Unfortunately I have been tasked with the job of disposing of 50th wedding anniversary "silverware" and glassware gifts. My parents are still living, but my mother's mental health has declined to the point where she cannot tolerate the presence of the aforementioned items. What do people do with such items from deceased estates, especially when the children or grandchildren don't want them or cannot house them?
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"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
Stuff from my mum (when she went into a nursing home), mother in law, and both grandmothers ended up at either the Salvos, Vinnies or Uniting Church. None of my generation or my kids generation want any of the silverware, furniture, pictures etc. I got a shed with some impressive furniture, modified carving knives, plenty of vessels to mix paint or two-part glue in etc.
The problem items are the old wedding and family photos that no one wants and nobody recognises anyone in them. Will bring myself around to shredding them one day.
when we moved out of our home we had lots of things we had kept from family members long gone. We donated things to the local museum writing a little story , what they were, who made them etc. Even strops first shoes and my wedding dress. When they do exhibitions from those eras they will be proudly displayed for all to see. I also like the idea if i want to see an item i can just go and see it. Photos were scanned and put on a hard drive. They are enormously important for future generations. They could also be donated to the local historical or family history society. Good luck.
-- Edited by the rocket on Monday 25th of February 2019 09:45:58 PM
We tried several garage sales which included my mum's stuff - nothing of hers sold. Then I took a ute load to the Uniting Church shop. On a second trip a few weeks later I noticed some items that we had 50c on had $2 on them. On a third trip, they were all sold. I think people hunting for that tea-pots, silverware to replace damaged or lost stuff from home, or retro stuff, go the charity shops rather than garage sales.
We tried an auction house for my dad's mother's stuff. Totally uninterested.
An auction house took my in-laws pianola. They wanted nothing else. Even good furniture.
We stored a few whitewoods in our garage which we have since resurrected as ours died.
Thanks to all. I think I'll see if the local Vinnies will take the items. There is nothing of any real monetary value. My parents came from poor backgrounds and lived a frugal life.
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"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
Thanks to all. I think I'll see if the local Vinnies will take the items. There is nothing of any real monetary value. My parents came from poor backgrounds and lived a frugal life.
We basically returned stuff to Vinnies. My father's parents volunteered at Vinnies - grandma almost daily for most of here working life until about 70+. Grandpa at weekends and then full time when he retired. He was a tradie and would sort out rubbish from good stuff and fix anything broken before it went on the floor. Both of them would bring anything home that was better than they had and take back their old stuff. So when they moved into a nursing we basically returned everything to Vinnies. Grandpa would disassemble furniture and take it home or back to Vinnies on the tram.
dorian,
Like "the rocket", I'd suggest you don't give up on a local museum located near where your parents lived. The local council may be able to assist you.
My mother's wartime (WW2) civilian uniforms & memorabilia are located in the Enfield Museum (a northern suburb of Adelaide). My sister didn't think they should be thrown out & the museum gladfully took them & have them on display.
For everyone who are reaching the older age where we move on to the next stage - get your children, grandchildren to choose now what they would want. Our daughter-in-law (although being a minimalist, has chosen two writing cabinets that belonged to my parents).
The same goes with photos - go through them & write something on the back, in the album to enable "one day" that the gaps can be filled in.
I find it strange that children these days have no interest in their past or where they came from - when relatives pass on, it is too late.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
SNIP I find it strange that children these days have no interest in their past or where they came from - when relatives pass on, it is too late.
When we were younger we were the same - virtually no interest in what our father did in the war(s) or our mothers background, only snippets here and there. I think it's normal for all generations when aged below say 40, to concentrate solely on the future and ignore the past. My Dad was in the trenches at 17 in France and all I asked him was how many Germans did he kill, not interested in much more till after he died. Our kids are much the same and friends tell a similar tale.
I've become a minimalist. My intention is to sell, donate or discard the majority of my personal physical assets, retaining only those which will fit inside a motorhome. The beneficiaries of my estate will only have liquid assets to deal with, assuming I haven't spent them all.
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"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
