PenPenWrites

Our closets are full. So is the attic, basement and every cranny that can hold papers, memorabilia and photo albums. To say nothing of unused dishes, scarred pots and chipped figurines.

Getting rid of some or all of that stuff is formidable. It looms like a climb up a mountain of slag. And yet, do we want to leave that paring, parsing and purging to our kids. They’re likely to have it all hauled away–the valued treasures as well as the junk.

If the clearing out is part of a plan to move to a smaller space–from a house, say, to an apartment–here’s something to keep in mind, especially if you’ve accumulated a lot of collectibles. On average, most of us take 25 percent of our belongings with us to our new homes. Of the 75 percent left, there is usually a market for about 60 percent, according to an estate planner who helps families downsize and sell off valuables.

Here are some tips, thanks to a Washington Post piece and other sources on how to get the purging and parsing underway.

• Take it slow: Take a gradual approach. Part of the process is a walk down memory lane. Allow yourself time to process both the good and bad memories. Besides, speeding through a purge could cause you to toss away something meaningful or valuable by mistake.
• Think Piecemeal: Working through one small stash of stuff at a time can keep the project from feeling overwhelming
• Call the expert: For items that are valuable — or for those of us with a high volume of belongings or collectables — it can help to bring in an estate expert who can take items to auction or sell them online.
• Say no more: Some of your adult kids will be pleased — even touched — to be offered one or two of the collectible or valuable items piece by piece. But they may also see your treasures as clutter-transfer. If they agree to take some stuff and you don’t see it displayed at their house, don’t ask about it. Let sleeping treasures lie.
• Feel Good: As to the donate-to-charity pile, it’s often easier for us to let go of stuff if we remind ourselves how useful these items will be to someone else. When my husband passed away, I gave his winter coats and sweaters to a church that distributes clothing to the needy. It was comforting to know his clothes would keep someone else warm.

painting: Hilary Pecis