Starting to wonder if I have a bit of hoarding tendencies brewing. Was doing spring cleaning and moved out five bags of clothes and other stuff. But there are way too many sentimental knick knacks that I just cannot part with.

Every time I do this it just hits me I don't have little kids any more, and while I always assumed that would be amazing stage in life it also makes me sad.

I hear you. We are rapidly approaching empty-ish nest and while I am excited about that, it is also sad. Hits M much worse than me though bc I feel like I really spent that time with them, and we still communicate well.

As for hoarding/decluttering, you have to know when you are ready - sometimes I am and sometimes I am not ready to get rid of things.

I'm struggling too. In theory I'd love to be minimalist but I struggle to get rid of old souvenirs.

Same. I also have to contend with Frank. He either wants to keep it all or dump it all sight unseen. He took the latter approach with MILs house clear out and confessed later that he wishes he kept some specific things.

DH keeps everything "in case we get a cottage". We are visiting one next Saturday.

For general stuff I try to go by the 20/20 rule. If I can replace it in 20 mins (or 2day prime) for around $20, I let it go. That doesn’t help with memorabilia but it does help with other stuff. In your case, it might make sense to hang onto it until you make a call on the cottage since that could happen.

That’s a good rule, I like it. I’ve become ruthless over the years. Main problem now is I have tonnes of bric a brac and books to give away and none of the charity shops are open because Covid. And it’s too good to give away.

Too good to throw away.

I'm looking forward to decluttering like crazy for our move. If I can get DH to agree.

Decluttering for moving is GREAT. I got rid of a ton of things that I did not want to pack/move, and lots that M wasn’t aware of. Of all of it, the only thing he noticed and I miss is my tea kettle, which is hardly a big deal to replace.

Yeah, my only issue is that DH did pick up some hoarding tendencies from his mother, but "we haven't touched that in the 17 years that we've been in this house" should help!

We'll be getting rid of some stuff that would otherwise go in k's first apartment, but it's not worth moving it to MA just for that!

I'm ruthless like 1and1 . There's not a ton I'm attached to. I also have a ton of stuff to get rid of, but nowhere to offload it. The thrift shops are open in a limited way, but very overpacked from a year of pandemic purging.

I've been giving away what I can on our buy nothing group and I'm about to head to the garage and tag sale list all the old bikes, scooters, sporting equipment, etc

I might put up photos of stuff to give away for free. Facebook marketplace is very busy here, particularly if you offer very cheap or free.

M always wants to keep it for garage sales but then he’s magically working or something on garage sale day so it’s just me, and I’m over it. The goal is to get it out of my house not make money, and up until a couple of years ago we wrote off the donations.

I have joined our buy nothing group and am trying to give away stuff but people are so unreliable with pick ups and change their minds and it ends up being a big PITA. I do need to find a place for the used sports equipment. We have enough lacrosse sticks and helmets to open a store

For that, I would ask if any Scouts are doing a lax camp/workshop and donate to that, or see if your MS or YMCA wants them. Lax here is still new enough that our schools do not have equipment, and tons of kids have never played.

I just sold three lacrosse sticks on a tag sale group. They lasted about 15 minutes before someone claimed them. They're pretty small-sized (the last time P has interest) and a lot of people just want to grab something that the kid can try out before they really commit.

Our tag sale sites are so crazy active it's usually faster to sell stuff that way than bother trying to find somewhere to donate.