Moving across the country or across the street is a huge hassle, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Save time, stress, and most importantly, money, by getting rid of excess stuff first. The less you have to pack, the quicker and cheaper the entire move will be. Let alone the unpacking! So you’ll save money on both ends by lightening your load.
Use this list to help you comb through your home, instead of hiring someone to help you clean out your closets and storage spaces.
7 reasons why you should get rid of stuff
1. Time. Start getting rid of things months before you move so that you have the time to sort through what you will keep and what you will trash. It actually takes longer to get of stuff than it does to pack it!
2. Money. Plan to make money at a garage sale with your more valuable items. Clear out a space in your home or garage for items you’ll sell, so they don’t get mixed up with items for the trash or for donation.
3. Energy. Holding onto things takes up emotional energy (that’s why they call it baggage – it’s heavy!) Conversely, getting rid of things makes room for space in your life. Don’t believe me? Take a carload of stuff to Goodwill and tell me you don’t feel better afterwards.
4. Progress. You’ll be surprised how much progress you can make in just one hour a week. If your move is imminent, four hours a week.
5. Unlock potential. If it’s dusty, you haven’t used it recently. Get rid of it. Someone else will get lots of use out of it, so holding onto it is just preventing this item from reaching it’s full potential! It’s so sad that some of our perfectly good things never see the light of day. Let them free!
6. Downsize. The less stuff you have, the less you’ll want and the less you’ll spend. What a relief!
7. Fun. Plus, the less time you spend managing all your stuff and your household, the more time you have for what is important: spending time with people!
8. Clean. The less stuff you have, the easier it is to clean your house. My house and yard aren’t the biggest on the block but I also don’t have the burden of maintaining a huge property! If you like cleaning and mowing the law, by all means, buy bigger!
9. Benefit. As my mom used to say to encourage us to get rid of clothes, “Think of the poor kids. They need that a lot more than you do.” I always felt good knowing that what I was donating was going to better someone else’s life.
10. Space. Enjoy your clear open spaces and the happiness it brings you! Feel the openness in your life and welcome in good things, like spending time with friends.
What to get rid of in the kitchen
1. Appliances you haven’t used in two years
2. Extra sets of knives or mismatched knives
3. Mismatched dishes and serving ware
4. Little used kitchen tools and utensils
5. Small appliances that are broken
6. Old cookbooks
7. Surplus water bottles, travel coffee cups
8. Untouched spices, teas, sauces and the like
What to get rid of in the basement or garage
9. Scrap wood
10. Old tools you don’t have a use for any longer
11. Paint from your old house that you’ll never use again (many cities collect completely empty latex paint cans as part of regular household trash day). You can also leave for new owners!
12. Surplus camping gear (like that second cooler we have in the basement!)
13. Misc construction materials, like sheetrock, insulation, windows, plywood, etc.
14. Surplus gardening supplies (how many cheap plastic plant containers do i have in my basement???)
15. Extra garden hoses. Do you really need more than one?
16. Extra parts to appliances that you never use
17. Any furniture you have in your attic or basement, unless its use is imminent
18. Yard decorations like tiki torches, garden gnomes and other items gathering dust
19. Anything broken that has been waiting to be fixed for more than 6 months
What to get rid of in the bathroom
20. Cosmetics, beauty supplies, lotions, and creams that have expired
21. Beauty samples you still haven’t used
22. Products that you’ve used and don’t like. Consider doing a beauty swap with friends.
23. Dingy shower curtains that can’t be cleaned with bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
24. Medicine and pills that have expired or that you no longer use. Old prescriptions can be turned in to your local pharmacy.
