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When we moved to Florida, we bought a very large house because we had our family and mother was moving back in with us as well. Now we have had one of our children grow up and move out and mother has gone to long term care, so my husband and I have 1 child (who graduates and goes to military in 2 years) in a 5 bedroom, almost 4000 square ft house, We definitely need to downsize, but I feel guilty selling my mom's furniture (her home hospital bed, and recliner are really all there is..) She isn't going to be having any over night stays - they will not send her home with any meds, and she is on too many to miss. It's not wrong to do this, right?

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NO...at some point you need to rearrange your own life. Today is a good time to start. Donate them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army and take the tax deduction for the donation.
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It's actually smart to plan ahead and downsize, to make the future more affordable. Put that money in your retirement fund and let it grow. Ideally, when you retire, the house should be paid off. If you can eliminate credit card debts too, you will have a better chance of making ends meet on a pension.
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What good is a hospital bed without a patient? Please get over the guilt and as the first poster suggest, donate the goods to someone who needs them. Create a blessing for someone, out of the sadness of mom's decline. You were very generous to have a large home for a multigenerational family, it is time to plan for you and your husband. Make sure you at least have a pull out for when son visits.
Best wishes to your family and specially to your son joining the military.
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Honestly, I am giving a short time to sell because we seriously need the money - but if it does not sell, I am going to donate it - I am not asking much for it - I know how much it originally cost, how much the company wrote off and how much she was charged for it, and I am asking much, much less than the amount that she was charged. I will always have a place for my Marine to stay! As well as my Airman..

And my advice to everyone I meet these days is - make sure you have your ducks in a row before you can no longer quack.
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Just make sure you have enough room for yourself and hubby. Being cramped up and having to get rid of a lot of your own stuff may not be the way to a happy retirement. You live in Florida so the boys can camp in the back yard if necessary. don't feel bad about getting rid of mom's things it is not like you are totally dismantaling her entire home. Those two items will do more good elsewhere. Good luck with the sale of the house. As Pam said try and go into retirement debt fee. Even if your income is not high at least you will know what you have to work with and plan accordingly
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Time for change. By all means, downsize and consider moving where the outside is taken care of for you --you don't have to mow, trim, fertilize, etc. We did a few yrs ago and never looked back. We have one spare bedroom for kids when they visit, which is less and less as they have their own lives now. My husband and I have said eventually we may move to a small flat in our retirement and just pay for a hotel for the kids when they visit which is cheaper than having a larger place and larger mortgage.

People couldn't believe we were "selling the family home" but now are envious as we have a smaller primary home.

Do it and enjoy the freedom and less expense.
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It's definitely good to shed those things now that Mom no longer needs them. If no one else in the house can use them, why keep them? It's not like you're getting rid of her photographs or things that have great sentimental value. I will be honest, when my dad passed away, one of the hardest things I did was to get rid of the physical reminders of his last years of life - the bed, the walker, the mobility scooter...but then I reminded myself that those were not GOOD QOL years for him - and that those "helpers" were things he would not want us to keep.

Mom is in good hands. Do what you need to do to downsize and make some needed changes.
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It might be helpful to remind yourself that there are others who can use the items you will be donating and will appreciate getting them at a lower cost.

Another option is to check your local communities to determine if they have "loan closets". Some in our area do, and lend out assistive devices to families who need but can't afford them.
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