Thankfully she lived in a small place, or it might have taken another three months to clean it out.

Don't do that to your kids. Just don't. Ask them now what they want, & start lightening your load. If you think your china is worth so much, go to Craigslist & look up china & see the dozens & dozens of sets available at various prices. I ended up gifting my set to a family that lost everything in a wildfire rather that take $75 for an 8-place setting. Seriously. There is so much stuff for sale out there, most of your stuff isn't worth what you think it is. It is very gratifying to give your stuff to people who really need it.

Earlier today, I threw away at least 6 frozen deli sandwiches that were dated from Sept. and Oct. of 2025.

At least 40 small deli prepackaged containers of expired food and prepackaged meats.

I also found a missing and imperative piece of jewelry that's been missing for a month. I found it in the refrigerator with all the expired food.

Without a doubt, this was the best advice I ever received.

Two years of traveling every weekend intrastate to clean out her three bedroom, plus attic, plus cellar, plus garage
home, and five 100-yard dumpsters and many donations and yard sales later, I vowed NEVER to do this to my kids and began my minimalistic existence. My kids thank me every time they come to my "neatnik" apartment.

I'll always remember the look on my son's face as he was about to remove some garbage from his grandmother's kitchen. She commented to him "Bring that plastic bag back because it's a good bag". His eyes nearly rolled out of his head. I received an extra warm hug that evening.

Before my father passed he promised me some jazz CDs I had purchased for him as a gift. Afterwards, I discovered one of my nephews had raided all of his music, no doubt selling them all for $.50 each if not less. Some of that stuff was hard to find.

We never found his will. Greed kicks in at the worst of times, sometimes. It's another reason to divest yourself of things you don't really need before you shuffle off your mortal coil.