25. Old beauty tools that you don’t use, like an old hair dryer or curlers.
26. Outdated artwork or wall decorations that have fallen out of favor.
What to get rid of in the linen closet
27. Old towels. Animal shelters often accept towels and old sheets.
28. Old sheets. Are you really going to use them again?
28. Extra blankets, comforters, covers, quilts or sheets (these really do come in handy at shelters!)
29. Old sewing supplies you don’t use.
What to get rid of in your office
30. Filed paperwork. Be brutally honest about what you actually need to keep. Scale down and lighten your load!
31. Surplus wrapping and gift materials. Mismatched cards and envelopes (guilty as charged!)
32. Office supplies you are not going to use in the next two years. I have way more file folders than I’ll ever use because I repurpose old ones for new files by covering the label with a new label.
33. Books you’ve been meaning to read for the past three years or that you can re-read at the library.
34. Old media, like LPs, cassettes, and DVDs that can be turned into a digital copy.
35. Old office furniture that you don’t use or that is uncomfortable. I offered a table to Freecycle (what is Freecycle?) that I considered barely useable and someone snapped it up!
What to get rid of in your bedroom
36. Surplus clothes. Easier said than done. It helped me to go through my closet with my husband. He said “You have a lot of clothes that you’ve just told me you can’t wear.” Hahaha, now it’s silly, but it was hard to get rid of them! Here’s how to successfully sell clothes on eBay.
37. Old jewelry that you don’t wear anymore
38. Most of what is under your bed.
39. Surplus dress shirts, jackets, blazers. You could help someone who needs professional clothes to land a job!
40. Accessories you don’t wear anymore, like scarves, wraps, handbags, date purses.
41. Socks and underwear with holes
42. Clothes that no longer fit
43. Shoes you never wear (They could make someone else SO happy!)
44. Unused fabric or material that you don’t have imminent plans for (fabric is really quite cheap to buy)
45. Old medals and participation tokens or certificates (or wherever you keep them!)
What to get rid of in your living room or TV room
46. Old media (hot garage sale item!)
47. Old picture frames that have fallen out of favor
48. Books you’re not going to read again (do you really need to have it to prove you read it?)
49. Lamps that don’t work. (Guilty!)
50. Extra lampshades. (Guilty, again!)
51. Old games you don’t play anymore or that your kids have outgrown. (Sell kids’ items at a consignment sale.)
52. Old toys and clothes that the kids don’t wear anymore
What to get rid of in your mudroom, entry way, or hall closet
53. Surplus hats and visors and caps. Let each person have two hats per season, if that.
54. Outer wear you never put on, like scarves.
55. Coats that no longer fit or are out of style.
What to get rid of in your attic
56. Rugs that have been waiting to be unfurled for more than 3 years
57. Surplus traveling bags, roller bags, and suitcases
58. Furniture that is broken or in questionable condition.
59. Your kid’s old artwork and school items.
60. Excess sleeping bags or camping gear.
61. Sentimental stuff that you don’t need.
62. College textbooks and reports.
63. Old mattresses.
64. Any clothes hanging in the attic. That’s a pretty good indication you’re not going to wear them anymore.
65. Extra kitchen gear or appliances. Donate or sell it!
How much stuff can you get rid of? I’m fascinated by stories of people who shed their possessions and live in clutter free spaces.
Are you scaling down?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Yup! I agree. Get rid of your old and noisy hair dryer and get a new one. I’d recommend the Karmin Salon Serieis Hair Dryer. I have one and it’s probably the lightest hair dryer I’ve ever used. It weights about the same as my cell phone, and has positive and negative ion switch. Sweet right?
I stumbled upon this via Pinterest (time vampire in and of itself). My cabin home is chock filled in every corner and available space with STUFF – and after a horrendous experience of pipes freezing while i was away and a consequent week of multiple high-decibel dehumidifiers with plastic mats and attached tubing/piping, i’ve received the news that the antique pine flooring will have to be sanded and refinished. this means moving every single piece of furniture, etc out of the entire first level into storage. I feel stunned and overwhelmed, but after reading your article, I at least know where to begin. Thanks!!
Wow, that’s going to be a big project! Just keep your eyes on the prize and think how nice it will be when it’s done. Good luck!
