Dad didn't place much value or treasure on material things. He started out in life with very few material things. They were a pioneer family with little cash. When Dad was 18, in 1929 he hopped a freight and went to northern Alberta. You can see the pattern about physical things. The other reason Dad placed little value on "worldly treasures " was his religious outlook. He gave every penny he could spare to he church.
However, after the Second World War , when the economy picked up, he was able to build a house and buy good farm equipment. Dad and Mom retired in 1970 and moved to town and a small house. They took only what they needed from the old farm house.
Mom passed away a couple of years after retirement. Six months later Dad held an auction sale. This left him with not much more than his clothes.
He remarried. The possessions were all our step mother's things.
Our stepmother died before Dad. Dad had been in a nursing home. He made sure that he had enough money for his funeral and little more. His estate ended up with about $1600.00 left.
How's that for downsizing and sliding into home base with little to spare.
Now I won't downsize as much as Dad but he certainly didn't have very many possessions to deal with at the end.
However , I am making a good effort to dispose of as much as I can.
What an interesting approach! My Mom always said she was going to take her little red Mercedes with her. She didn't grab it on the way out of this world. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. My own father grew up in similar circumstances but had the opposite approach; he always kept everything because "it might come in handy some time".
ReplyDeleteDad seemed to be able to muddle through most situations.
DeleteYour father set a tough example with regard to material possessions. Most people - myself included - surround themselves with stuff.
ReplyDeleteI have far too much stuff and the Micro Manager doesn't want to part with stuff.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteIt is good to live a simple life, one does not really need a lot of things.
Take care, have a wonderful week!
Leaving a lot of stuff for our children to deal with bothers me a little.
ReplyDeleteThat's good, Red. I hope we can continue to get rid of old clothes and stuff we don't need any more. Your dad sounds like he was a good citizen of the earth, taking only what he needed but caring for others.
ReplyDeleteDad did what you say but he was rather inconsistant.
DeleteTo offer a counter point, a special time for my sister and I were sorting through my parents' house, remembering the stories that went with the things. It was funny the things that ended up coming home with us. I took my mother's cake pans. The cutting board my father made in high school. Make sure that your children are involved in this process.
ReplyDeleteMy children don't live close to me so it's hard to get them to take anything.
DeleteI'd say he gauged it just right, which is hard to do! I hope he was able to enjoy the proceeds from his auction sale and spend some of his retirement having fun.
ReplyDeleteHe kept a certain amount of money aside and didn't touch it. Other than than the had money to live on.
DeleteAdmittedly not an issue for me, but someday.
ReplyDeleteThe older I get, the less saving things means to me. I would rather give it away and make someone younger happy.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tricky thing to downsize and declutter. I have not managed that!
ReplyDeleteI just hope my pile of money lasts until I die. I wish I knew when that might be so I could plan my finances more accurately! :)
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be so easy?
DeleteI've been thinking about downsizing lately. It's getting to be time to get rid of a lot of things we hardly ever use anymore.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the things we hardly use or never use. things just sit there collecting dust.
DeleteI’m going to suggest that possessions, and whether to accumulate them, or not, is one of life’s great lessons. If you accumulate lots of possessions over your middle years, those possessions will create a whole new set of challenges in your senior years. Now, if you have the discretionary income, AND have the wisdom to avoid spending on things not needed, then you will enjoy your senior years without the burden of possessions.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid many of us are not that smart.
DeleteWe are in complete agreement on that. 😊
DeleteYour dad was, I think, among the smaller percentage of people who doesn't get attached to possessions. Most of us are the other way, including me. And the Depression generation tended to keep everything just in case it could be used later. That was my Dad through and through, and I seem to have inherited that. It makes it hard to downsize in later life.
ReplyDeleteDad was attached to his fishing equipment.
DeleteOur most possessions are books and we can just give them to charity. We own very little after moving from Alaska to the west coast of the US and then the east coast and then to Ireland. The things we sold I do not miss and even forgot some of them. :)
ReplyDeleteMoving really helps to keep a limit on possessions. When You move some possessions are discarded.
DeleteWe have possessions because they brought us joy, both in collecting and owning them. Now as we age, we have stopped collecting, and will slowly reduce what we have. Our home is our nest egg to see us through any of those expensive years when we need care.
ReplyDeleteVery true. Somehow our best before date is coming up quickly so it's important to be somewhat ready.
DeleteI remember reading a story like this where the deceased left about $20 in his bank account. The bereaved family were saying it was a wonderful story of God's provision and I didn't think a $20 left over sounded like great provision but I'm changing my mind on that.
ReplyDeleteI'm working toward downsizing in a limited way. I'm not physically capable enough to look after a whole lot of unnecessary stuff as I age and as I'm single, there will be nobody else to do it unless I want to burden my kids
As a couple you also get to a point where you are limited physically as to how much you can do.
DeleteI dread the downsizing but it is so necessary. Your dad did well!
ReplyDeleteDownsizing seems like a never ending process.
DeleteYou cannot take it with you!
ReplyDeleteI know you can't take it with you but many people don't get that through their heads.
DeleteI had possessions, once. I've basically given them away. I'm left with enough cash to get on with, and hope I don't run out.
ReplyDeleteMoving makes you see the truth.
DeleteYour Dad was very wise. I'm always trying to downsize. We have a lot of full storage boxes in our basement that need to be taken care of. I want to move into a smaller home with one level and get rid of everything else. Fingers crossed!
DeleteWi sound weird may be but I wish I could have chance to meet your dad because such people have special appeal for me who hardly care for material things. The real me is same as your dad and as my grandfather was. He had so much land and cattle but lived simple life in small house
ReplyDeleteWow! You had such amazing parents, Red. And again... you're making me look around my room wondering what I can get rid of, donate or whatever. I guess maybe I'm bad too. I keep all kinds of plastic containers that I keep thinking I might be able to reuse somehow. I keep cardboard boxes in case I can mail something. Oh darn!
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