We moved into this house 21 years ago...
Posted by ironicmirror@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 41 comments
we are thinking of moving to a smaller place, in a year or two so we did a deep spring cleaning.... there is so much sh1t here that we do not use
I found a box of mail from 2005.
SackBadger2024@reddit
We recently went through the trauma of estate selling the in laws house full of collected shit from 40 years in the same house. Having strangers offer 1.00 on a item that holds a lifetime of memories is gut wrenching. Better to just put it in a pile and destroy it all. So after this my wife and I started literally just giving shit away and donating anything we can. We all know the kids want our money, and maybe some cool retro clothes, that's about it.
Lewdubs@reddit
I pretty much donated the entirety of my parents house of stuff to a church that needed it. I sold some antique furniture but 95% of the house was donated or trashed. I have 6 boxes of photos and genealogy stuff my dad worked on. It was hard, but did keep some keepsakes and Xmas stuff. Now I need to work on getting rid of my stuff.
MishtotheMitt@reddit
I did an estate sale at my parents’ house. Never again. It was such an invasion of privacy and my parents would have hated it.
Jeannette311@reddit
I just made myself a 24 week plan to declutter the entire house. I work 70+ hours a week so I am limited how much I can do per week, but I started last night after work and already have a bunch of stuff i can get rid of. I plan on doing 30 minutes per weekday and two hours on Sunday.
I also have a ton of craft stuff that I'll be able to use once it's all organized. I can never find anything so I am hoping as I get rid of more and more things it will give me the space to put things away where it makes sense.
After the house is decluttered I can spend a couple days on my shed and put some shelves in there so I can store all my gardening things in one spot instead of several.
I've been in my house ten years and now that my kid has been moved out awhile I feel like I can reclaim the space. I hope I am able to get it all done and that it makes me feel better.
Haunting_Room4526@reddit
About the craft crap-can’t hand quilt, bead embroider or sew miniatures because my hands are gone. I’m way past creative memories scrapbooking. No one wants albums. So I have painfully given that stuff away.
Gave the kids their stuff and now live in just 2 rooms and a huge garage. I do love cosplay costume creation.
Be aware physical limitations often conflict with hearts desires
OkPermission7769@reddit
Sit stuff on the curb with a FREE sign. That's what I do when I dont feel like taking stuff to donate. Or Marketplace FREE.
ironicmirror@reddit (OP)
Sorry no. My garbage people have a clause on their contract that says anything with a free sign will not get picked up.
And selling for $5 on marketplace means that all the crazies don't contact you.
OkPermission7769@reddit
I understand. I meant FREE as people who drive by or neighbors will get. Not for trash pick up. I meant free on marketplace not selling yet understand about the crazies.
pacifistpotatoes@reddit
My parents are moving to a one level home in a few weeks after living in the same house since 1983. My mom has been slowly getting rid of stuff over the years but my dad's giant shed and the basement are full of tools, odds and ends, scraps, at least 10 different hoses, ropes, screws nails brackets.. I don't even know what to do with it.
One_Love_Mama@reddit
living estate sale
pacifistpotatoes@reddit
Oh yea they are doing garage sale and then realtor has a contact for estate! But so many screws. Like 100s of containers of screws and nail and zip ties and shit lol
OkPermission7769@reddit
Habitat for Humanity has a building stuff store you can donate or maybe to one of the houses they build?
Deep-Attorney1781@reddit
Some libraries have a section called "Library of Things", where they lend out tools, board games, etc. Some of your dad's tools could be donated there.
pacifistpotatoes@reddit
My mom was our ocal librarian for 30 years!
Our library system is small and they don't have the space for a lot of it, I know she's been in contact with some of her old colleagues!
Psychological-Type93@reddit
Slowly start taking stuff you know he's not using or is garbage. I've been doing this for years with my Dad. Has not rebought anything or asked about it.
Witty-Atmosphere-211@reddit
We moved in 34 years ago. I don’t want to move, but I need to get rid of stuff. We had movers pack up our house and we put a lot in to storage while we were building. I know there are boxes that have never been gone through that are in the basement. I have all my Duran Duran magazines from the 80’s. Lol.
OkPermission7769@reddit
I vote keep the Duran Duran stuff
Substantial_Layer_79@reddit
After cleaning out my parents' house and helping a friend clean out their parents' house, I've been trying to get rid of at least one box of stuff I don't need per week. I've taken a lot of photos of things I didn't think I could part with, but knowing I have the photos made it easier. I'm in the process of giving all the junk I've been hanging onto for my kids back to them now...and it's a struggle. I feel like I may have to leave it on their porch and run!
