So, you’re finally selling your old home and it’s tough to say goodbye to some of your childhood memories. What should you keep to remind you of those sweet years? What should you toss? These decisions can be very hard, especially if occurring at an especially emotional time such as after the death of a parent or a divorce. Here are a few items you should keep.
Letting Go
First off, it’s important to know what to let go of before you can really know what to hold onto. Ditch other people’s memories: the program from your brother’s college graduation, the favor from your best friend’s wedding, a pressed flower from your niece’s baptism. Houzz says you should release yourself from the burden of keeping other people’s memories.
Other things you should let go of:
- Short-term mementos: These include birthday cards, event programs, invitations, holiday cards and birth announcements. Keep them tacked to a board, lined up on your mantel or on your fridge – for a short while. Then toss them. They should never make it into your memory boxes.
- Free stuff: Everyone has a ton of freebies from attending trade shows, business events, conferences, workplace giveaways and wedding favors. Yes, they’re free, but no, they shouldn’t have a permanent place in your treasured mementos. Get rid of that votive candle marking your friend’s wedding date, that company paper weight and free key chains from your bank.
- Inherited items: Your grandmother’s China or your great aunt’s cat figurine collection may remind you of those precious people who are long gone, but it’s time to think about WHY you’re keeping those items. Do you keep them because you actually need those items, or because you want to hold on to a memory? If you feel guilty about getting rid of inherited stuff, take a picture of it and jot down a memory on the back. This takes up far less room and is more meaningful anyway.
What to Keep
Here’s a handy checklist of what should stay with you on your move.
- Triumphs over adversity. Your college diploma that took you six years to get because you had to juggle work and kids…a photo from the top of that mountain you trained so hard to conquer…these are excellent things to keep because you’ll want to be reminded time and again of how you overcame that obstacle.
- Reminders of positive encounters. Your wedding day…the birth of your children…milestones along the way…basically, reminders of the BEST events, people, places and experiences of your whole life. No middle-of-the-road here.
- Representative samples – not the whole lot. That doesn’t mean you keep those 50 extra birth announcements or wedding programs. Keep ONE and toss the rest. End of story.
- Beloved items you can’t live without. Teddy bears with the eyes missing…weathered blankets…cherished toys and comfort items…your dad’s shirt that still holds his smell…keep those things that a simple photograph cannot capture: feelings and smells of a time gone by.
Aim for one box of treasured stuff. It should be small enough to carry from home to home and make it through various life events, yet always land in one piece. Memories are important…be sure to keep the sweetest ones.
Moving from your childhood home? Let Judd Builders help with the transition.