Are you 55+ and your children are accusing you of being a hoarder behind your back?

Does your garage only fit half the cars it was meant to?

Do you need a moving company to help you—just to dust and vacuum?

Don’t worry, chances are, you aren’t a true hoarder.

The war on more square footage

Take a look around you.

You have acquired a lot of stuff over the years. It seems like we’re always buying more, but getting rid of less than we take in.

There’s the toys that your kids played with twenty, thirty, even forty years ago. They don’t make those anymore and they might even be worth something! Well, that’s what you keep saying.

There’s a problem with that philosophy though. Your kids aren’t as attached to those things as you are, or else they would have already robbed them from you.

Also, you can bet that they don’t want to inherit them when you die. Most likely, they’ll take them all to the D.I. or Salvation Army, if not the dump.

So if all that memorabilia is actually worth anything, maybe it’s time to cash them in on Ebay. Otherwise, what’s the point.

As you’re looking around, do you see all that old exercise equipment that you used for about a month—ten years ago? Let’s face it, you’re never going to do more than dust it off and feel guilty.

Perhaps you’ve heard the theory that mattresses double in weight every ten years due to accumulated dust and mites? I’m sure that’s a hefty exaggeration, but you can’t deny the dust clouds that fly from your sofa cushions when you beat them. Maybe it’s time to replace some of those worn-out antiques.

Maybe you still have an old entertainment center that takes up half of your living room. Those were made for big boxy sets, not the sleek flat screens we now use.

You can’t take it with you,

And I’m not talking about when you die. Some religious, like the ancient Egyptians might argue that point. What I’m talking about, is when you move.

You’re going to want to move eventually. You’re smart enough to see the advantages of living in a 55+ community like those built by Leisure Villas. The big question is, what to do with all your stuff.

Downsizing can be hard, but it’s often necessary.

Bigger is not always better.

Just because you have lots of stuff, doesn’t mean that you need lots of space. You just need less stuff. This seems obvious, but some people will still rent a storage unit to place all the stuff they never want to see again, but can’t bear parting with.

Cleaning larger areas, especially if those areas are cluttered, can be quite a process. Wouldn’t it be much nicer to live in a home that fits your needs? You can still hold to memories. Pictures are much thinner and easier to store.

Besides, it’s the people in your life that matter most, not what those people bought several years ago.

How to get rid of it?

When it’s time to downsize, invite your kids over. Have them pick through your house. If they really want some of your old junk or their old junk, let them have it. Maybe they have kids of their own that can breath new life into a pre-historic toy.

Once they’ve gotten rid of everything they want, host a yard sell or a trip to the dump. You’re going to keep accumulating more stuff as you go along. Make sure that this new house has a fresh start.

Besides, do you really want to hire movers to pack up and transport all those old puzzles that are missing at least two pieces each?04