Clutching possessions for posterity? It’s OK to ease your grip. Here’s the reality: Millennials typically view their parents’ prized items as a pain in the posterior.
It comes down to values and taste. Those born between 1980 and 2000 operate under a much different reference point concerning ownership vs. the generations preceding them. Ironically, millennials see the seemingly abstract concept of digital ownership as far more tangible than the concrete brick-and-mortar “permanence” baby boomers and the Depression-era generation value.
Virtual is in; physical is out. Lotsa stuff is viewed as the proverbial millstone around the neck. The path to freedom equals limited inventory. Millennials tend to want to embark on a local move or move across country with the least amount of hassle.
As professional long distance movers since 1929, National Van Lines has witnessed more than a few trends come and go when it comes to residential movers.
Overstuffed?
“That’s the whole meaning of life, isn’t it? Trying to find a place for your stuff,” comedian George Carlin liked to observe during one of his famous routines. “That’s all your house is…a pile of stuff with a cover on it.” The late funnyman’s mocking social indictment 30 years ago now can be appreciated as predicting the millennial mantra of minimalism.
News outlets as diverse as The New York Times, Observer, The Washington Post, Business Insider and The Christian Science Mentor all are singing a unified chorus: Millennials (and even Gen X-ers) don’t want their immediate ancestors’ “antiques.”
There’s also this thing about brown…as in furniture…as in brown furniture. Numerous news reports emphasize that millennials find brown furniture about as desirable as fool’s gold to a prospector. And they wouldn’t give all the tea in China for a tea set or some fine china—once hallmarks of a complete middle-class home.
Though this trend might pain some people, perhaps it’s best viewed with a sigh of relief, particularly if you’re contemplating downsizing. Not sure where to start first? Start just about anywhere. (That calls for a winking emoji if you speak Millennial.)
Lift the burden
This knowledge should free up boomers and others who’ve burdened themselves with unneeded household items under the misguided concept their children want their stuff someday.
If an interstate move is on the immediate or longer-term horizon (maybe you’re anticipating retirement), why not think about selling, donating or discarding items now to make your eventual move easier on you and family members?
Instead of assuming your sons or daughters (or grandchildren) want certain items, why not ask them? Have a conversation, and don’t be put off if your offspring don’t appreciate that chunky Reagan-era oak cabinet. On the other hand, a midcentury modern item just might be the piece they’ve been seeking to spruce up their home office, so dialog will prove valuable. But if you don’t need it (and they don’t want it), does it make sense to move furniture across the country or add to your cost of moving?
Don’t hold onto items you don’t value anymore, either. There’s no sense in paying extra to move items you don’t want or need. You could save money on your cross-country move and free up valuable interior space in your new home. Also, resist the urge to keep things in storage indefinitely.
Seeking downsizing advice? Look no further than National Van Lines, where we make long-distance moving easy. As a national moving company, we’ve been helping families move memories for 90+ years. Contact us online or call 877-590-2810 for answers to your questions plus a FREE moving quote.
