The Purge

Contrary to the way this year has been going so far, the title of this post is not referencing the horror movie of the same name. The purge, in this case, refers to the household items we accumulate over time. Since we are all spending so much time at home, it is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves, stretch your muscles, and start clearing out the clutter.

I can hear some of you now saying that you don’t have any clutter. Lucky! But, even if you are Marie Kondo herself, you at least know someone who could use a little help scaling back.

Storytime!

My grandfather decided it was time to downsize. He called all of the family members and let us know that if we wanted something, now was the time to speak up because he was getting rid of it all. He didn’t need a three-bedroom home with land anymore; in fact, that was becoming a chore. In his mind, if he dealt with the “stuff” now while he can, it will not be a burden for him later in life or to his family if he should pass away. This decision was a relief for all of us! We were able to make sure our family heirlooms went where they were supposed to, and Pop was able to move into his new digs with significantly fewer boxes and furniture. The benefit goes even beyond the physical, too. You see, while my 85-year-old grandfather is doing quite well, his wife is not. Her dementia is getting to the point that they needed assistance, so purging made an already stressful situation much more comfortable for everyone involved.

This is a personal story to me, but colleagues and friends have experienced similar situations. Listen to this scenario.

Your elderly parents insist on staying independent. Your mother is experiencing a mental decline, but can physically get around and can still drive. Your father is sharp as a tack but is unable to move around like he used to. In fact, he relies on a walker and is unable to drive. They worked hard for their house, and they want to live in it until their dying day, so they are refusing to move. For a time, this is allowing them to get by because their abilities complement one another.

What happens if your father passes away, leaving your mother alone? With no family nearby, your mother is on her own. Since she has a mental decline, she forgets what she buys at the store and keeps buying more of it.  This adds up quickly. Imagine she is filling up every spare inch of the house with household goods, supplies, toiletries, etc. It’s suddenly turning into a dangerous situation, right?

As we age, our bodies start to become more fragile, and our mental abilities decline. As much as we hate to admit it, it becomes difficult to complete tasks alone. You might even find that your parent will not recognize that they need help and you will be stepping into an emergency. With Americans living longer and fuller lives, by the time our elderly parents need some help, their adult children are more likely to be experiencing health issues of their own. This situation is only exacerbated by COVID-19. What if you are unable to give your parents the help they need because you are sick? That’s a risk that no one should want to take.

I often cite my very first boss, whose favorite saying was, “Proper planning prevents poor performance.” We are fortunate to have the opportunity of aging, but I would implore you to use your time wisely. Plan ahead and don’t wait until it’s too late. In the end, you can’t take it with you; do a service for yourself and your family members. Help your loved ones by de-cluttering – including the attic and the garage! With that burden off of your back, you can enjoy your time and improve the quality of your life without the stress of living in a potentially dangerous space.

I want to hear from you. Please leave me a comment below or send me an email. You can also submit your questions for future Blogs. If I use your idea, I will deposit $50 into your account.

Krista Kyte is a personal finance blogger and personal banker with over 18 years of experience in the financial industry. Krista is passionate about helping our members understand their financial situations. She writes tips that will help consumers reach and maintain financial security, and start living the life they’ve always wanted.