If you struggle to get from your kitchen to your bedroom without tripping over a kid’s toy or a box of things, you’ll know this struggle too well.
Unfortunately, not only do we have our own stuff to contend with, but when a family member passes away, we’re likely to inherit their stuff too.
In this article, we’ll look at what you can do with unwanted family heirlooms. Let’s get started:
1. Take Pictures of Your Heirlooms
Before you decide what to do with your family heirloom, take a couple of pictures of it. This way, you’ll always have a memory of this beautiful yet unwanted heirloom for when you’re feeling sentimental.
Sometimes, a picture is all we need to keep us close to our loved ones. We don’t always need a dresser that we won’t use cluttering up our personal space.
2. Get the Heirloom Valued
It’s time to figure out exactly how much this family heirloom is worth before you make any decisions. You may be surprised by what you find.
Even if you don’t think the heirloom will be worth thousands, it may still be worth getting it valued. By doing this, you’ll have an idea of how much to sell it for.
3. Reach Out to Other Family Members
If you think someone else in the family would like your heirloom, why not ask them before you give it away? Of course, be sensitive in your approach.
You may find that a family member is very willing to keep this heirloom. Perhaps they need it for their home or want to keep the memory.
You may be surprised to find that they wanted this heirloom but weren’t willing to ask you. As a result, you’ve done a good deed and made another family member happy.
4. Sell the Item and Donate the Profit
If no one wants the heirloom and you’ve had it valued, you now know how much to put it on the internet for. Perhaps there will be a lot of interest in this heirloom.
If this is the case, why not consider donating the money that you make from your family heirloom to a good cause that your loved one cared about?
An in Memorium donation is one of the best things you can do with heirloom money. Plus, you will know your loved one would have approved of your donation. Check out this website to sell gold.
5. Donate It to a Good Cause
Are you struggling to sell your heirloom? If selling it doesn’t feel right, perhaps donating it to a good cause does.
Depending on what the heirloom is, you could donate it to a local museum or to a charity shop that will sell it for you and put the profits to good use.
Universities and museums are very grateful for historical items. By donating it here, you’ll be able to see your heirloom again if you choose.
6. Save Just One Item From a Collection
If you have a lot of heirlooms and are wondering what to do with them all, why not just save one small thing?
As a result, you can display this somewhere prominent to remind you of your loved one. But, you don’t need to keep the entire set.
This works for things such as tea sets, doll collections, teddy bears, or cushions. Consider saving a swatch of material such as from a wedding dress. You could even get it framed along with a picture of the wedding.
Alternatively, why not take an artsy picture of your collection and display this somewhere in your home?
7. Collate Family Photographs
If you decide to get rid of all of your family heirlooms, make sure you leave the photographs till last. You will likely want to look through these in the future and they don’t take up as much space as other heirlooms.
When you decide it’s time to get rid of them, why not invite family over to go through all of the pictures together? You can then give them away or collate them into an album.
8. Avoid Family Heirlooms Altogether
This is a very difficult thing to do and needs sensitivity. But, consider talking to your family members about how you don’t want any heirlooms in the future.
This could be through hints such as telling them that you’re trying to live minimally. If you don’t think they get the hint, then it’s time to say something directly.
Again, tread carefully as this is a space fraught with high emotion. But, it could definitely save you a lot of time and energy if you manage to avoid family heirlooms in the first place.
9. Use the Heirloom One Last Time
If this is an old tea-set or a dresser, why not incorporate it into your home for one last time? Perhaps you can have tea with your family or arrange the dresser as your loved one used to.
By doing this, you’re creating a memory that is helping to bring you closer to your loved one for one last time. When you decide to donate or sell the item, then you’ll have these wonderful memories, and don’t forget to take a few pictures too!
Have You Got an Original Idea for What to Do With Family Heirlooms?
If you are an artistic person, then perhaps you could create a beautiful piece of artwork with your family heirlooms.
Alternatively, getting rid of your heirlooms may be the best way to feel closer to your deceased loved one. You’ll have space to mourn them rather than to focus on what to do with their clutter.
Have you found this article about family heirlooms useful? Don’t forget to check out the rest of the website for similar content.