Giving away items no longer needed

[cassiesmom]

I have a lot of shirts from Harley Davidson stores that we visit on trips. I don't want to give these away because they symbolize our trip. But I do not fit into them. I am still not sure about getting rid of those items.

I saw this in Real Simple magazine http://www.campusquilt.com/
My cousin just received one of these as a wedding shower gift - she had been involved in sports both in high school and college.

Thank you so much, everyone. You've given me resolve to keep going. I really like the ideas about 1) take a picture of the item; 2) put it in a box, close the lid, date it, don't look at again and give it away. That would prevent a lot of second thoughts.

[Lizzie]

I'm like Asiel, too good at giving away things I'm not using and don't think I will use again. I don't regret giving away clothes that are too small for me now because at my age I'm never going to be a size 2 again, but kitchen items I greatly regret giving away. A few weeks ago I hunted for my potato masher for ages because I was making lentil shepherds pie. Then I remembered putting it in a box for Goodwill years ago because I hate mashed potatoes.

I have a large house all to myself, and my ten foster cats, and have masses of empty storage space but I can't resist throwing out things I believe I don't need. My urge to toss is as bad as others' need to hoard. Whoever clears out my home after I've kicked the bucket will be done in half a day.

[K9karen]

My brother has OCD and is a hoarder. Wherever there is a clean open space, he'll plop down his stuff and never touch it again. I've tossed so much or threw it in his room where it belongs. Looking back, I realize my mom was a clean, organized hoarder. After she passed, I gave away most of her stuff except for some clothes which fit me. I still have basement and garage to deal with. I used to feel attachment, but it's waning. It's material.

I'm also clearing out my 97 y.o uncle's house bit by bit. My aunt (mom's sis) was a horrendous hoarder. She bought clothes and never wore them. Wrong size, but it was cheap so she had to have it. I donated 25 storage boxes of shoes and over 25 boxes of clothes to charity. She had boxes of vitamins she ordered on line.
My uncle (in better health than me) wants his house spotless.

My dining room is my place I assigned to pack my give-a-ways. I was going to do ebay, but decided on Craig's list. My mom has 2 full sets of china that I never remember using. I can't even start to describe what I found. She worked in a department store, so anything on sale, plus employee discount, came home. I have over 10 lamps in my basement we never used.

I'm a thrower outer. My memories of the person is in my heart, soul and mind 24/7. I'm not a material person. What hasn't be used/worn in 2 years is OUT. I've found I never needed to replace it.

I'm mind boggled working on 2 houses! Phew!!!!

[mrspunkysmom]

I have trouble with that myself, although lately my need for cathartic actions has helped. I have also decided to look upon the state of my household as "this I can control" because so much of our lives we can not control.

It's a long process. I've been downsizing for several years. I've almost reached the limit of that with which I wish to depart. Now it is just cleaning up and living within my physical boundaries. I still have difficulties with stockpiling food and supplies from the days when I'd buy in bulk to save money because I didn't have any.

I do keep items that I like or have a personal meaning for me, but I have also become selective about what has meaning for me.

Good luck with it.

BTW, right now the house is a filthy mess. I getting ready to clean to help me through this.

[moosmom]

I went through a box I had stored in my cousin's basement for 4 years. I had a total meltdown. Hundreds of pictures and momentos from years ago. There I sat in the middle of my living room, surrounded by pictures, momentos that no one in my family wants. How can I possibly put a what represented by entire life growing up in a dumpster? I called my brother, cousins - everyone said no. So I plowed through everything, sobbing all the way through. I felt like I was throwing my life away.

So, I called my former SIL in Michigan and I gotta tell ya, she's one wise woman. She told me to sort them into 2 piles. One pile to be tossed in the trash and all the other stuff (and believe me that was only one box, I still have another one to go through) and the other store. She said to type out instructions for my executrix (my BFF Susie) with copies, instructions that all photographs, momentos and deceased cats' ashes be put in the box with my body for cremation. My ashes will be scattered at Bolton Lake and my memories will be with me forever.