CALL ME WHEN IT'S THE VALUABLES
The Game to Lose
Overview:
A passionate lifetime game for those of sound mind who wish to unburden themselves of the objects they've accumulated.
Call Me When It’s Valuables is not a game for decluttering enthusiasts. It’s a daily ritual, a meditation on memory and ownership—a practice in letting go.
This is not a competitive game. There are no winners.
Warning: This game may provoke unexpected feelings of nostalgia or regret. Proceed with care.
Game Details:
Number of Players:
Best played solo
Age Recommendations:
Under 55 — if you're single
55+ — if you’ve lost a loved one
65+ — if you're making life changes
75+ — if you live alone and have no children
85+ — if you're independent and in a rewarding relationship
95+ — if you're still storing your children’s junk
NOTE: Players experiencing cognitive decline or dementia are disqualified from play. Seek medical and emotional support if needed.
Game Length:
Lifetime
Objective:
To outlive your possessions.
What You Need to Play:
Commitment
A camera or smartphone
Basic math skills
Cloud storage
A healthy diet. You may experience feelings of sudden weight loss.
Rules of Play
1. What Counts as an Item?
Any object that has been in your home for more than 30 days.
Broken items, if they’ve been in your possession for over a year.
Collections or sets count as one item: (e.g. a set of dishes, a stack of magazines, clothing bundles, board games)
Paperwork follows the same logic: Bills, pamphlets, receipts, etc. count as one if grouped.
Items belonging to you, your partner, or your children may be counted. (Consent encouraged.)
Found or forgotten belongings that do not belong to you or your immediate household must be returned.
Important Exception:
Replacements: If an item is replaced with a new version (e.g. a new lamp, upgraded phone, fresh set of towels), the original item is disqualified from play. You may not count something you were already planning to upgrade.This is not a game about substitution—it’s a practice in reduction.
2. Daily Play Routine
One item per day must leave your home. It must be thrown away, donated, or gifted.
To earn a point, the item must be removed and a photo must be taken on the same day.
Only one photograph per item is permitted to be taken. Upload your photo to a dedicated Amazon Prime Photos folder (or similar service). Only one photo per day is allowed.
Delete the image from your phone/device afterward.
Delayed removal disqualifies the point.You may store an object to give away—but not for more than fourteen days. Pictures can be taken at time of decision.
Bonus Points:
Items given away (not thrown out) are worth two points. Selling items is disqualified. You may store given-away items for up to two weeks.
Important: The game rewards daily discipline. You cannot “stack” points in advance.
This is a game of daily practice.
3. How To Document Your Points
Keep a notebook or calendar to add up your points. At the end of each month evaluate the number of points accumulated. Honor the role each item played in your life by writing short anecdotes or memories associated with the objects in a journal.
Join our CULT on Facebook. You'll find encouragement and inspiration. Post one photo per month, choose the most valuable item you have given away. Include a short anecdote. Share your mantra. This is not a second hand site or charity shop.
Note: We do not appraise valuables.
For an additional fee email your points and photographs for a customized graph and collage to callmewhenitsyourvaluables@gmail.com
Or create your own vision board with your photos for the upcoming year.
Create a mantra and hang it on your fridge.
Feel free to host an exhibition, ritual, or ceremony to mark milestones.
All rights and intellectual property of this game belong to the sole creator: Ilana Hoffmann
This game is a living concept.
Any emotional transformations, family reckonings, or changes to your storage fees are your own responsibility.
Play kindly.