Lighteningbug1971@reddit
We built our house 20 years ago, we want to sell it but we don’t wanna clean it out , we both wish someone would buy it with all our stuff in it! lol
ImmediateLobster1@reddit
Have you considered a catastrophic house fire?
Chemical_Tomato_6308@reddit
The attic above my garage is full of stuff we haven't looked at in \~10 years. If I ever sell the place, it stays.
RevToy@reddit
Been in our house for almost 25 years, I'm scared of what we would find. We did a mild garage clean-out last year, but I know we can do more.
Double_Dimension9948@reddit
In the same boat. 😭😭😭
No-Country6348@reddit
We have to bring our trash to a collection facility that has a reuse shed. I did a massive cleanup of my house/closets/garage/basement and took carloads to the reuse shed. By the time I came back with a new load to drop off, everything was gone each time. It felt great to give it to people who could use it and also to avoid landfills. Now my house feels so fresh and happy. 😊
Fritz5678@reddit
Love the idea of a rescue shed. I wish our county had something similar.
MNPS1603@reddit
I didn’t move from 2002 until 2017, then I moved across country. Did a purge at that time. Then moved 3x over 5 years culminating in a divorce - with a move back to my former home state. Each of those moves brought a purge and a “we never even opened that box!” Left all the junk drawers and closets with him to deal with. I was running so light it was amazing. The few pieces of furniture I kept I wound up selling once I bought my current house. Total midlife reset. When I look around, almost everything is something I’ve gotten in the last 4 years, it’s minimal and light. I love it. My cabinets are sparse, closets sparse. Garage just clean white walls with a few tools.
JollyGiant573@reddit
Not looking forward to doing something with my folks place when the time comes. They are becoming hoarders.
Ashamed_Occasion_521@reddit
Mine to. At 85 and 88 they still go to rummage sales, thrift stores etc. they won't get rid of stuff "cause it's worth something". 90% of it will be donated when time comes.
elphaba00@reddit
My mom is 75 and still goes to thrift stores weekly and always comes home with something, mostly clothes. I tried telling her that she's got enough, but she said that she likes something "new" (from Goodwill). She also claims that she doesn't want her friends to think she's wearing the same things all the time. Meanwhile, I'm wearing work pants I bought 13 years ago. I told her no one gives a shit what she's wearing.
autumnice1@reddit
Currently going through. All of my mom and dad's stuff, they also were becoming hoarders. So far, I have found 7 food processors (2 still in original packaging), enough fancy dishes to host a regular wedding, 100+ cookbooks, an entire closet full of linens...
They did not socialize or entertain.
Me, I am starting to go through all the stuff in my home also. Will NOT be leaving this for my kids to deal with.
Happy-person2122@reddit
We listed our house. It didn’t sell. We took it off the market. We then cleaned it out as if we were moving. Got rid of so much stuff. We got some new furniture that needed updating. It feels so freeing and fresh to be rid of so much of our stuff. We are staying put for now and feel good about it!
LayerNo3634@reddit
When the kids moved out, we sold everything and downsized. I can't believe the junk we found. It felt really good to get rid of it. Truly freeing.
ONROSREPUS@reddit
Moving is a great way to get a solid cleaning decluttering. When my wife and I built our house it was amazing the stuff that came out of the house that was there since 1911.
EstimateAgitated224@reddit
I have lived in my house for 5 years and sometimes feel like the only way to clean it would be a dumpster.
Whogaf01@reddit
When you become an adult living on your own, you spend 20 years accumulating stuff. You then spend the next 20 years getting rid of all that stuff.
WillDupage@reddit
In the words of my aunt “Next time we move, we’re having a fire.”
Abpoe77@reddit
I'm terrified of my mother's basement. No outside access. 4 generations of misc junk
lissam3@reddit
We inherited my inlaws house where they had lived for 20+ years. For many reasons we chose to move into it rather than sell. We moved out of our house where we had lived for 20+ years. Two houses with 20+ years of accumulation and 4 months later we are still going through stuff. If you have Waste Management available in your area I highly suggest the Bagster. Buy the bag at HD and fill it. Call WM and they come pick it up. Cost is about $250 but well worth it.
enginerdsean@reddit
Moved a year ago from the house we were in for 18+ years. Kids gone and getting ready for retirement next year. We aren’t hoarders, but man we got rid of a ton of shit. It was cathartic and I am so glad to feel we are better of for our kids future over what I had to deal with when my dad passed away a few years ago.
Limp_Ice_3248@reddit
Downsized my 90+ father to a seniors home 3 years ago. Would not recommended. Way way way too much stuff that either the family or garage-salers did not want.
Going to up-sticks to a retirement country so am downsizing now myself. Harder than I thought but I'm determined!
CitizenChatt@reddit
Similar situation. I want to bulldoze the garage contents out