Six Items Retirees Should Toss or Donate for a Stress-free Life

By the time you reach retirement age, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of stuff. Whether you are considering downsizing or simply wanting to declutter, Southern Living acknowledges the process can be overwhelming. They recommend starting with one closet or one room and giving yourself one month to declutter each project.

To make matters easier, they came up with a list of six items that retirees can comfortably get rid of:

1. Knick Knacks — Unless your children share your passion, it might be time to get rid of the stuff you’ve been collecting over the years.
2. Heirloom China and Crystal — Today’s brides are not even registering for china and crystal. Unless there is someone in the family who wants this “family heirloom,” you can consign or donate these items.
3. Outdated Media — VHS cassettes and even DVDs are a thing of the past. You can digitize old home movies to hold onto those precious memories, but the movies you no longer watch can go.
4. Mismatched Linens — It’s time to get rid of threadbare towels and stained sheets and blankets. Before you throw them away, see if an animal shelter might want them.
5. Old Cookware and Appliances — Clean out the kitchen cabinets and donate small appliances you no longer use – such as a crock pot or waffle iron – so long as they still work. You should also try to consolidate your cookware, keeping only what you use.
6. Books — An e-reader can easily replace an entire bookshelf. Keep only your favorite literary treasures and donate the rest.

The Seniors Trust is committed to improving the well-being of older Americans. We are doing that financially by encouraging lawmakers to enact the Social Security Expansion Act. This landmark piece of legislation will give retirees an immediate increase of about $200 a month in benefits, a fair annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), increased minimum benefits, and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.