Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 4, 2021 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller How to Downsize Your Home for a Move Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you offer for downsizing? My husband and I would like to relocate from our house into a retirement community condo near our daughter but need to get rid of a lot of personal possessions before we can move. Overwhelmed Willa Dear Willa, The process of weeding through a house full of stuff and parting with old possessions is difficult and overwhelming for most people. A good place to start is to see if your kids, grandkids or other family members would like any of your unused possessions. Whatever they don’t want, here are a few tips and services that may help you downsize. Sell It Selling your stuff is one way to get rid of your possessions and pad your pocketbook at the same time. Selling options may include consignment shops, a garage sale, estate sale and selling online. Consignment shops are good for selling old clothing, household furnishings and decorative items – they typically get 30 to 40 percent of the sale price. A good old-fashion garage sale is another option, or for large-scale downsizing you could hire an estate sale company to come in and sell your items. See EstateSales.net and EstateSales.org to locate options in your area. Some estate companies will even pick up your stuff and sell it at their own location – they typically take about 35 percent of the profits. Selling online is also a great option and opens you up to a wider audience. The OfferUp app (OfferUp.com), Facebook Marketplace (Facebook.com/marketplace), Craigslist (Craigslist.org) and the CPlus for Craigslist app (Yanflex.com) are great options for selling locally, which can eliminate the packing and shipping costs and hassle. These websites and apps also don’t take a cut of your sales, but you’re responsible for connecting with your buyer and making the exchange of money and goods. Donate It If you itemize on your tax returns, donating your belongings to charitable organizations is another way to downsize and get a tax deduction. The Salvation Army (SAtruck.org, 800-728-7825) will actually come to your house and pick up a variety of household items, including furnishings and clothing. Goodwill (Goodwill.org) is another good option to donate to but they don’t offer pickup services. If your deductions exceed $500, you’ll need to file Form 8283, “Noncash Charitable Contributions” (IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8283. pdf). You’ll also need a receipt from the organization for every batch of items you donate and will need to create an itemized list of the items donated. To calculate fair market value for your stuff, use the Salvation Army’s donation guide at SAtruck.org/home/ donationvalueguide. Toss It If you have a lot of junk you want to get rid of, contact your municipal trash service to see if they provide bulk curbside pickup services. Or, depending on where you live, you could hire a company like 1-800-Got-Junk (1800gotjunk.com, 800-468-5865) or Junk-King (Junk-King.com, 888-888-5865) to come in and haul it off for a moderate fee. Another disposal option is Bagster (TheBagster.com, 877-7892247) by Waste Management. This is a dumpster bag that you purchase for around $30, fill it to a limit of 3,300 pounds and schedule a pickup, which costs anywhere between $100 and $300 depending on your area. Get Help If you want or need some help, consider hiring a senior move manager. These are professional organizers who help older adults and their families with the daunting process of downsizing and moving to a new residence. To locate one in your area, visit the National Association of Senior Move Managers at NASMM.org or call 877-606-2766. You can also search at Caring Transitions (CaringTransitions.com), which is a large senior relocation and transition services franchise company that has more than 200 franchises nationwide. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. OBITUARIES Oscar D. Garcia, Jr. Passed away on May 28 at Lowell General Hospital after suffering a sudden and severe illness earlier in the week. He was 37 years of age. Born in Boston, he was raised in Chelsea and attended local schools. He was a graduate of Malden High School, Class of 2001. He continued his education attending Salem State and graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree. Oscar soon put his education to good use and began working as a social worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He worked in different areas within Mass Health and the Department of Transitional Assistance. Oscar was devoted to his family and friends and enjoyed golfing. He is the beloved son of Oscar D. Garcia, Sr. & Mayra Perez of Revere. He is survived by his grandmother, Gladis Perez of Revere, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins & dear friends Theresa Ann (Barricelli) Price 81, of Malden, passed away on May 28, 2021, after a lengthy illness. She was surrounded by loved ones. Theresa was born to Victoria and Diego Barricelli on January 7, 1940. She was a lifelong resident of Malden and graduated from Malden High School in 1958. She worked as an Executive Assistant to the President of Rohm Tech Pharmaceutical (Enzyme Division) for 10 years and more recently worked for Perini Corp. on Boston’s Central Artery Project. She was involved with several civic clubs, including Jr. Old and New of Malden. She had the honor of being appointed Chairman of Malden’s Bicentennial Dinner and Ball Celebration in 1976. She cherished her family more than anything and drew strength and happiness from her grandchildren. Theresa is preceded in death by her parents, Diego and Victoria Barricelli and former husband William Price. She is survived by her loving son Bill and his wife Ellen (Hines) of Pembroke and grandchildren Brianna, Ryan and Ella. Theresa is also survived by her loving and devoted sisters and brother, Mary Barricelli, Rosemarie (Semon) Barricelli and Dick Barricelli and brotherin-law Jim Semon. She treasured her lifelong friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Theresa’s name to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. https://www.stjude.org/ give.html For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ MALDEN BOARD OF APPEAL PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Board of Appeal will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, 6:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada), at Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant St., Malden, MA on Petition 21-007 by Wenling Huang for a variance of MCC 12.16.010 Chapter 12 of the revised Ordinances of 2020 as amended of the City of Malden – Namely – Dwelling – Single Family Dimensional Controls (rear setback for deck) as per Plans RES-037365-2021 at the property known as and numbered 34 Tremont St, Malden, MA and also known by City Assessor’s Parcel ID #074-242-214 Additional information, Petition & plans available for public review in the Office of Inspectional Services, 215 Pleasant St., 3rd floor, Malden MA or online at www.cityofmalden.org or https://permits.cityofmalden.org/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService Nathaniel Cramer, Chair May 28 & June 4, 2021 ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS...Looking for privacy, w/ easy access to Boston? 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