In our recent article on Swedish Death Cleaning we explained the concept of taking time to decide which few possessions are really important to you, and then gradually reducing and getting rid of the many things that really don’t matter as much.
But what would you choose for your most prized possessions? We tend to be surrounded by so much stuff that it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees. Perhaps one helpful way to think of it is along the lines of what possessions would you try to rescue first if your house was on fire? Once you know that people and pets are all safe, what are the things that you really hope would make it out?
In this article we look at the kinds of things that you might define as your prized possessions. And, once you decide on your prized possessions, the things you need to do to protect them.
Recent research by the Skipton Building Society identified the top 20 prized possessions for men and women. Major items – such as family pets, home, car, and phone/devices – featured in both lists. But both lists also included smaller items of sentimental value.
Five of the most frequently occurring were:
Perhaps some of these things would also be in your choice of prized possessions. But, if so, what is the best way to look after these items?
The specific way to look after any treasured item depends of course on what it is. But here are five general guidelines that apply to most prized possessions, whatever the item.
First and foremost, if something is special to you, you should always know where to find it. In most homes, clutter tends to accumulate, and things that you don’t use often can easily get buried under piles of other stuff. But if you needed to get to one of your prized possessions quickly, for example in an emergency, would you know where to find it?
It may be a good idea to have an area of your home for all your prized possessions. For example, a particular cupboard, drawer, or storage box. Then you will know where everything is at all times.
As well as knowing where your prized possessions are, you need to make sure that you are storing them in the best possible way to preserve them.
For example, old photos can react to sunlight so if they are in an album you need to keep this in a shady place. The same applies to old books and artwork.
It’s also a really good idea to digitise all your old photos. You can do this by rephotographing or scanning them yourself, or using a professional scanning service to do so. This will take a bit of effort but it’s worth doing this sooner rather than later as old photos do fade.
Jewellery is best stored in a box with a soft fabric lining. Silver needs extra special care such as a cotton or felt bag to help prevent tarnishing. It’s also worth adding silica packets to absorb excess moisture.
Storing special items appropriately is important and can make a big difference to their long term condition.
Even when your precious item is stored well, it still needs checking regularly. Jewellery needs to be kept clean, otherwise is it likely to tarnish or discolour.
We have already mentioned that photos and books can fade if they are exposed to too much sunlight, but they also need checking from time to time to check they are not gathering dust or dirt, or gradually being damaged from the position they are in.
Take time to check in every now and then on those prized possessions that you don’t use very often, just to make sure that everything is ok, and to give them a bit of tlc if needed.
Many prized possessions are of sentimental rather than monetary value. But if there are items – for example vintage jewellery – that are valuable, it is worth getting them insured.
If you have home and contents insurance, your item may be covered by this. But most insurance companies have a maximum limit for any single item that is stolen or damaged. Single item limits vary between insurance companies and types of insurance policy, but typically, a single item limit would be between £1,000 and £2,500.
So if you have an item that is worth more than this it’s a good idea to look into specialist insurance cover to give you maximum protection from loss, theft, accidental damage and major events such as fire, floods and storms.
If an item is very special to you, it is also important to think about what you would want to happen to that item in the event of your death. It’s something that we don’t like to think about, but it’s far better to go through that thought process now rather than risk your precious possession ending up in a charity shop in future.
One of the most straightforward ways of doing this is to make a will and leave each of your prized possessions to a person of your choice. For further guidance on making a will, check out our article Is it ever too early to think about making a will?. Once you have done this, you will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your prized possessions will be well looked after by the next generation and beyond.
We hope that this article has helped you to think about what are your most prized possessions and how to look after them in the best possible way.
If you need any extra funds to help with this process, for example to get a comprehensive will prepared, remember that Munzee offers personal loans online that may be able to help.
Check back here soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Munzee Loans.
How to get married in 2025 without spending a fortune