THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021 Page 17 Choosing a wedding or prom dress S hopping for the perfect dress is a crucial part of a How to Downsize Your Home for a Move Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you off er 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 diffi cult 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 profi ts. 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 off er 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, fi ll 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. wedding or prom. But like many purchases with a big price tag – and high stakes – there’s a lot that can go wrong. Buying a wedding dress or prom dress can come with unexpected expenses, delayed orders, surprise policies and unwanted stress in advance of a big event. Follow this advice to ensure that dress shopping goes smoothly: • Start shopping early: Experts recommend buying a wedding dress between six and nine months ahead of the big day. You don’t need as much time for prom or another special occasion, but experts recommend starting a couple months ahead. Delivery and alterations can take time, and spring is busy season for seamstresses. The more time you have, the more you can comparison shop and the less rushed and stressed you’ll feel. • Be clear about your budget: Be upfront about your budget, so your sales person shows you dresses in your price range. You don’t want to fall in love with a dress only to fi nd that it is way over your budget. • Factor in alterations: Dress alterations can be costly, so double-check policies in advance. Some dress shops off er alterations for a fl at fee or cap expenses at a certain amount. • Don’t pay 100 percent upfront when buying a wedding dress: Most salons ask for a deposit of about 50 percent of the dress price for expensive gowns. You should not be pressured into paying the entire cost of a wedding dress upfront. Depending on where you fi nd a DRESS | SEE Page 20 Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 185 of the Commission will conduct a Public Hearing on June 14, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Revere Police Headquarters relative to the following 1. Amend Chapter 10.34 - CITY-WIDE RESIDENT PARKING STICKER PROGRAM by adding: 10.34.065- Senior Housing Employee. A Senior Housing in a 24 hour permitted zone that has employees who are required to work during the time of the resident sticker program is in effect may apply for a limited number of employee placards, as determined by the Parking Director. The following must be provided to the Parking Director each year for review and approval: A. A letter on business letter head requesting such special consideration; B. A list of employees requiring the placards; C. A copy of each employee’s valid motor vehicle registration; D. A point of contact and phone numbers for each Senior Living Facility Administration E. Employees may be added to the list throughout the year by providing the required information; F. The Senior Housing Director/Administrator must notify the parking director in writing within seven days upon an employee’s separation from the employer so he or she may be removed from the list. The permit issued to the employee’s vehicle must be returned. 10.34.070 - Fee schedule. F. Senior housing employee placard, ten dollars. 2. Amend Schedule XI of Title 10, Handicapped Persons Parking Areas, by adding: 379 Beach Street 16 Dashwood Street. Attest: Paul Argenzio prom dress, this will generally be less of an issue. • Check the cancellation policy: Always check a store’s cancellation policy for your specifi c order. Each contract is diff erent, and custom orders may have a
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