What to do with it all

Message

hughnique · #1 Post by **hughnique** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:53 pm

Another one died last night, an elderly English chap in the village, fell over, had covid and bronchitis and then a cardiac arrest in the hospital, from memory 96, and as we always say he had a good innings, albeit the last few years he had to tolerate a wife that gets totally legless every afternoon. Brings me to thinking at nearly 73 and with some health problems where do I start, over many years we have collected various bits and pieces, to the point now where we haven't got an inch of display cabinet space to squeeze anything else in. You know the scenario believe the seller when they say that this bit of Royal Doulton, Royal Dux is a total investment, like hell, some of the stuff I paid £350 for years ago is worth less than half of that on eBay, and there are boxes of it all telling the same tale. I dread to think of the time our son will have when the time comes for him to sort out our affairs, most of it I can see ending up at the dechetterie, which is sacrilege, given that it still has some value. I might be wrong but do the French have a passion for porcelain and all that stuff, is it an eBay FR job or try and find an antique dealer that you can trust to move it on, realise a bit of cash and save the hassle of someone else having to sort it all out.

Oldblueraincoat · #2 Post by **Oldblueraincoat** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 7:06 pm

This is such a common problem - we have loads of antique gold and silver pieces as well as some obscure original paintings on the walls. None of it would ever fetch what we paid for them - Dreadful problem for the surviving partner and the kids.

demi · #3 Post by **demi** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 7:39 pm

When I moved to France last year, after the death of my OH I got rid of nearly 80% of the contents of the house. Sold some of the stuff, jewellery, silver & antiques & donated a mass of it to the local hospice shop. Someone from there came to collect it & was aware that some of it was of value.

I had nearly 2,00 books & now have about 150.

I asked my son what he really wanted & obviously kept that, but all the rest went.

When my goods arrived from the UK the removal company said that French customs found it hard to believe it was the contents of a house as there was so little.

It is really liberating to live with very little clutter (and makes housekeeping easy).

In the end it's only 'stuff' not people and I don't miss any of it.*

* apart from a particular roasting tin that I could now do with, but it is replaceable!

ajm · #4 Post by **ajm** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:01 pm

Assuming your son is going to inherit what ever you leave behind ,why not give him some of the 'stuff' now? If he doesn't want he can sell it.

Quiksilver · #5 Post by **Quiksilver** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:05 pm

As a confirmed 'clearer-outer' living with a confirmed 'hoarder', I'm all for starting to get rid well in advance of senility striking. Clearing out my FIL's place was a total nightmare and ended up with what would have been valuable 'stuff' going to the tip because there was just so much of it (as well as 63 years worth of utter junk).
You've got lots of options....EBay, LeBonCoin, Vinted, Trocs, Brocantes and auctions. Be ruthless...you won't regret it

Liz · #6 Post by **Liz** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:39 pm

Clearing out my Mum's house when she died here made us declutter too. You realise how 'rich' you are compared to those in the third world, and refugees.
If she had died this February I could have supplied so many things directly to Ukranian refugees nearby, all usable and clean.
There is a lrge wooden chest behind me full of emotional/personal bits and pieces which I or one of the family in the Uk might want to keep. I haven't opened it since I filled it, except to check it is all dry and safe.

MAD87 · #7 Post by **MAD87** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:57 am

It's going to be a big problem chez nous! I'd love to have a tat-cull, but OH is a hoarder and won't let me even get rid of his 50s scouting souvenirs or his horrid 70s clobber. I admit to owning a pair of Mary Quant tights, bought in thee 60s, but I still wear them now and then.
I started a list of some interesting items collected or given to one or both of us over the decades but never finished it. Most of our 'stuff' would only be of interest to UK dealers and our 4 children wouldn't have a clue.
Then there's the nightmare of the books - I tried to stop OH from buying any more a few years ago, with conspicuous lack of success.

demi · #8 Post by **demi** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:08 am

ajm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:01 pm Assuming your son is going to inherit what ever you leave behind ,why not give him some of the 'stuff' now? If he doesn't want he can sell it.

Didn't make my self clear - I kept it for transport to France & he now has it.

hughnique · #9 Post by **hughnique** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:22 am

MAD87 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:57 am Most of our 'stuff' would only be of interest to UK dealers

Some good responses there, and the above really hits the nail on the head, now it is further complicated by all this crap at the border, what paperwork do you require for a figurine that might be worth £1000, or one and sixpence. As for hoarding well guilty on all counts, the stuff in the workshop is total tat but the minute you bin it, you realise, I've got one of those here somewhere, now where did I put that??

ajm · #10 Post by **ajm** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:35 am

demi wrote: ↑Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:08 am
ajm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:01 pm Assuming your son is going to inherit what ever you leave behind ,why not give him some of the 'stuff' now? If he doesn't want he can sell it.
Didn't make my self clear - I kept it for transport to France & he now has it.

Sorry for the confusion demi- but I was suggesting a solution to the original poster.

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