Downsizing Dilemmas

For many older adults, downsizing their living space brings with it peace of mind and freedom. But as the New York Times found, those with elderly parents are discovering they have to deal with a whole new set of stuff– the keepsakes and heirlooms that they don’t need or want. The china sets and ornate furnishings that once were a status symbol don’t have a place in smaller, modern homes.

As a result, there’s a growing demand for senior move coordinators, estate sales facilitators, and self-storage units. “This is the first time we’re seeing a kink in the chain of passing down mementos from one generation to another,” says Mary Kay Buysse, executive director of the National Association of Senior Move Managers.

Link to the full article: Aging Parents With Lots of Stuff, and Children Who Don’t Want It

Next Avenue notes that Millenials live even more minimally than their GenX and Boomer counterparts, preferring affordable, portable home goods from Ikea and Target over furniture passed down from older generations. Among their tips for finding a new home for unwanted family treasures for downsizers of all generations:

• Ask about the backstory. This background info can add color to an eBay listing to help sell it, or prompt you to keep an item that has true sentimental value.
• Search online to see if there’s a market for the items. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. You never know if you might find a collector looking for what you’re selling.
• Utilize consignment shops or estate sales firms to offload items to save time and frustration.
• Prepare for disappointment. Charity shops are at capacity in many areas, making it difficult to even give some things away.

Link to the full article: Sorry, Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Stuff

Not everything from The Greatest Generation should be viewed through a practical lens. There’s a little room for sentimental keepsakes in everyone’s life.  The Star Tribune spoke with an antiques appraiser who believes that “families who shed personal mementos will eventually regret losing that link to their history.” Some things are worth finding a place for, whether it’s a box of wartime letters or memorabilia that can be framed and used as retro decor. One family staged pictures of their worn but beloved camping equipment, and turned the vignettes into a memory book.

Link to the full article: No longer saved for generations, family heirlooms are being shed 

Photo by: Tomas Quinonas