downsizing the contents

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downsizing the contents

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Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 19

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 25 8:37 am Post subject: downsizing the contents

During the end of the winter season, it came to view that there wasn't space in cupboards, on shelves ... you know the idea of lets put things away till you find there's no away. So downsizing started.

Facebook locally seems to be mainly local business advertising, complaints about dogs and their doings, not being able to get out of a supermarket carpark easily - oh and some advertising for up and coming county council elections. But it has had it's uses start of year.

One cupboard's unused items at a time advertised on Facebook - too many usable plastic lidded containers, a camera I hated, an old box of vehicle tools (no longer a driver in the house), too many seeds left over from the allotment days long gone, too many baking tins as family has moved and cakes for one too fattening

The camera went for cash, the rest wasn't going to sell but the space is now good. And it all went fast.

Much shredding of old receipts for items no longer owned. I have a garden seat from the old allotment shed that next time family member is down from Scotland with time he can look to see if it's foot will mend and take or else it's for the tip.

I'm still looking at shelves - trouble is that I have stopped to read the books and they will be keepers. And now there's the garden to manage. With the derelict greenhouse demolished and removed there's less clutter space.

So do we all have a regular study of property to go? Or have we never had to clear the house of a deceased relative?

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 9041
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 25 8:51 am Post subject:
Even before Pirate died we were gradually reducing Stuff....but it is daunting to do it alone with no-one to give a second opinion Friends have offered help when I've sorted bike stuff more. What I really need is for someone to sort out the tools I will need..then I can move the rest along What is difficult are books..... ❤️

Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 19

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 25 7:06 am Post subject:

You are on the hard start of things gz. It's not easy paring down from 2 is it? And it's not always that advisors are on your side.

We lost most of the accumulated junk of years when the bank asked for the house back. 2 moves on after he died, at least I'm only sorting my accumulated junk where I've adjusted to just me being the householder.

Found that the hard part.

Not as bad as the youngest daughter and husband who moved "over the border" into Scotland 16 months ago. Admittedly they were moving into a 4 bedroom house from 3 but 5 boats at the local sailing club, 1 garage (one for the classic car which ain't no Rolls Royce) and two for the bloke's stuff for working from home, plus the cellar of the house which was a story in itself. Now that was downsizing with a vengence at speed as they didn't wish to afford to move all the 30 years of accumulated junk. And they had a date as both house sales were progressing.

White transit van man had to make a trip down south with books, lego and toys which their son refused to downsize. Well till they landed on his floor and wife asked what all this was.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4651
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 25 8:33 am Post subject:

I've moved house regularly so have a bit of a cycle of ditching things, but plan to stay here for a long time. Which means I need a different solution!
I'm definitely trying to be very conscious about not bringing things home "just in case" - I have the luxury of being able to afford a tool or a piece of furniture if and when it's needed, and not before. I also find clutter annoying so need to minimise "stuff" so that I have less to tidy.

My parents have started gently downsizing certain things, like books, I think they saw how hard it was for the house next door to be cleared after the gent passed away. Not that they are close to that point! But better done now so they can choose what to keep as they go along.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43825
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 25 9:33 am Post subject:

8x8 shed replaced with 6 x 3 shed

all the useless stuff gone, plenty of space for useful things

house tools need racking rather than culling, although i do give "spare" (how many claw hammers?) and redundant ones (no more chainsaws for me) to folk who will use them

the last time i had a full tool cull i kept a hammer, a 1" chisel and a tape measure
the rest was about 2 transit van loads(hand tools, 6 shovels, 110V tools and trannies, ladders, scaff tower etc etc) to a pal who was still wanted to trade in london and had space for them

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16251

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 25 6:51 am Post subject:

Unfortunately my husband is a hoarder, and I still haven't got rid of all the stuff from my parents house. Our house is overrun with books and our son still infests his old bedroom. I am trying to have a bit of a cull of books, and have gone through my wardrobe a bit, but still have the airing cupboard to sort out. I don't think we could move as it would be too much work. Will try to do a bit better, but run out of energy after a short time and have too much else to do.

Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 19

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 25 8:18 am Post subject:
May none of you have to down size the contents of a small double wardrobe full of neatly folded tissue paper. Apparently there were some other interesting cupboards full of similar in that house to be cleared after husband's mother died. And it was a four bedroomed large Welsh vicarage so lots of space as there was only one person left there.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43825
Location: yes

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 25 12:53 pm Post subject:
did they find the treasure? in any "hoarder" house clearance there is at least one piece of treasure they might not have recognized it , it will be there

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16251

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 25 8:29 am Post subject:

My MIL had a cupboard full of plastic carrier bags, and the pharmacist had quite a lot to take back too. Mum always got new carrier bags, but didn't throw them away, although she forgot to take them with her when shopping. When asked what she needed on her prescription, which was by the time she died in her 90s, rather varied, she always said 'all of it'. Glad to say my SIL dealt with most of it, although we were given some to sort out.

I am trying to go through things and get rid of stuff, but rather slowly I am afraid.

Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 19

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 25 10:02 am Post subject:
Dunno about treasure in the Welsh Vicarage. Mother-in-law had played crown bowls competitively at National level and had at least 24 trophies in the cabinet. Her club didn't want them back and the family didn't want them. Don't know what happened there. Best not to ask sometimes.

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 9041
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 25 11:48 am Post subject:
That is sad...you'd have thought the family might have wanted one..and the club should have

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