Valuable Lessons: Preparing for the Future, One Treasure at a Time

How My Mom and I Are Using Valuable App to Declutter, Downsize, and Preserve Memories

Photo of Amy’s mom Sue, daughter Catherine, and Amy, shopping for Christmas dinner 2024

We started Valuable App for a lot of reasons. I love it for shopping vintage and antiques, pricing items for an estate sale company, and documenting the stories of some of my favorite things.  

My purpose for Valuable was big. My Gen X/Older Millennial friends were concerned about our aging Baby Boomer parents–the idea of taking care of a parent’s health AND their belongings was overwhelming. And did I mention their multiple properties? As my mom’s estate executor, I wanted to be more prepared.

My father died unexpectedly 11 years ago, and my mom has lived in her home for 30 years. My mom is a young 74, and she wants to be ready to downsize when she finds the right opportunity. Living a few states away with children and a full life of my own, I can’t take off months to help when that time comes.

Last year, after Valuable launched, we made a plan. While visiting her for Christmas and spring break over the next few years, we would work together. Room by room, we would consolidate, give to friends and family, donate, and sell anything she didn’t plan to move into a smaller home.

Is this item she no longer wants worth $25, $250, or $2,500? Based on Valuable’s 3rd party answers–not what I think it’s worth and not what she thinks it’s worth–we’ve been able to determine what goes to Goodwill and what’s for sale. It’s been invaluable.

It’s been fun too! We have laughed and shared stories, and we have shed healing tears. My sister and I now possess all of our childhood ephemera and photos, and we have enough luxury candles to last a decade.

Once the house is cleared of excess, we plan to inventory the furniture she’ll most likely move into her next home. It will include measurements and backstories. My sister and I will also talk about what we’ll want in the future, and we’ll record all of that in Valuable.

While life is full of surprises, it feels good to take initiative–one closet and one drawer at a time.

Amy Miller Wolpert

Co-Founder