I’d agree, but I think that following some of these suggestions would be costly. Getting rid of broken items unused itemsakes sense, but to throw away a perfectly good dryer just because you don’t like the fact that is old or a bit noisier than you’d like seems like a waste of money and resources.
Oh, thank you for this list. I laughed at the rugs waiting to be unfurled more than 3 years… How about 8?? I think we will start stepping through this list as a way to downsize… We will probably need to at least move across town in the next two years.
This is great I got a start but this made me realize,! I need to get MOTIVATED !!
Moving from Alaska to Oregon was the hardest thing, especially being born and raised there. We got rid of everything! We started over 5 years ago and now we’re moving again to Texas!
You’ve got good content here, but some missing or misused words. “What Do Get Rid of…” “What to Get Of…” (twice) Just FYI.
Thanks for pointing those out!
Great advice and response to previous post…..I don’t believe you posted for the accidental “misuse or missing” words! Geez, some people!!! Have a great day and again, great advice!!
I just made a move from Florida to Kansas. I got rid of about 85% of what me and my husband owned. We gave away as much as we could and the rest was trashed. Even though I still have to replace some items, I feel better about letting go of all the unnecessary “stuff” I have been carrying with me for the last 30 years or more. I feel 100 lbs lighter, Now I can concentrate on what I kept and keep it neat and organized. If I ever had to move again, it will be so much easier. Letting go is not easy, but it’s worth it.
Wow, 85% is amazing! And I bet you haven’t even missed any of it, right? That’s what I always tell myself when I declutter.
Hey my names amy (30), i live in kent, united kingdom, england. Were moving house next month and im having a real big problem with throwing away anything with sentimental value since losing my dad 3x years ago. Its stuff that either he gave me/bought me or i have of his. Any advice? I want to cry or throw up if i consider abandoning it ??x
Hi Amy, I’m so sorry for your loss and that you’re having a difficult time with your move. First, I think it’s fine to save at least some of it. If those items make you happy and help keep your dad’s memory alive, then they serve an important purpose. If you can’t move them for whatever reason, I recommend taking photos of those things. That way you are at least able to look back on them. Finally, you might find some helpful tips in this post. Good luck and I hope you are able to make peace with the process.
I am having the same problem. My dad passed away April 2016 and
I am definitely struggling to let things go. I know a lot of it is not needed and we plan to move to South Carolina from California. I will take pictures and try to keep the memories.
If you have memories associated with the item and can’t keep it, take a photo and jot down the memory that corresponds with the item. I had to clean out 3 houses (1 of them being mine for a cross country move) and houses from parents that passed away. My adult children are sentimental so I wrapped up the really special items for them. The others I took pictures and wrote down stories and will compile a “Trip down memory lane scrapbook” for my kids and grandson and future grandchild to enjoy. This will be more meaningful to them than the actual item. Hugs and best of luck to you.
My mom died in August 2015, and my dad passed in May 2018, so I completely understand. I have BOXES of stuff in storage right now of things I can’t think about getting rid of right now. Some of it is even really silly things, like my mom’s Ninja blender (She was SOOO excited to get that!). My advice is to hold onto it in boxes—or wherever—until you feel comfortable going through it again. Maybe once or twice a year, go through the boxes. Is there anything broken? Discard those things. Clothes of theirs that you’ll never wear and don’t like/or don’t fit. The more time passes, the easier it becomes. When my mom first died, I kept every piece of her clothing except every day socks, underwear, and bras (I still have all of her holiday socks, and I wear them for those respective holidays). 6 months later, I donated half (because it didn’t fit). Another year, and more went. I’m now left with some PJs, a few blouses, hats and scarves, and her tee shirts (which are boxed up with my dad’s and I will make a quilt with someday).
You Can have some of your mums clothes made in cushions or a teddy bear there really nice ?
Wow, Patrica. That’s inspiring! Mara, thank you. I needed this article. Just got it through Pinterest. Saved it so I can keep going back to it.
