What do I take and what do I leave?

Question

I'm a senior in high school and am about to graduate in May. I'm moving out of mine and my mom's house. Since I was 15 (workers permit for that age) I have been working. A lot of the stuff in our house is mine, or given to me by someone else (from my dad's family mostly). For a while now, it's just been me and my mom....my parents divorced when I was 12, and when I was 14 my dad died from a drug overdose. So, we've always worked together...."her" car technically isn't hers, I make the payments every month.

So, what do I take and what do I leave? Some things are obvious, like she gets to keep the car, the furniture and so forth and I take my personal things...like the things in my room. But, what about things like the DVD player that we share equally? I don't mean to sound like "mine, mine, mine...I bought it so it's MINE!", because I'm not like that. uggghh, I don't know! Do you get what I'm trying to say?

Answer 1

I understand what you mean. You don´t want to upset your mother by throwing your weight around about the things you bought, yet there are the things you want to take away.

I think that a good way may be to have an honest talk to your mother because you´re leaving home and you need some comfort too. I bet she´ll understand, cause you two have been living together like always.

Just pay attention to how she´s now financially and if she could afford buying things again. There´s no ebtter way than discussing it openly.

Answer 2

Can you work it out together with your mom? Talk it over, see what you both need, and then perhaps hit the garage sales and classifieds together :) May seem tacky to some to get lots of second-hand stuff but you can often find very good items there and it's also a very good thing to do for environmental reasons, in today's society where we're all aware of how much we're throwing out buying second hand stuff should no longer carry the 'poor' label, and even if anyone seems to frown at it just saying something like 'Yeah, so glad I found this, it's almost new and do you realise how much we throw out in this country!' should pull the entire focus away from finances.

Answer 3

Talk to your mom. I am almost positive that she'll know exactly what she hasn't bought and what isn't hers, with her being an adult who has a child pay for household belongings I'm sure she knows. Also take into consideration what you will NEED when you move to your new place, the basic stuff. By simply stating you need something it will make it easier than saying thats mine, I bought it!

Answer 4

I tend to agree with Lucianna. Also, bear in mind how old some of this stuff is, and what it might really cost you to replace it. As someone who has moved several times in his life, I can also say that the less junk you have, the easier it is to move, and your living quarters will look tidier.

Take a few things you really think you need/want and can't easily replace. For the rest, you might find it fun to replace as time goes on.

Good luck with your move!

Answer 5

It sounds like you'd better have this discussion with your mom. Working it out with her beforehand can help you avoid a LOT of potential problems. If there's any question, I'd say leave the item. Your relationship with your mom is worth more than possessions.

Answer 6

I get it. Talk to your mom and see if you can come to a solution. Ask her what she doesn't mind you taking. It is totally reasonable for you to take things with you so you have them at school or where ever you are going, you shouldn't have to buy items again that you already bought.

Answer 7

talk to them