Anyone who has lived in a home for a few years can attest that their belongings have grown substantially since they first moved in. It's what we do - we continually acquire more clothing, household goods, toys, and decorations, yet we neglect to routinely purge the things we no longer use. Many of these accumulated items end up stored in boxes and bins, for various reasons. Some of them hold sentimental value, others we keep just in case we may "need them someday", or simply because it was too overwhelming to deal with at that moment. Often this excess storage ends up moving from house to house, never to be looked at again.
Having worked with many clients over the years, I have seen the effect on children, who faced having to clear out their parent's homes. In most cases, it left them with a household containing 30, 40, or even 50 years of memories. A daunting and overwhelming task that no one should have to face! Ask yourself, are you holding on to too much stuff you will probably never use? Is this the legacy you want to leave for your children?
Whether your children are young or already grown, with a family of their own; the biggest gift you can give them, is to unburden them from all of your stuff. No matter what age or stage of life you are in, I urge you to start the process now and purge through those storage boxes and bins. Ask family members now if they want some of these items, and if they don't, then let them go.
Some say: we don’t possess our things; they end up possessing us. How true is that? According to statistics, self-storage has grown into a $38 billion industry annually.
Almost 10% of us spend an average of $91 per month just to store our unused stuff! Why do we do that to ourselves and to our families? If you ask any of your friends, chances are they will agree that they don't want most of what their parents own, nor do their children desire any of their belongings.
Following my advice, I routinely purge my closets and storage spaces. Nothing is so precious that it is worth $1000+ annually to sit in storage, collecting dust. Save yourself the money and your children the burden. Instead, give someone else joy by selling or donating all items you no longer use, need, or love.
Need accountability or hands-on assistance with any of your organizing projects? Call or email, I’m here to help, whether in person or virtually. Call 585-201-6009 or write to Yve@organizingbyYve.com.