We are in the process of moving and while our living space is not changing, our storage space is. I wouldn’t say I am a hoarder but more of an emotional keeper! I have been cleaning out and purging for 2 weeks and it is the most invigorating feeling. Having a purpose for doing so makes it so much easier to let go of items while holding on to the memories.
I agree. I’ve been working on decluttering this month as we prepare to sell our Washington state house and move to Oklahoma I’m feeling rather ruthless at this point! Hubby, though, says, if you’re not sure of whether to pack or not— pack it. We can always sell when we get to OK!
Thanks for the encouraging posting. We are preparing to move from Washington to Oklahoma, a very big move. We have nearly 40 years of stuff to dispose of, one way or the other!
How much kitchenware did you get rid of? The more I think about it, the more expensive it seems to replace kitchen items. Any other advice you’ve come up with after going through this process? We’re getting ready to move from Washington state to Oklahoma to retire closer to family.
Garage sales! I had to make an unscheduled move (long story) where I was unable to return to my home in another state. It was overwhelming to try to furnish an unfurnished rental knowing I already owned everything I needed but couldn’t return to get it. However, I managed to furnish a two bedroom house in record time, spending almost no money, by using Craigslist free items and garage sales and watching for “curb alerts” where folks just put their unwanted items out for others to pick up. Not only did I find awesome furniture, but bedding, kitchen appliances and dish wear, etc., decor, and virtually everything I needed. You’d never guess that my home was completely furnished for almost no money. When I’m able to return to my “real home” I’ll be taking some things that are nicer than what they replaced, and selling or giving away everything else for someone else to enjoy.
Moving countries and thanks for the motivation with the decluttering. I have reduced my clothes down to 2 suitcases. I had two,suitcases per season. Taken six car loads to charity shop and I have got rid of over 200 cookbooks. Getting there slowly.
Wow, that is some impressive decluttering, Samm!
Super helpful!! I’m going to try to get rid of stuff, but it’s so difficult…especially clothes.
Watch the show tidying up on netflix. She helps you let go.
Great article, I didn’t notice when it was written but it seems like it stands the test of time!
One tip I always liked, and it doesn’t work in all cases, but if something brings you joy, but you don’t actually use it, would a photo of it suffice? Storing things digitally saves LOTS of room 🙂
I’ve heard of people taking pictures of their children’s artwork & putting them in a binder, instead of leaving it on the refrigerator indefinitely.
Thank you for the article it was well needed. Also thank you for the Idea of taking pix of the art wok I will do it with the awards and the class work and put it into a binder of school years. with the first day of school each year
I’ve been doing that for years EXCEPT instead of a binder, I take a photo of artwork and save them DIGITALLY in folders sorted by each child’s name. No Binder means no clutter on shelves.
My husband and I both had large homes plus storage units and a garage when we met 2years ago. We currently House everything we own in a 900 sq ft apartment. Now we need to downsize more. I have taken a job on the other side of the US. Our move will be 2 large suitcases and a carry-on that I will take when I go out to start working. Later, my husband and I will pull an 8X5 trailer with the remainder of our belongings. I am estimating this will have us down at least 95%. Happy to be much lighter now!!!
WOW! I’m not sure I could do that. We really are decluttering and downsizing, but not sure I could afford to replace everything when we get to our cross country destination! And then there is the emotional attachment to some things…..
One “trick” that we used before moving cross country was to fill our trash cans to the brim each week, starting six months before our move. Inspired us to look around for items that could be thrown away. A side effect was to find lots of usable items that were then donated. A lot of things that we had stored in our basement and garage were really junk that we kept because we had the room to store it.
Our new house doesn’t have a basement, and we said, “if it’s not good enough to put in our main living areas, it has to go!”
Try it for a month, even if you’re not moving. Fill the trash cans!
Good tactic! I use one like that where I take a large trash bag to the garage first (the most offensive spot), then walk around the house and yard to fill it up. To keep it interesting I use the stopwatch feature on my phone to time myself, and without fail, the actual time taken on the task was way less than I anticipated. Helps me to fend off procrastination.
