like some of them I am still hesitant giving them away. Kind of feel disloyal to his memory if I do.

Exactly - you know the feeling. Even though they will always remain in our hearts and be a part of us, it feels like they are being erased little by little or something. And/or like you said, not being loyal to them. Hard to explain.

 

[AnnaS]

Please please consider dealing with that. A family friend has rooms full of every mail item her mom ever got since I think 1970 till she passed in 2023. It's impossible to even begin to sort for "important". I honestly think it all should just go in the garbage really. Of course, who knows what stocks or bonds or whatever might be "forever hidden" in there? Don't leave that for your family - at least have a good sorting system if nothing else.

Yes. Doing it slowly. I have my parents and in-laws marriage and birth certificates, passports, social security cards. I still have one or two pieces of documents from my parent's first home and last home (bought two different homes while alive) purchased since we came from Italy. They were sold years ago. I have a shopping bag for my parents and one for my in-laws. These two bags will get shredded soon. I have no clue why I still keep them.

My files are all in order. A two file drawer and some papers on the desk. Say I return a car lease. I hold on to some documents for years before shredding . Doing better. I try to shred "last year's" utility bills,"some bank statements" "insurance documents" and keep current ones, etc.

I have a typed page list I keep (used to have for when we traveled) with bank information, accounts, own, no debts, etc. Make it easier for the kids if something should happen suddenly.

I started to keep a binder on my table with my dr. visits, tests, any prescriptions so they know how to answer if again any medical emergency.

 

[rapmarks]

Yes. Doing it slowly. I have my parents and in-laws marriage and birth certificates, passports, social security cards. I still have one or two pieces of documents from my parent's first home and last home (bought two different homes while alive) purchased since we came from Italy. They were sold years ago. I have a shopping bag for my parents and one for my in-laws. These two bags will get shredded soon. I have no clue why I still keep them.

My files are all in order. A two file drawer and some papers on the desk. Say I return a car lease. I hold on to some documents for years before shredding . Doing better. I try to shred "last year's" utility bills,"some bank statements" "insurance documents" and keep current ones, etc.

I have a typed page list I keep (used to have for when we traveled) with bank information, accounts, own, no debts, etc. Make it easier for the kids if something should happen suddenly.

I started to keep a binder on my table with my dr. visits, tests, any prescriptions so they know how to answer if again any medical emergency.

I think the items you mentioned are priceless I discovered my grandmothers birthday certificate and I treasure it. I also found a note that my great grandmother arrived in USA on May 14, 1894 and got married the next day! I regret that I didn’t ask more questions.

 

[DeniseM]

Hearse


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[AnnaS]

I think the items you mentioned are priceless I discovered my grandmothers birthday certificate and I treasure it. I also found a note that my great grandmother arrived in USA on May 14, 1894 and got married the next day! I regret that I didn’t ask more questions.

Yes. I will eventually get rid of the house documents - my kids can shred or keep (I would keep these also indefinitely) their official documents and mine. I can't part with these. Their existence in this world besides a name on a stone.

I have found some notes also - I cherish the handwriting.

 

[rapmarks]

Yes. I will eventually get rid of the house documents - my kids can shred or keep (I would keep these also indefinitely) their official documents and mine. I can't part with these. Their existence in this world besides a name on a stone.

I have found some notes also - I cherish the handwriting.

I have postcards my grandmother received when she was young. One was from 1911

 

[AnnaS]

I have postcards my grandmother received when she was young. One was from 1911

Awesome!!

 

[Tia]

In some locations, SA will come pick up.

yep they were just at my neighbors house last week , big truck 2 guys

 

[Panina]

As some of you know we had to cancel our vacation as our dog sister canceled and the senior vet section had no opening as it was a holiday week. We took it as an opportunity to tackle going through stuff in the garage full time.

Consolidation, throwing out and donations were in the mix. My other half listed some tools on FB mktplace and sold them this week too. Very soon we will be able to park both cars in the garage. I hated the clutter so the canceled vacation had a good ending.

 

[rapmarks]

As some of you know we had to cancel our vacation as our dog sister canceled and the senior vet section had no opening as it was a holiday week. We took it as an opportunity to tackle going through stuff in the garage full time.

Consolidation, throwing out and donations were in the mix. My other half listed some tools on FB mktplace and sold them this week too. Very soon we will be able to park both cars in the garage. I hated the clutter so the canceled vacation had a good ending.

My nephew has very little vacation time, and went to Canada for his vacation and brought his dog. The dog died (older dog) while on vacation. Pretty traumatic

 

[WinniWoman]

As some of you know we had to cancel our vacation as our dog sister canceled and the senior vet section had no opening as it was a holiday week. We took it as an opportunity to tackle going through stuff in the garage full time.

Consolidation, throwing out and donations were in the mix. My other half listed some tools on FB mktplace and sold them this week too. Very soon we will be able to park both cars in the garage. I hated the clutter so the canceled vacation had a good ending.

Making lemonade out of lemons! Always feels good to accomplish something!

 

[Krteczech]

This is worth sharing too. My husband has a lot of power tools and hand tools. Don’t let me start……. However, this time I have to praise his “stuff keeping”. Two contractors canceled on minor reno job in our house. My husband decided to put his tools at work and JOB IS DONE. So glad he kept his table saw.
Until next time…. Keep selling and donating!

