July 3, 2009
If I haven’t said that statement out loud, I have thought it. In reality however, we often don’t treat those things very well.
Peter Walsh of “It’s All Too Much” and Oprah fame suggests that we ask ourselves these 4 questions about our cherished possessions:
- How are you treating them?
- Are they hidden?
- Are they taking up space in your closet?
- Does the place this important item holds in your life truly reflect the value you claim it has?
If you value an item, you need to show it the honour and respect it deserves. Otherwise it does not have a place in your home. Simply put – either you value something or you do not.
In a past blog, our guest blogger shared great ideas on how her elderly Mother dealt with the keepsakes she valued when she decided to move in “Thanks for the Memories”.
As seniors’ movers, we come across items to pack that are in such poor condition they fall apart when handled. Clearing the far reaches of a hall closet I came across a family bible wrapped in a plastic shopping bag. It disintegrated in my hands. . Though it was no longer of any value to anyone, I felt guilty discarding it because it was so old, but also that it had not been cherished.
Show your memories the respect they deserve. There are many “keepsake” holders, archival paper and frames available now to preserve items. Take a picture of it if it is getting too frail.
If it is something just for you to see, put it someplace where you will occasionally see it.
If it is something you do not like to see, and the memory is not comforting, be brave and throw it away!
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June 24, 2009
In our work helping Seniors move and providing Executor Support Services we often find full closets of clothing that are no longer needed. We always try to sell items before we resort to donation or trash. Whether you have a whole closet to empty or just a few items you won’t wear any more, these handy tips will guide you through the selling process.
- The goal of a resale shop is to turnover merchandise as quickly as possible to offset the limited margin that they make, and to keep loyal clients coming in frequently. So your items must be eye-catching to the typical patron of the shop.
- There are 2 critical factors that determine whether they will take your items: Style and Condition. Style applies to everything; the length of skirts and jackets, the cut of blouses, the toes of shoes, the width of ties and lapels. The staffs in these shops are knowledgeable. They can often tell the age of a garment just from the style of the label. And the items must be in pristine condition meaning no stains, no wear marks, no pilling. Every garment must meet both the style and condition criteria. It doesn’t matter if you bought it 10 years ago and never wore it. It is out of style.
- In this day and age, shoulder pads are a giveaway. Cut them out before you take things in if you want any chance of them being accepted. If it is an expensive piece it might be worth a washing or dry cleaning before you sell it.
- Set your expectations on the price you will get. Resale shops rarely price anything at more than 50% of the original value. You will receive 40-50% of that. And in most cases the price goes down after a month….and so do your $$$.
- Be realistic and generous. Let them donate it to charity if it doesn’t sell. You weren’t going to wear it anyway. And believe me; it is too expensive to store it until it does come back into style!
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June 10, 2009
This week’s blog is from a guest.
It is not the “stuff’ that is hard to let go of; it’s the meaning they hold for us. My mom had a special way of discarding her items while maintaining the memories and a great feeling.
As the first physiotherapist at the Canadian Arthritis Society when it first opened in the 1940’s in B.C, she had photos, a set of exercise drawings used at the time, newspaper articles relating to the opening, etc. When it was time for her to downsize, she sent these items back to the Arthritis Society which was delighted to receive them. They sent her a wonderful thank you letter which she appreciated and kept as a souvenir.
Other ideas :
- Old theatre programs can be mailed back to the theatre with a note about your experience.
- Membership cards or programs from past events, associations, and clubs may be of value to the club for their archives.
- Many schools would gladly accept the history you are providing with old books, uniforms, yearbooks, etc. and would be very happy to have them.
- Were you in the armed services? The local Legion or Veterans group may be glad to receive memorabilia from your time there.
- Postcards or placemats from restaurants? If the restaurant still exists, send them back with a little note about your great experience. They may even put it up on their wall.
When you are moving a senior, suggest this strategy to them. Knowing that someone or some group receives your memorabilia with gratitude will help to ease their sense of loss.
As promised, we’ve updated our Decluttering Checklist to include the additions from this week’s blog. If you have any suggestions we can add, please feel free to send them to us and we will try and post them.
available domain names .
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June 3, 2009
I never thought of myself as a pack rat. I just kept things in case I needed them again. You never know when you will have a need for that button that comes in the little plastic bag attached to your sweater along with the single strand of thread … until I looked in my button box to realize it was full of little baggies and I no longer owned the sweaters!
Look at the amount of space taken up in your kitchen by twist ties, plastic bread closures, plastic bags and margarine containers. Twist ties need to be banned – you get one for each bag you buy and everyone I know ties them up in a knot by hand!
I didn’t expect that my job helping seniors move from their home of many years would propel me to get my own life in order. EACH of us at Trusted Transitions has gone through a major de-cluttering of our OWN homes. It is contagious. The decluttering bug recently hit my 88 year old Dad. . He has tackled his precious garage and tools and decided to do his “Givin’ while he is Livin’ ” by passing them on to his grandson who has a farm.
At Trusted Transitions we’ve created a Decluttering Checklist of items we think are perfectly OK to get rid of without causing any harm or distress to any one. We’ll keep adding to the list until we cannot come up with any more.
Decluttering is not just for moving! When you get into the swing of it, it is quite a liberating experience. You will feel more alive, unburdened and refreshed.
And remember – Trusted Transitions not only help Seniors move, we are always available to help you REDUCE – REUSE – REPURPOSE – RECYCLE!
Happy decluttering!
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May 27, 2009
In this day of almost anything goes in the media, there is little that we hear and see that shocks us. But in our day to day lives we can be shocked when we learn something about a friend or family member.
It’s usually about the “unmentionables”. And I don’t mean sexy lingerie. We are talking about things people feel a deep need to keep to themselves. Things we want to keep secret: diaries, love letters, secret bank accounts, fetishes, compulsions, habits, addictions, costumes, certain phobias, etc.
For example, a senior very dear to me never told her family that she had a full set of false teeth. When she was in for life threatening surgery a nurse told us that they needed to take the teeth home for safe keeping! In disbelief, we said, “No! You are mistaken! She does NOT have false teeth! No way!” She didn’t want anyone to know that she had all her teeth removed and replaced with dentures over 30 years ago. How could you go through something that severe and painful and not tell anyone? Looking back, it is something that we could laugh at! But some “unmentionables” may not cause laughter.
If someone helps us to move or declutter, we handle the unmentionables personally, packing them privately so we don’t have to explain the possible idiosyncrasy in our life.
However, when we die, the “unmentionables” become someone else’s discovery to handle. In a previous blog we wrote, “Do your givin’ while you’re livin’“, maybe we need to call this blog: “Do your ditchin’ while your livin’!”
Think about what “unmentionables” you have and how your loved ones will react when they find something you have kept hidden. Some things are best kept hidden, in which case you need to get rid of them before you no longer have the option.
Rest assured, our Seniors Move Organizers are 100% discreet and professional as we tend to the details of life-changes.
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