Up For Sale: Are You Ready To Unload Your No-Longer-Needed Possessions?

We know from previous posts that there’s a lot of interest among agebuzz readers in the problems and process of getting rid of long-held possessions and decluttering or downsizing your home. You’ve probably heard the term the “Great Wealth Transfer” to describe the massive transfer of wealth expected to happen as members of the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers leave their vast assets to younger heirs. Well, along with that wealth, there is also expected to be “The Great Stuff Transfer.” This portends the handing down or inheritance of a vast array of products, possessions, and memorabilia, including fine china, furniture, and even artwork. Whether those in younger generations have interest or even space to accept and cherish these possessions, however, is another matter. Also called a “stuff avalanche,” younger adults are bemoaning the ‘stuff” they may inherit, given that they likely don’t have the room or taste to welcome these hand-me-downs from their deceased loved ones, even if the items may have special meaning behind them.

Why does there appear to be a massive amount of items ready to be passed down to younger generations? Older adults were often brought up in a time when possessions were saved and savored, and when consumer products were promoted and produced in massive quantities in the post-war era. Possessions represented a type of emotional security for this generation, and economic prosperity enabled discretionary spending not previously imaginable. So, willingly giving up these items, rather than leaving them for future generations, may represent a particular emotional challenge. As one writer suggested, “It is an act of courage, and of prudence to confront the thousands of possessions we’ve accumulated over decades.”

But many are hoping to downsize and simplify their personal possessions before illness or emergency forces them to quickly rid themselves of items, or before they die, when their heirs will be left to sort through the morass and mess of a lifetime of acquisitions. Financial and retirement websites are full of recommendations for getting rid of anything no longer used or needed. For example, a recent post in Investopedia recommended an array of items you try to sell now, both to simplify your retirement life and supplement your retirement income. Among the recommendations? Get rid of your old work clothes; cash in on unused exercise equipment; take to Facebook Marketplace to get rid of unused or no longer needed furniture; monetize unworn jewelry; and get rid of that second car. It’s a rather pragmatic and practical approach to something that might be a more emotionally charged effort.

Similarly, Kiplinger published a recent post giving guidance on how to get rid of a lifetime’s accumulation of stuff. The advice was more about process than possessions. Included in the guidance: Set a goal for this effort and a deadline to keep you on track, and never categorize anything in the “maybe save” pile. Definitely don’t consider a storage unit (your possessions likely decline in monetary value while in storage and will be unlikely to be worth more than the costs of the storage unit). Don’t even think about buying cute little storage bins as those will encourage you to save more than you should. Don’t expect a monetary windfall- you’ll never get back what the items originally cost you, and don’t expect a large charitable write-off, as charities have become much more selective about what they’ll accept. Get professional help if you can afford it, as that can be very useful when trying to figure out how to dispose of items. Check the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals for help in your area. 

If your bookshelves are overflowing with never-read or no-longer-desired books, Better Report has a list of sites that may actually buy your old books, though likely for pennies on the dollar. Among the book-buying websites they recommend (which also sell used books), consider World of Books, BooksRun, and Thrift Books. The website Book Scouter allows you to comparison shop to see which website might give you the best price, and Pango Books allows sellers to directly put their books up for sale, with no middle man involved. You set your own price and are responsible for your own success (or failure).

Finally, one more hopeful sign for those of you hoping to sell off possessions. Estate sales (or for those still living, tag or garage sales) have become a hot commodity among younger generations, especially for those who buy items cheaply and then resell them online on eBay to make a profit. This “rehoming” process is expected to explode over the coming years, as more and more older adults pass away and leave behind possessions that younger generations in their family don’t want. This interest in tag sales comes as some younger adults may appreciate the sustainability angle of buying previously used possessions, and because trends in clothing and decor seem to be harkening back to “grandma” aesthetics. Vintage clothing seems to be particularly popular and fought over at such sales, and younger influencers are promoting the estate sale trend by showing off their purchases online. So even though you can conveniently buy almost anything online these days, there’s something about the physical hunt through mounds of stuff to find a bargain jewel that’s attracting hordes of younger folks to in-person sales these days. If you’re looking for someone to run an estate sale for you (without buying more stuff for yourself), get ready to set up the folding tables outside and find out more here.