 

[geekette]

As some of you know we had to cancel our vacation as our dog sister canceled and the senior vet section had no opening as it was a holiday week. We took it as an opportunity to tackle going through stuff in the garage full time.

Consolidation, throwing out and donations were in the mix. My other half listed some tools on FB mktplace and sold them this week too. Very soon we will be able to park both cars in the garage. I hated the clutter so the canceled vacation had a good ending.

Making large pitcher of tasty lemonade from one lemon!

 

[geekette]

My nephew has very little vacation time, and went to Canada for his vacation and brought his dog. The dog died (older dog) while on vacation. Pretty traumatic

I’m so sorry. That is very hard.

 

[Brett]

This is worth sharing too. My husband has a lot of power tools and hand tools. Don’t let me start……. However, this time I have to praise his “stuff keeping”. Two contractors canceled on minor reno job in our house. My husband decided to put his tools at work and JOB IS DONE. So glad he kept his table saw.
Until next time…. Keep selling and donating!

I also keep the power and hand tools but as I get older I'm thinking .............. maybe pay someone else to do this dirty job

 

[Krteczech]

I also keep the power and hand tools but as I get older I'm thinking .............. maybe pay someone else to do this dirty job

That was our intention too, but two contractors committed to do it and both backed off. My husband stepped in out of necessity and did excellent job.

 

[geekette]

I let Goodwill pick up once, then never again. Since I sold on eBay, I know how to pack breakables to mail them. No way I was going to that effort to have Goidwill pick up several boxes of items that didn’t sell at a garage sale. But everything was either padded/wrapped in newspaper or fabric items that were also being donated. Watched the picker uppers just throw the boxes on to a truck that already had visibly caving in boxes on the bottom layer. So hand carry to donation center after that, after first leaving stuff at the curb for a day with a “Free” sign to lessen my burden.

Yikes! Have mostly done pickup for furniture, big stuff I couldn’t move. Careless handlers is something I hadn’t experienced.

 

[Panina]

Thirteen days after my last post lots of progress cleaning the garage. I thought by now we would be done, wishful thinking. Just too hot in Florida.

At least 6 car loads were donated.
Dismantled a whole row of large shelving that was in the second garage spot.
I can see my whole garage.
Organized the remaining open shelving against wall. Everything on it we went through and most of it will be sold on ebay as that is my other half's retirement job.

Another load in the garage ready to take to donate. Need to still go through the closed cabinets on the other wall of the garage and his work station that is piled high. Also need to decide on the remaining tools.

 

[AnnaS]

Nice!!!

You are reminding me of going through some more paper work. Besides "stuff/clothes", always have paper work I can shred.

 

[WinniWoman]

Thirteen days after my last post lots of progress cleaning the garage. I thought by now we would be done, wishful thinking. Just too hot in Florida.

At least 6 car loads were donated.
Dismantled a whole row of large shelving that was in the second garage spot.
I can see my whole garage.
Organized the remaining open shelving against wall. Everything on it we went through and most of it will be sold on ebay as that is my other half's retirement job.

Another load in the garage ready to take to donate. Need to still go through the closed cabinets on the other wall of the garage and his work station that is piled high. Also need to decide on the remaining tools.

That’s awesome! I’ve been procrastinating doing some of that in our basement. Not a lot to do anyway, but dread having to argue with my husband because it’s all his stuff.

 

[Patri]

You are reminding me of going through some more paper work. Besides "stuff/clothes", always have paper work I can shred.

Last week I burned 10 years of old old tax returns. My shredder would have exploded.

 

[geekette]

Thirteen days after my last post lots of progress cleaning the garage. I thought by now we would be done, wishful thinking. Just too hot in Florida.

At least 6 car loads were donated.
Dismantled a whole row of large shelving that was in the second garage spot.
I can see my whole garage.
Organized the remaining open shelving against wall. Everything on it we went through and most of it will be sold on ebay as that is my other half's retirement job.

Another load in the garage ready to take to donate. Need to still go through the closed cabinets on the other wall of the garage and his work station that is piled high. Also need to decide on the remaining tools.

Nice work!

I understand heat delays, I get drained too fast. Seems to me that you’re progressing really well. It has to feel good to see your whole garage.

 

[AnnaS]

Last week I burned 10 years of old old tax returns. My shredder would have exploded.

I got rid of old tax returns a few years ago.

Years ago we would also burn our papers when we spent weekends at my sister's home Upstate. A small bunch/way before we had a shredder.
Now shredder is busted. Too lazy to get a new one - but I have a different method of getting rid of papers/important info on papers with numbers, etc.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

Last week I burned 10 years of old old tax returns. My shredder would have exploded.

There's something pleasant about burning old tax papers. However, I have been scanning all my papers for over a decade, if I need them. Keep 3 years of paper, shred (or burn) the oldest year every year and replace it with the current year. (All my old tax papers and returns on a single chip. Plus backup chips.)

 

[clifffaith]

So has anyone ever had to produce their old tax returns? I have a drawer and a bankers box. Once I can’t fit anything else in the drawer, those files move to the box and I dump what’s in the box, so maybe 12-15 years on hand. I’ve always only kept seven years of business records, per our accountant’s instructions. In December my last boxes since retiring in 2018 get dumped. I THINK we finally jettisoned Cliff’s divorce papers from 40 years ago when we moved to the OFH. Even then I had to use the argument that she had died a year or two before. I love dumping paperwork! Cliff still has report cards from first grade.