Very brilliant suggestions about the trash cans! In my area (Seattle, WA), I requested a second recycling bin just to get rid of paper, cans, plastic, etc. My husband never met a project he didn’t want to fix, keep “just in case, etc. Now I am slowly going thru the purge. My heart goes out to all that need to go through this process multiple times in their lifetime….
I started this type thing when we moved my husband toa Nursing Home (Alzeheimers). I started with our closet, then moved to dresser drawers, and suddenly thought, “Wow, this is fun! Look at how much room I have (and most of it was mine!). Told my children how much I enjoyed it and they all came over(grandchildren too) and we tackled the basement. I think they had more fun than I did. They laughed and laughed at some of the things I had down there eg. mismatch curtain rods, barrel full of material that I was going to use for something, old yearbooks that were water damaged(therefore no good anymore) and etc. guess what my basement looks like now? A living space if I wanted to. Hooray for anyone who does this. It is so-o-o-o uplifting and gives you a sense of freedom.
The only thing I disagree with is getting rid of fabric. I don’t know where you shop or the quality you buy, but all my fabric runs at least $10 per yard.
I totally agree! The rest of the article is dead on, but it would cost me thousands to replace my stash.
but fabric styles do change and so does their color scale….when you really look at it….its like our clothes..,out of style and not the right color anymore I too have to do this….. get rid of a lot of fabric!!! And I do look at it all as $$$$ signs instead of looking at it as ….. will this style and color still work for what I want it too??
I gave most of my fabric to a theatre group for them to make costumes with.
Winter is long in Montana. I like to tackle a room or closet with 3 boxes. One for a yard sale, one to donate, and one for trash. Then by summer l have time to rethink what is in the boxes, except for the trash box. Plenty of stuff to sell and donate by spring. Thanks for your ideas.
Great ideas. For us, photo albums, slides, and loose pictures are the worst. This is a project we are going to work on once we get moved. No time to digitize before we go. We got rid of a lot of books.
Ugh, no 61 gets me. I try to keep up with junky things but I have tons of little sentimental things that I know I need to get rid of. I feel guilty for *throwing it away* like I don’t consider the memory that item holds something worth my time? Something like that. I’m also bad about clothes (“but I’ll have lost the weight by the time I can wear this next year so I’m saving money by not getting rid of it now!”) and other things that will save us money in the long term (maybe, eventually) if we don’t throw it out and just keep it in our spacious basement forever… But my “junk” room for the past 6 years now needs to be turned into a nursery so I’d better figure it out quick!
I’ll try to help you out with some of these . . . take a photo of the sentimental stuff and then say goodbye to it. You still have a record of it, but it’s no longer taking up your space. Re: clothes . . . by the time those clothes fit again, there’s a good chance fashion and/or your personal style will have changed. I can’t count the number of times I’ve saved clothes only to find that once I can wear them again, they look outdated or I just don’t like them anymore! Congrats on needing a nursery!
I took photos of some of my favorite tshirts that I wore out. Then I donated them to be recycled.
Great things! Thanks for the tips for making a move smooth.
Great list; it gets you thinking. I moved 3 1/2 years ago and we got rid of a lot of things that I have not missed. We are about to move again. I find that when it is time to pack the belongings it is good to have extra boxes to take to thrift stores. It is easy if the boxes are smaller like the boxes you can pick up at the liquor store for free. They are so much easier to carry. When I get a couple of boxes full I just drop them at the thrift store. I have a couple I have started and in the process of packing I can just slip the items in the box and I am done. What you discard may be someone else’s treasure. I love second hand shopping! We got some boxes from U-Haul and they have cutouts for your hands. What a great ideal I am sure the movers will appreciate that.
Great article. I am moving in less than month and needed to read this. The one thing I disagree with is getting rid of sentimental items or kids old school work. I believe each person needs to decide for themselves on this. I have schoolwork and artwork that my kids did back in grade school, they are 27 and 31 now, that is special to me. A person doesn’t want to have regrets later.
