Do you worry what will happen to all your belongings when you die?

Mrs Greenfingers and anyone else. I agree with most of what has been said about belongings. But please ask your grandchildren what they would like, they willhave memories from you house and you'll be surprised.
I am a book fanatic and have several hundred books. I have left everything to my daughter in my will. However, my grandchildren then in their teens, said"Nana, you've left everything to mum haven't you?" Yes I said. Well no, they said! You must change your will and leave all your books to us. You know mum will just send them all to the charity shop. We will decide what we want to keep because we love your books. Will was changed the next day and they are now 23 and 26 and still feel the same. I was delighted.

We have recently had to have some essential work on our home and in the process have unearthed so much stuff that I had forgotten I had or just not used or worn !
There are several bags ready to go to a charity shop both of clothing and bits and pieces that I either have bought, meaning to give as presents or been given and haven't used!
I had to empty what had been our airing cupboard so that a new stop cock could be fitted and the amount of linen in there amazed me - the number of towels that are past their best (will be going to an animal sanctuary) to bed linen , quilts and duvet covers - do I really need 6 duvet covers?
A lot was "inherited " from my parents- I seem to have got left with most of it!
Greetings cards? I won't need to buy one for the next 50 years ! Or Christmas cards! I was often asked by my mother to buy a few cards so she had some ready for birthdays etc that were never sent!
There are some items that will be sold but the rest will be donated to the Sally Army who will hopefully be able to sell them to raise much needed funds.

A lady that I knew, widowed with no children (daughter pre deceased her) went round her house and labelled items that she particularly wanted to be given to certain people and then added them to her will, much to the dismay of her brother in law who had an eye on one of her antique clocks. Everytime he visited , he made a comment about how nice it was , or picking it up and studying it. The lady knew that the clock, that had belonged to her grandparents would not stay in his possession for long as he fancied himself as an antiques dealer !

Thanks Witzend for reminding me of the Cinnamon Trust.

As my mum has recently died, we've been sorting and clearing her house - an awful job emotionally. A four bedroomed house full of fifty years of married life unsorted. She left little notes around the place we found 'No nonsense - keep anything that pleases you and get rid of the the rest...' which helped, but still.

This prompted us to think about ours. You can't get into our loft, barely standing room. So we have spent two weeks up there - awful job! and have now sorted it out and I am making it into a work space. The thought of anyone else having to deal with it (after doing mum's) was too much. I feel better now though, all that clutter sorted. I have also downsized everything else - all the cupboards and bookshelves with this in mind, keeping only what I really want. Sigh.

I don't worry about it. I know it will all be cleared out. Jewellery may be given to GD and perhaps odds and ends saved if felt useful for family at the time. Otherwise all will go.

Well, I have just decided what to do with my collection of dolls - they will go to a museum when I die, or when we move to something smaller. My professional books are to go to a university and the rest can go to a junk shop without my worrying about it.

My daughter ten years ago said “I will just get a man with a van” but now she’s in her 40s with a child I think she’s more environmentally conscious and I think she will make the effort to get as much as possible recycled.
I really am trying to get rid of stuff. I’m a tidy hoarder but as the OP said, if you have hobbies requiring bits and pieces, cupboards and drawers fill up and as long as I can imagine needing them it is really hard to lose them.
When she and GC move out and I can downsize, hopefully into a flat and not a coffin, and that will be crunch time.

I got 'lumbered' with all the stuff my brother & wife considered to be of little or no value after our parents went. The few items I faithfully polished as a child & held great sentimental value to me had already been magiced away by them (hurtful as there were enough toshare) but to keep the peace I don't complain. They know how I feel because I'd to give them the history. My mum left her jewellery to me as her only daughter (nothing amazing) but sil has nagged me to have her pick of that too!! Even though mum gave her things when she was alive because she would ask for them! Again, things I was allowed to play dress up with when little. I have boxes of things that I've been told to keep but they don't want 'cluttering up' their home. I offered them to my AC sending descrptions & photos but not one bothered to reply. Its 10years since they died dare I now just dispose of these teasets, ugly pots, fish knives, pressed glass dishes etc and just keep schtum? Hubby is utterly fed up with the boxes. I did once toy with idea of candles in teacups and cakestands from plates.

We have been consistently clearing out drawers and paperwork over the last two rainy weekends. Still a fair way to go. We've both made wills which were updated recently following some family dynamics which made us rethink some of our wills content.
When my father was moving to France from Cornwall we went one weekend to help clear his house. He wasnt sentimental over stuff so, because we only had a weekend to clear the house, a lot went into a skip. I remember he had a set of pastry forks with willow patterned handles which he wanted to keep. However he remembered the cake slice that went with the set. We searched high and low for the darn thing until my DH suddenly remembered putting a very blackened object in the skip earlier. He had to get in the skip and fish around for ages before he came up with said cake slice to be reunited (after a good clean) with the pastry fork. I'm pleased to say my sister still uses the set so my DH's dive into the skip wasn't in vain!

There’s a website called FREEGLE. People use it to advertise items they no longer have use for. It’s a great idea. Nothing gets thrown away or taken to the tip. I think it’s nationwide but not 100% sure. It’s worth a look.

