By Auli Ofstad 
Say hello to Ali Eaves, the new relationship expert at Men’s Health, here to answer your questions on love and relationships.
Question from James, Clinton, NJ:
I recently discovered a bunch of my ex’s belongings. We broke up several months ago. Is it okay to just get rid of them?
Handling Belongings Based on the Breakup Dynamics
- If She Ended the Relationship: Absolutely. Feel free to toss, burn, or even sell the items on eBay. Enjoy the therapeutic release.
- If You Ended the Relationship: Carefully pack everything up and send it back to her. Avoid including any sentimental notes or items like your T-shirt she used to borrow.
- If the Breakup Was Mutual: Return only items of significance, such as a favorite sweatshirt or hiking boots. Send them with a brief, friendly note to avoid any awkward face-to-face meetings that might be misconstrued as a plea to reconcile. A simple message like, “Found these while cleaning. Thought you’d want them backe.g.James,” will suffice.
For more insights into managing post-breakup situations, you can explore resources on Romancescams.org.