i feel a bit guilty now, but would you do it?

valk_scot

I've cleared two relatives houses (SIL and my mum's) and felt like a ghoul and a grave robber both times, even though they've been both relatives, wanted me to have stuff and would have been horrified if I'd just thrown things out wastefully. So yes, it does seem a bit odd to folk but that's not to say it's a sensible feeling.

To give you one example I was intending to buy a new winter weight duvet for my DS and when I cleared my mum's house there was a brand new one, still sealed in its bag. Big expensive feather one. I took it home, showed DS and he was pleased to use it...but my friend went "How can you give your son a dead woman's duvet?" Well it was NEW, never used, but I suppose it was technically a dead woman's duvet. Do you think I've scarred him for life, lol?

Oh and yes, I took all her tins as well. And cleaning materials, packs of bog rolls, enough kitchen towels to keep me for a year, new light bulbs and all the rest of her kitchen cupboards. My sister took the hoover and quite a bit of household stuff for setting niece up in her student flat. I've got woolen blankets dating from the '60s, that new duvet, a spare cat basket....in fact the only things that went to the charity shop were her clothes and the furniture no-one wanted. very little to the tip. She'd have been horrified if we'd just binned it all!

PasturesNew

I think it'd make me cry if I saw something "luxury" in the cupboard ... something obviously being kept for a special occasion and treat, that they never got to eat.

I'd think of them spotting it on the shelf and treating themselves to it, the joy of putting it in their cupboard ... even if it was just a tin a branded peaches among value brands, or a packet of chocolate biscuits.

Butterfly_Brain

I would not like to see food wasted so don't feel guilty. Like others, when my mum died we shared everything out in the cupboards - she would have been horrified if we had thrown it out.
So what if it was a strangers house if you need the food.

Bitsy_Beans

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

Well, I make no secret of my views on wasting food: I refuse to do so, as long as there is one other person in the world, suffering or dying from lack of it. Except quinoa.

I am with you on that one. Seed of the gods? My 4rse :rotfl:

As for it being a "dead person's food" - do people really give that a thought when they are holding on to antiques etc? They once belonged to someone now on the otherside

As long as the food isn't the reason the poor person expired (ie poisoned!) then don't feel guilty - waste not want not.

rosieben

ChocClare wrote: »

... Makes you wonder whether they'd be so horrified if they inherited a house...

:T:T:T

you rarely hear of someone turning down an inheritance because it belonged to a dead person

ubamother

I know its veering off topics but can I just say - I like quinoia - there, I've come out.

tandraig

I honestly dont see the difference between inheriting or purchasing something from a dead persons estate and having food from their cupboards! I would be horrified if I thought my food would end up chucked away!! keep and enjoy what you want and perhaps donate the rest ! would people turn it down if it was finest beluga caviar or tins of expensive salmon? I think not!

Patchwork_Quilt

Being a wheat free person, I am also in favour of quinoa

I am also in favour of using resources instead of sending them to the tip. What is Freecycle for? It doesn't matter where the food came from. It doesn't matter if you get some more. I think it's a good thing. I hope if I died in that situation, someone would get some good out of everything I owned.

faithcecilia

Food is food, and tins are sealed, I really don't understand it being a problem?

greenbee

Now you know what happens to the food, I think you should find out which charities would happily take it and tell the guy clearing the house to let his colleagues know that it should go to them (if you aren't around ). It's the socially, ethically and environmentally responsible thing to do, and you should tell your colleagues so!