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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
It takes years to pare down in a manner that is not traumatic and forced.  Most people do not want to  "give away" their things for nothing, even if it is junk. If there is a need to have regular garage sales or give things off to consignment store, then that also takes effort, time and space.  Especially because we have become a nation of hoarders.  Stop buying more things and start selling and donating things.  For the elderly, all the stuff becomes part of their memories and they cling on to it.

As you look at the homes of your elderly relatives and try and help them, do yourself a favor and start paring down on your stuff too. Your kids do not want your things.  Make your kids do the same too and teach them to live in a minimalist manner. The less stuff you have, the less time you spend maintaining it.  The time and mental space that is freed up when you have less belongings is amazing. The biggest bonus is that you will have more money because of that in the bank.
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This x 1,000.  Having been through this several times, I've begun paring down our stuff.  I have sorted through keepsakes and papers and kept only a few more important things (letters from JFK, etc) and put them in one scrapbook. I spent days and days shredding old (like 40-50 years worth) financial records.  My next mission is to digitize all the family photographs.  I really don't want to leave my kids a mess.

My theory is that my Grandmother's generation was the first generation that became adults after WWII and accumulated lots of stuff. Prior to that time, except in very rare cases, even rich people didn't have the quantity of stuff that we have now. There are a few records of hoarders in that era, but they were were quite unusual.  Now it's common.  As my generation deals with the aftermath, I think those of us who aren't clinical hoarders will do our best to not leave our kids with a mess.

I do agree that OP's in laws are probably depressed or starting to lose their cognitive facilities so that dealing with things like a repairman is just overwhelming. I also believe that OP and her husband can't force the issue if they are resistant (unless they want to take legal action).[/quote]

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