I likely will be getting married before too long and moving new wife's house. Age 69 and 64.?

Question

Second for both of us. Both with dead spouses. My problem is what to do with 45 years of "stuff" that has built up in my house. I can take some of it to her house, but will have to sell, give, or "junk" much of it. My, my, how am I going to do that? I will have to rent a storage unit for some things that I just can not part with. There are so, so, so many things that have very little monitery value, but have sentimental value. Some will be taken with me, but many will have to be thrown away. Have you ever faced this problem? Any suggestions?

Answer 1

look in the phone book for a local auction service. You take the items you want, they come in a buy the rest, remove it, etc. If there is some good stuff, you end up making money. If it's mostly removal, then it's a bargain at any price to remove the stress.

Congratulations on getting married!

Answer 2

You think you need all that stuff, but you only need about 3 boxes worth of it. It is just STUFF. Let it go. You will never think of it, and if you take it, you will never touch it. It is baggage and you need to ride free, like the wind, like an easy rider. You have put emotional weight into THINGS and things really mean nothing in the long run. You don't need them. Make it your task to fill 3 medium large boxes and sell, give away or toss everything else. You can keep the 15 outfits and all the underwear and socks you wear. It is all you need. Let your life be ripe and full with the newness of your new marriage, baggage free! Congratulations and may the LORD bless you in your new life. Second chances: itsn't God awesome!?

Answer 3

I have faced this dilemma and I had tons of "stuff" that I just couldn't let go.
What was helpful to me was asking myself: how many of the sentimental things that I wanted to take could I actually put in my new home rather than my new home's basement? If I intended to store those things in my basement, then I didn't need them. Why bother to take them along?
Painitngs and momentos that I could either hang on the wall, put on a coffee table, or in a curio and photo albums were all that I took with me.
It was painful to let so many things go but when I did I felt so liberated. While I would never forget the past, I wanted to live in the moment. Besides, I had the future to accumulate more "stuff".

Answer 4

Your memories are always with you, the stuff is just stuff. I would say, keep the photos and a small box of mementos. But the rest, you need to let go of so that you can fully put yourself in your new marriage. Let go of your old life and adapt to your new one. I'm sure your new wife will not want a lot of stuff to remind her of your life before, she wants a new life with you. Open your heart to her and let go of the past. As far as how to do this... go room by room in your old home and make a KEEP, TOSS and SELL pile. Much like the tv show 'Clean Sweep' on tv. If you have not looked at or used an item or clothing in the past year, it automatically does NOT go in your KEEP pile. :) Work your way through your home, if you have an adult child or a good friend to help you that would be great. A suggestion for your 'Toss' pile is to contact www.freecycle.org or Goodwill and give those things to others who can use them. :) Have an estate sale and get rid of your sell items (use the money for your new life). :) Good luck!

Answer 5

I keep a trunk that contains a lot of odds and ends from various family members who have passed on, as well as a few things I have kept during my lifetime (so far). This is my way of keeping our family history and not forgetting those who have come before us. These things have no monetary value at all, but they make up a life - and not just those who are gone now, but mine as well.

If you have children from your previous marriage, you may want to start passing these heirlooms down to them before you move assuming they are old enough to respect them for what they are. If you're not ready to let some of these sentimental things go yet, you could rent a small storage area to keep them in until you either have a place at your home to keep them or you pass them down to your children.

Good luck in your new marriage and new home!

Answer 6

If it is something you can't sell then get rid of it like this. If you have not used it in over a year, then what good is it to you? You will always have your memories. Don't you think your retirement money would be more wisely used for your retirement, than a storage unit. Do you have kids that you can give some of it to? Does your fiance have kids you could give it to? You can donate it to goodwill and get a receipt for tax purposes. I wish you many blessings and years with your new marriage.

Answer 7

Yes I have been there. Talk to your new wife to be. If you are getting married you should be able to take what you want. Why can't she move in your house?
Keep the the tings that when you pick them up they are hard to put down or that instantly jog a memory. You may have to go thru things 2-3 times before you can get where you really want to be.
Good luck.

Answer 8

Letting go of the past is always difficult, but are you sure you are ready to get married again? You seem to be having real problems with the sentimental things that you cannot part with.
Ask yourself how much time you are going to spend away from your new wife looking at your past, or indeed how much time she will be prepared to allow you to indulge in this? Answer this truthfully and it should help with your dilemma.

Best of luck.

Answer 9

Ah, you will enjoy the process. Of course you will feel sad, but at the end it's almost like a second birth. Thought I am probably too young to give advice to a man of your age. Nevertheless, there is a saying:

All you have shall some day be given; therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors.

Answer 10

Things are just that...things. Keep what you just can't part with. Do you have children? If so, give them first choice of the leftover things before having a sale.