7. Less Work for Your Adult Children
Deciding to downsize can mean reducing, or even eliminating, a lot of work for your grown children — something that many empty nesters find to be important. Adult children are often left with the arduous, time-consuming, and often unnecessary task of sorting through, giving away, selling, and storing the possessions of their parents after the parents become ill, are immobilized, move into assisted-living facilities, or pass away. Is this something you want your own children to deal with? While paring down your possessions is definitely better for you as you go through the process of downsizing — for decluttering, organization, making the most of your new space, and even mental health — it’s also considered a gift to your adult children because they won’t have to sort through all of your stuff down the road. Too often, aging parents hang on to sentimental possessions in the hope — or assumption — that their children or grandchildren will desire them some day. However, the truth is that many children don’t even want these items their parents have “saved” for them. Before you save anything for your children or other family members, ask them if it’s something they might want in the future. I know someone who saved his extensive record collection, retaining them through several moves, only to find his nephew, whom he had been saving them for, didn’t want them. He eventually sold them to someone who treasured them as much as he did, and he made a healthy profit in return. My own parents were saddened to know that none of their four children really
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