It is ok to keep some. I find if you create a shadow box to display on a wall, that should be enough. My Mom kept a box of a lot of sentimental items, school pictures of us, baby items, tons of things we made or did in school. I’m 48 now, and she wanted me to enjoy the box. I went through it, enjoyed seeing the pictures, but I had NO MEMORY of any of the items I made in school. I broke her heart, but told her to toss it all. Except the pictures. I have a small house, and neither one of us need to keep all that clutter in a box. If it isn’t good enough to display, then might as well toss it. Good Luck.
When deciding whether to keep something ask yourself, Would I pay to air ship this to Hawai?? If not do not pack it even if you are moving locally. Save yourself a lot of work and time by eliminating everything you can before you pack. I moved many many times and found this relived me of emotional stress. Just one simple question for everything.
Smiles
When cleaning out and discarding clothing, books, games, puzzles, household items, please consider our disabled and homecoming Veterans, both male and female. Take items to a local VA hospital or facility, or ask your local VFW if they take donated items. Our lineage chapter takes trunkloads to our local VA hospital facility where they have clothing rooms for male and female Veterans to find items they need. What better use for too big or too small items you can no longer wear. Remember our Veterans.
Great advice, Julia!
Another hint is to look at your old photos and throw out the ones that are places and people you can’t remember.I never put what they were at the back .I have thrown out three bags full so far.
We are moving from a 12 room home of 33 years, into a 5 room villa.
I’ve made myself sick! Thinking about everything that I have to get rid of, to the point that I am on antidepressant medication.
I cannot make myself go through all the things that need to go.
I’m scared that I will have a complete breakdown when the time comes.
Deep breaths, CJ. I have had very stressful moves so I know what you’re going through. I recommend scheduling a time every day when you sort through things and purge. Make it an appointment on your calendar and set a timer when you start so you know there’s an endpoint. Even just 15 minutes a day will make a huge difference. You’ll get more efficient as you go along, but the important thing is that you just START. Take photos of things that you don’t want to or can’t keep but you don’t want to forget entirely. Ask someone to take boxes to Goodwill if it’s just too hard for you. You can do this!
I hired a local woman to help de clutter my home. It was much easier to have a “partner” for feedback. Do I need 3 sets of dishes?
How many baking pans can I use? She also knew people who could use or need my extras, bonus! It’s surprising how. Much quicker the time went with someone to chat with. Just a hint ?
Your message broke my heart. I have trouble letting go of things, too. I hope you will find strength in knowing that people care. I wish you all the best.
God I relate we live in a a very large house and next home will be smaller dreading it good luck x
After visiting family half way across the country, we have decided to move to be closer. We need to purge our house anyway, but this list helps a lot!
We are preparing for our first overseas duty station. I am purging my house now, I’m done with the linen closet, classroom, master bedroom and closets, and basics in the kitchen (I’ll have to re-do that before we go). It feels SO GOOD!!! My house actually looks clean.
Thanks for all the details. To move to a new residence that is located hundreds or thousands of miles away is definitely not something you can joke about – the mere thought that so many things could go wrong during that intensely transitional period is enough to send you into a state of panic.
Having moved 14 times in 42 years,let me simply say, pitch, but pitch wisely. If you sew regularly, you may not be piching fabric. However, you may discover that 8 cookie sheets are ridiculos when you bake cookies but once or twice a year! In short, know your passion and honor the passions of those who live with you. Otherwise you’ll find yourself spending money on the very things you pitched…equally wasteful. There are exceptions….very heavy items can add to yhe cost of a move! Although we are not planning a move soon, I am beginnig to pitch like we are. Twenty years in one place and it’s easy to simply gather! It was easier when we moved every few years!
Pitch wisely is good advice and so is think about pitching heavy items. They add significant cost to most moves that are cross country or interstate because they are typically priced by the weight of the truckload. Most moves within a city or state typically are bid by the hour of time needed to load the items. Some local movers do have weight restrictions though on what they will load so watching out for especially heavy items is important.