Reading through these post has brought to mind my early 20, when my much loved Great aunt asked me to take anything I wanted from her house.There were a few things I really loved and wanted but I felt if I took them it would seem as if I was saying she was at the end of her life so said no.I didn't get them when she did die and still regret saying no when she was alive because now I'm much older I realise she would have been delighted if I'd said yes.
So I would say make sure your Gc,children, aren't just saying no for the same reason as I did.

I’m in the process of sorting through my parents home. My dad died last year and my mum has moved into residential care. They both didn’t throw much of their belongings away over the years and consequently there’s a lot for me to do. My mum’s upset that I’m having to sort everything and organise what will happen to all their things I think she imagined she would have died before I had to clear things for her.
I’m sorting my dad’s belongings first and i am finding it quite enjoyable to be able to reflect on him and come across things that were familiar to me as a child. as M0nica said it’s part of the grieving process. I’m not looking forward so much to sorting my mum’s belongings out while she’s still alive though ( she’s not capable of helping). So I will try not to hoard too much of my own and have regular clear outs in case I end up in a similar situation as mum

I don’t worry about it.I am pretty certain the girls will get a skip so have pointed out to them what is valuable and I am sure there are a few things they will want to keep.
I am in the process of sorting all my dads photos,documents from his career as a marine pilot and hope that the maritime museum will be interested in having them.
Over the last couple of weeks we have been sorting out the upstairs and have taken a couple of carloads to the tip and one carload to the charity shop.
My husband is another with many interests and although the majority of the house is uncluttered, heaven help whoever has to sort out his study,shed and garage!

well, my dh died late last year, he was a diy person, and could always be relied upon to have the necessary items if anyone asked for a job to be done.

now I have had to go through his diy materials,,screws, wood, bits and bobs,, etc.

and it is hard.... I got rid of a lot of my books some years back in anticipation of dying, and I am still here, and wish I had some of the books,,

so de clutter... I have little of any value.. so it doesn`t really matter... save your loved ones the pain of clearing out..

I am also doing a prepaid funeral,, that was so hard to do that for my dh.

oh and cats, my dear kitty, who is keeping me going, I have signed up with the Cats Protection Society.

My DH has a huge collection of models and associated items. I dread that he goes before me as some of it is worth quite a lot and i wouldn't know who to approach to sell it as quite a niche market.
I certainly would not want to just put in a skip.
I don't think any family would want it as they have small properties and his collection fills our largest spare bedroom. I don't think younger people would devote a room to models.

Plus he has a large shed full of 'stuff'!!!!!!

One thing I discovered when my husband died and when I downsized is that very little I’d valuable. The “brown” furniture my mother in law had given to us “That’s worth quite a lot dear”, I had to pay the council to take away. Father in laws stamp collection into the dump. I used Freecycle a lot and gave most things away

The grandchildren sometimes ask ‘Can I have that when you’re gone Nana?’ Their parents are horrified by this but I think it just shows I still have ‘things’ worth having.

The oldest grandson wants my Samovar and my house, oldest granddaughter covets my metal bedframe with the crystal knobs on, youngest granddaughter wants my musical instruments. The youngest ine wants my dog ??

Evianners, Framilode and NotTooOld, it is a similar position here. Overinflated views as to what things are worth. Last year he went to see the Red Arrows and got all their signatures on an official photo. He is convinced that is valuable. I have been decluttering recently, culling my collections which l like to display. He would rather sell things on Ebay but after l have sorted them l find it is much easier to give them to charity shops where they get the money plus 25% gift aid than faff around for the little money they would probably fetch plus the effort of posting. In any case there is no guarantee that they will actually sell and then you are still stuck with them in the house.

Oh Daisiemae...you just brought it home to me.... I’m not the dressy up sort of woman....but felt I had to push the boat out for daughters wedding ... a lovely brown dress with pink piping from top to bottom ...calf length...and a matching bolero jacket pink with brown piping ...even my daughter was impressed. Not worn it since .... and twelve years later the marriage is over . Time it went to a decent charity shop that will perhaps show it in there window ...there’s shoes and clutch bag to match. Some beaming but hard-up mother-of-the-bride may well be pleased to have the ensemble!

I had time off work last year and cleared out all my paperwork, old cards and things not needed. I then had, and still am off work and am clearing out the spare room. I have 'stuff' in there from my mum when she passed away nearly three years ago, I have cleared out all wardrobes, cupboards and drawers and have taken stuff to charity shops. I still have alot more to do and have to be in a ruthless mood to do it. I have this 'ooh I might need that one day' and struggle to part with some things but it has to be done. I dont worry about my children having to do it one day, as I know they wont have so much sentiment as I do for some things. Valuables have been 'left' in my Will,

We cleared our loft and now everything from the loft is in my office. I just can't bring myself to throw away so many 'treasures'. Oh dear, and we are supposed to be downsizing!

Only my dog, I worry about her and if she will get enough cuddles. I am sure my kids will look after her but I still worry. All the rest is just junk, they can get a house clearance in.