Previously, agebuzz has published several posts on the decluttering and downsizing many of us face as we enter our later years. It can be a physically demanding task, just emptying closets, sorting through piles, and delivering items for donation or sale. But it can also be an emotionally draining endeavor, as old items can hold sentimental value, bring to the surface loving or difficult memories, or even foreshadow a future of a pared-down life. But unless we want our loved ones to have to take on this task, almost all of us will eventually be confronted by the need to examine, sort, and sift through the objects and detritus accumulated over a lifetime.

There are innumerable strategies for approaching the organizing, sorting, and donation of your no longer desired or needed possessions. Whether it’s creating “save, sell or give away piles”, participating in “Buy Nothing” groups on Facebook, or selling your items on Facebook marketplace (where it’s both important to create a great ad while at the same time avoiding scams) you’ll find plenty of company, given the focus today on conservation, conscious consumption and concerns about the high cost of goods. As for strategies for sorting, selling, and clearing the clutter, you may want to take a look at some recent recommendations for guidance. For example, an expert on CBS News recently described her “ski slope method” of zigging and zagging through a room to give you manageable options. Or you may want to consider Katie Holdefehr’s method (she is the author of the recent book Embrace Your Space: Organizing Ideas and Stylish Upgrades for Every Room on Any Budget) which she calls the “move-out method”, which requires you to set a firm date, empty a room and decide if you’d really want to take the item with you were you to move. While not actually requiring you to sign a contract with a moving company, she wants to nonetheless instill a sense of urgency and decisiveness in your decluttering strategy.

But there seems to be another approach afoot in recent months. Apparently, not everyone feels the need to declutter.  In fact, on TikTok and some other social media platforms, the #messygirl aesthetic has become something of a badge of honor and authenticity. And while embracing clutter may not be your thing, there are voices out there suggesting you be more thoughtful about ridding yourself of items too soon, if at all. In a recent post on Next Avenue, author Nancy Agneberg relays the story of her family gathering following the death of a loved one. During the gathering, family members sorted through the possessions of their deceased loved one, recalled stories attached to different items, and shared and created lasting memories. Moral of this story? Rather than giving items away, you may want to save them, as it could be meaningful for your family to come together to recall with love and affection the items you leave behind.

And there might be one other reason to pause the decluttering: the items you think have lost their value may in fact be treasures for which someone will pay dearly.  A recent New York Times article detailed items from the past (perhaps connected to old technologies or nostalgic collections) that may be of great monetary value to someone else. In fact, out of a sense of nostalgia and a desire to recall happier, more youthful times, collectors are spending thousands of dollars on everything from videotapes to action figures. With a powerful pull, these nostalgic impulses underscore the notion that “Everything, at least in theory, is collectible.” Think you might have something valuable hidden in your basement storage? Take a look at the website Heritage Auctions to find out if someone might be willing to bid on what you no longer need or desire.