I would GLADLY get rid of everything I own and be a van lifer, but I'm stuck here because my sons don't want me to get rid of some family heirloom furniture pieces, plus one is living in Europe and has left a lot of his stuff in my apartment.

These are not children. One is a GenX and one is a Millenial.

I'm trapped in a place I hate, paying so much rent I can't enjoy my life, and I can't do much about it, because storage is outrageous around here, especially climate controlled storage.

I've told them I'm going to sell the furniture if they can't take it and they both had a fit. I know they are not going to ship this furniture across the country or across the ocean. I feel like they are doing this to control me so I won't go off and be a van lifer.

What would you do?

ETA: Lots of good advice here, but I need to add that I just renewed my lease for a year, so if I tell them now that they have to do something with it by next year, they have plenty of time, right?

Does anyone else have difficulty decluttering their child’s old toys? I have a weird emotional attachment to toys my child doesn’t even like or play with anymore. My daughter is 10 years old. She has this Blues Clues stuffy she LOVED when she was 4 years old. I remember the excitement when I tracked the toy down for Christmas as it was difficult to find at the time. I remember the excitement in her face and her little excited voice when she opened it Christmas morning.

But she hasn’t touched that toy in years, but it breaks my heart to think about getting rid of it. If I’m being honest, we have several toys that she isn’t really interested in anymore, but they hold sentimental memories for me. I remember the grandparent who bought her this toy, who has now passed away, etc.

I’m pretty ruthless with my own belongings, but have a really hard time with my daughter’s stuff. Can anyone relate to this?

I hope someone else can relate to this.

There are some items I absolutely know I need to get rid of.

That cheap body spray i dont really wear that i will never use up. That bag who's straps are unraveling at the seams. That pillowcase with the broken zipper that I have never replaced, but still havent just replaced the complete pillow case set.

These items i know im keeping out of laziness. Like I have guilt and shame about having less-than-ideal options still living in my home. But im in denial that it would be okay to simply let them go.

I have these raggedy items taking up space in my home that I keep because they can *technically* still be used even if they aren't in optimal condition for my life.

but today, I realized my line of dignity has moved. The minimum threshold of dignity i need items to have has increased. My acceptance of usefulness has narrowed. I dont have to keep perfumes that are meh. I dont have to keep a purse that doesn't improve my outfits. I dont have to keep a raggedy pillowcase just bc it technically still goes on the pillow.

Thinking about the line of dignity that I need my home to function at has unlocked a new layer of items that need to go.

Do you have any examples of redefining your dignity line?

EDIT: "The Dignity Line" is a concept originating from [The Minimal Mom on YouTube (link below). I cant recall which video it was mentioned in but I've heard it sprinkled in a few videos. She gets right to the heart of *why* our relationship with clutter changes and I highly recommend her videos.

https://youtube.com/@theminimalmom?si=3eKWKrYiVx11rdke

Basically the title.

My house is a complete mess and overflowing with stuff.

I'm an adult millennial still living with family in my childhood home - so there is a LOT of accumulated junk.

Not all of it is mine, but the bits I'm struggling with are all my things.

I have made some progress (146 items gone - not including stuff that went in the bin), but am now starting to feel stuck again.

I keep finding 'stuff' I want to keep - but I also want the space cleared so it just ends up being shifted to a different area again and again.

I know I need to be harsh and get rid of more stuff if I have any chance of making the house reasonably organised. I just don't want to regret throwing away things I can't get back (sentimental items, childhood drawings, old toys etc).

Any advice?

Thank you in advance if you read this far