Finding new homes for unused family gifts?

[pinkytoe]

Through the years, MIL gifted us with various Avon "collectibles" as she used to sell the stuff. It has always been in boxes in the attic since we never had a place to display it (nor a desire to.) Now that we are moving, all the dusty boxes have been retrieved from the attic and we must decide what to do with a large quanty of figurines and tsotchkes. Just recently, MIL asked "You still have all the Avon I gave you?" And I said, of course. Neither one of us wants to haul this stuff to another house. It has little monetary value so not easy to sell plus it feels weird to do so while she is still alive. What would you do?

[sweetana3]

I am not one for much sentimentality.

1. Toss it (really give it to a local thrift so they can earn some money from it.) If your mom asks, tell her it is in the attic and inaccessible.

Or 2. give your mom a choice, she can have it back or you are going to donate it to an organization of her choice. Explanation is you have no place for it. Your mom may love to have it back or not. It may or many not have cost her much since she sold Avon products.

How honest are you with mom and accepting is she of honesty? I had to do #1 but my mother in law lived 600 miles away and would not be aware of what we did to the pile of afghans and crazy stuff we got from her. We did honestly tell her no more due to my asthma.

[Selah]

You'd be surprised, some people collect this stuff. I'd lay it all out on a table, take ONE picture of it, and post it as a "Mystery Grab Bag" of Avon stuff, years 19XX-20XX. Post it on eBay and see what happens. Can't hurt to try, and you can just throw it in a box and send it off. Voila!

[iris lilies]

You'd be surprised, some people collect this stuff. I'd lay it all out on a table, take ONE picture of it, and post it as a "Mystery Grab Bag" of Avon stuff, years 19XX-20XX. Post it on eBay and see what happens. Can't hurt to try, and you can just throw it in a box and send it off. Voila!
No, ebay means the OP is mailing it out, most likely.

1. Offer it to MIL or the organixpzafin of her choice ( that is easy to dispose of)

2. If she does not want it, get rid of it via freecyxle or craigslist (just put up a Curbside notice on Craigslist)

[Teacher Terry]

I would do as one person suggests but instead of ebay I would see if you could sell the whole lot on CL. If not off to the thrift store.

[pinkytoe]

There are twelve large boxes of this stuff. DH says he would feel guilty if we got rid of it so not worth fighting about. Irony is I'm not sure he would feel any less guilty about getting rid of it after she is gone. The thought of moving it again has me spitting nails:( I am however thinking about asking MIL if we can store it at her house until we get resettled.

[sweetana3]

Could he let half the boxes go? Maybe he could keep one box? I like the idea of storing at your MIL's house.

[iris lilies]

Could he let half the boxes go? Maybe he could keep one box? I like the idea of storing at your MIL's house.
Yes, I like both ideas but wonder if the MIL would notice that many f them are gone?

storing them at her house "temporarily" is a super dooper good idea, haha.

[sweetana3]

How would MIL even know? They are in boxes and probably have been since being gifted. As you said, dusty and stored in the attic and never displayed.

Just say "Mom we are pruning all our collectibles and decorations. Would you like the Avon collectibles back? We have stored them carefully and we know you would know which ones are valuable and what to do with them. Do you have friends who would like them?

(If your mom is supportive of charities, how about letting her give to nursing homes, charity shops, etc?)

[iris lilies]

How would MIL even know? They are in boxes and probably have been since being gifted. As you said, dusty and stored in the attic...)

Well, if the MIL happens to open all of the remaining boxes (assuming OP has jettisoned some of the Avon treasures) and MIL doesnt find a specific Avon thingie that she believes is the most valuable of the lot, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. I dont know how much of a risk that is. If there is a risk, I would insist then that My DH take all 12 boxes to the MIL's house and place each one to their attic or basement. Thats his penance for being impractical.

The solution of culling some boxes but not all is what I privately call "decoy decluttering." I get rid of lots of crap in which others have interest but I keep strategic items and some bulk so that others think the stuff is still all there. The advantage is that I can make decisions about disposal of items in quiet without people yammering at me, and
I can dispose of bits at a time without anyone being aware.

I am doing some decoy decluttering today in preparation for closing down our plant society. We have several members who are anxious to "help" clean out our rented storage unit yet they cannot bend, lift or climb, nor do they own a truck or van. So, they are useless. But hey, thanks for your offer! To the end of making everyone feel good about "helping" I am cleaning out crap, tossing the endless supplies of little stuff, re-packing like things with like things, consolidating it all so that when the time comes next year to clean out this storage unit, we will have only 5 categories of items to dispose of. It will not require lots of yakking to make decision and helpers will feel good about helping.

Recently one of the society members, someone who is obsessed with "stuff", asked me in her strident bossy voice where that ream of pink paper was that she bought for the society about 3 years ago.I pitched that ream because it would not work on copy machines, it was too thick. I know this same person will be hovering over all of the stuff in the storage shed and making noises about how precious it is and how we must find a good home for it,yadda yadda. She purchased 25 useless sign holders a few years ago and tossed them at me to store. They have never been used even once, but
I know she will be gratified fo see them in the storage unit even though half of them them are gone, tossed by me. But the decoys remain.

[mschrisgo2]

LOL, "decoy decluttering" LOVE it! That is what I do in my classroom as the end of the year approaches- throw away, put things away, little by little, until we're down to 2 days left, I clear the bulletin boards and - Wow! - it was all stuff the kids take home and I'm done! a Wonderful strategy!

[Ultralight]

Through the years, MIL gifted us with various Avon "collectibles" as she used to sell the stuff. It has always been in boxes in the attic since we never had a place to display it (nor a desire to.) Now that we are moving, all the dusty boxes have been retrieved from the attic and we must decide what to do with a large quanty of figurines and tsotchkes. Just recently, MIL asked "You still have all the Avon I gave you?" And I said, of course. Neither one of us wants to haul this stuff to another house. It has little monetary value so not easy to sell plus it feels weird to do so while she is still alive. What would you do?

You can:
1. Trash it and face her wrath when you tell her this.
2. Trash it and act like you lost it.
3. Keep it like a ball and chain dragging it with you to all places.
4. Have a real honest talk with her about how you don't want it and you are getting rid of it.
5. Play matchmaker until you find just the right person who wants it.
6. Take it to goodwill or trash it and then tell her you found someone who really, really wanted/needed it so you gave it to them because you know how much they will appreciate it.
7. "Accidentally" break it and trash it.

Just some options...

[Teacher Terry]

IL: what a great idea! Too funny. I may use that sometime.

[mschrisgo2]

I agree that storing them at her house would be a great solution.

[Aqua Blue]

I would be inclined to say "We are downsizing and lots of things must go. I have somethings that I remember you gave me and wanted to give you a chance to take them if you would like them before they go to the thrift store", or whatever you intend to do with them.

[Ultralight]

I would be inclined to say "We are downsizing and lots of things must go. I have somethings that I remember you gave me and wanted to give you a chance to take them if you would like them before they go to the thrift store", or whatever you intend to do with them.

:):+1: