It seems like everyone wants to live a minimalist lifestyle these days. But all too often, they’re getting rid of things they later wish they’d kept. If you are on a downsizing kick, here’s what to keep so that the rest of your family won’t have decluttering regrets later.
Sure, you could probably get a good price for gold jewelry or original artwork if you sold it right now. But if you decide to get rid of your valuable family heirlooms, you’re also depriving future generations the chance to own a piece of their history.
Do make sure that your truly valuable items have been appraised and insured. And if you absolutely insist on downsizing right now, offer up family heirloom pieces now rather than later so that your loved ones can enjoy them.
If you have family under the age of 30, do everyone a favor and hold on to a few mementos from their childhoods. Right now, they might insist that they have no interest in old photos, family histories, or other pieces of your shared past. But as they grow older, they’ll come to appreciate having concrete reminders of their family memories.
Retirement seems like a good time to downsize and get rid of a lot of dead weight in the form of furniture and décor. However, be strategic about what you do with all that stuff. Give family members first dibs. Then decide if you’d rather sell (at auction or consignment, for example) or donate for a tax write-off.
Sure, to you it’s just a coat you wore in high school or your mother’s old handbag. But to a new generation of collectors and fashionistas, it’s vintage! If you have clothing, shoes, handbags, hats, and other accessories that are at least 25 years old, those pieces are officially vintage. Items in good condition can fetch a surprising price on eBay or in a vintage boutique.
You should already have a fireproof strongbox containing your important documents—birth certificates, insurance policies, deeds, and so on. But there are other personal papers that have value to future generations. Old journals, birthday cards, yearbooks, annotated photo albums—they all give insight into your past and your family’s history.
Check in with your family to see if they want any particular items. Then, before you consign anything to the trash bag, scan anything that catches your interest. That way you’ll have a digital record.
While you might not want to keep every single report card or drawing from your kids, consider saving one or two pieces. Limit yourself to keeping a single file box of paper-based records and memories so that you don’t go overboard. Think of it as your family’s personal archive, and use it to save them from having decluttering regrets down the line.
