So my mom died in 2021, and I’m finally working on cleaning out her stuff now that I’m medicated for ADHD. We had a complicated relationship but I’d also say we were close? She was extremely religious and collected icons and pins and books like they were Pokémon cards. I’m keeping the stuff that’s sentimental and has meaning to me, but I’m honestly just not religious. I had a bad experience with it growing up, and I’m happy if it helps other people but it’s genuinely just not for me. I REALLY did try it out for 17 years but I can’t do it and I just want this stuff gone.
I’m unsure of what to do with all of these icons. I may keep a few that remind me of her, but again, I’m not religious and I don’t want to be eating my dinner next to a Jesus poster for the rest of my life. I don’t want to toss them because while they mean nothing to me, they meant a lot to her and I’d like them to go to a good home with people who will appreciate them and respect them because I think that’s what she’d want.
Here’s where I may be an asshole? I may try to get away with getting a little money out of it since Christmas is coming up and I’m a broke 23 year old. It’s a MASSIVE collection and I’d honestly be stoked to get even $60 for it, but I’d go for $20 or even give it away for free if I felt the person was really interested in it. I do think that if some of her old church friends heard I did it they might get a little out of sorts, but I don’t care much because they aren’t really people I associate with and their opinions mean little to me.
So would I be an asshole for selling this stuff ?
NTA, but I doubt you’ll find a buyer. You should donate it to a church or to one of her old church friends if you can.
Its better someone gets enjoyment out of them, rather than sitting in a cupboard, collecting dust and being a shelf warmer. NTA.
NTA They are yours and it’s fine to sell or donate them however you like .
You could chose to offer her church friends one each as a momento of her if that would make you feel better about selling the rest
NTA and this is a great idea.
How about this, approach her church about a charity auction in the church, where the church gets 50% proceeds from anything sold. When advertising it, make sure to highlight that the church gets 50%, so that people donate more than if it was 100% going to one person.
This is a good way to do it
You are not obligated to keep anything you don’t want.
NTA. If you want to sell them, do it. Maybe post things on craigslist or Facebook marketplace, that sort of thing. You might also want to reach out to local churches and see if they want to buy any of the items.
NTA. youre keeping the important pieces that remind you of her. it’s pointless to keep a filled house of stuff you don’t really want.
You can see what things are worth by doing a eBay search by image and then filter by sold. And then post the items that are the most high dollar individually on eBay or facebook and Facebook groups. Then lot up the rest for a cheap price on fb.
Get what you can for it. If it doesn’t sell, maybe donate it to her church who can find folks who would take these items.
If a person wants to buy it, take the money and tell your mother thank you for helping you after she’s gone.
That’s what all kids do when their parents pass on. Don’t feel guilty, and NTA. I’d post it on FB marketplace, lots of ten and sell at $40 bucks a lot. Or , if you have the time and mental bandwidth, you can make an Ebay account and post it there. There are a ton of people who buy religious icons and you could make decent money.
INFO: Did your mother had a church she frequently went to? Maybe you can donate it there and let them give you some paper work that you made a charity donation to them about this and that money so you can write it off for your next tax return? So the stuff will go to people who like that and were close to your mom, you don’t have to sit next to that stuff and you might even get some tax refunds