Very helpful blog! Staying organized, making lists, and planning ahead makes the whole process a lot easier. Keep sharing.
Right! Start getting rid of things months before you move so that you have the time to sort through what you will keep and what you will trash.
I loved this article! It spells out what needs to be done. I´ve already been decluttering, giving away, and getting rid of the bad, ugly and not worth it. I hope more people do the same and feel good about how much lighter they will feel emotionally. In my case, I have my eye on the prize which is moving in a month or two to a much smaller place that will be awesome. Thanks for taking the time to put together this article, Mara.
After my mom passed away earlier this year, my 2 sisters and I had to clean out her house after 60 years.
We spent all summer working on this. When we got done I had so much of her stuff I couldn’t let go. It was much easier to purge my house. I’ve gotten rid of bags of clothes which were picked up for the Epilepsy Foundation once a month or my husband would take things to 12 Baskets (Caring Pregnancy). I’m still cleaning and purging but when I die my kids will not have as much to get rid of.
You forgot to mention “the husband” . Perfect opportunity.
Hoarders have swamped the organizations that take in used stuff. Pretty soon they will be running out of space as well. Best to try and sell things on your own or pass onto someone you know who is in need.
Waste is really shameful.
I’ll soon be moving from Qatar to Malaysia. Selling stuff here before you leave is a nightmare. Buyers know you are keen to dispose of stuff and offer peanuts for good quality items.
I’ll be taking pretty much everything with me and selling in the local market when I arrive. Just simple economics and the difference between a full container and a slightly less full one
From my son after a summer spent with a moving company: as much as possible, use uniform boxes.
I love this post! The only that may not work is most pharmacies do not take back old prescriptions( I work in a pharmacy), but most police stations have a drop box for them! 🙂
I’m not sure where you live, but in Australia pharmacies DO take back ANY medications you no longer need/can’t use. As for the paper prescriptions – just shred them!
I began three years ago when I decided to sell and move back to civilation. Log house. I donated furniture and accessories to Habitat for Humanity; clothes, small appliances to a Christian resale store (fifty cents for a coat); landfill for junk and metal, paid to have help cleaning garage; gave away to people who had helped after my husband died all pull start yard equipment; burned old unidentifiable pictures; sent boxes of pictures to children and I now have three strife dishes not 12. I agree on the fabric. Clothes are in two closets – one off season (13 feet long) but I have moved on twice that much. One spot or snag and it is gone. Kitchen was easiest. If you think it is junk please do not donate, take it to a landfill for sorting. Your junk is not someone else’s treasure.
That should be sets of not whatever spell check thought I meant
Why not leave the old paint for the buyers of the house? Always handy to touch up wallls
It’s true that leaving old paint (if it’s still in good condition and one of the colors still in your home) can be a welcome benefit to new homeowners. I had this happen the last time I moved and after we moved in there were some dings in the paint from moving furniture and we could instantly touch up walls because the previous owner left some paint. Great callout!
Thanks for sharing such an informative blog! Renting a truck and driving it yourself is always most affordable at first look.
She is downsizing.
Retired military, moved 5 times in 20 years. I would say let the kids sort and pack thier own rooms. 4 boxes – keep, donate, toss and library. Librarys accept kids books and dvds they have outgrow. Call ahead. I kept inscribed, gifted and keepsake books. Have the kids set aside fav blankie and 1 stuffed animal and pack in their own big girl/boy suitcase. Have the kids write thier names with sharpies on the boxes helps when putting boxes in assigned new rooms. It makes them feel a part of the move!
Great tips!
I found this on Pinterest and it motivated me to go through my closet, shoes and other stuff in storage and got rid of 4 big garbage bags 2 small plastic bags and one small cardboard box with stuff that I didn’t need anymore, God thing since I’m going to move in the beginning of the new year.
Great job! Doesn’t it feel good to get rid of all that stuff?
Wow, that is amazing!!! Moving from CA to MN and I am doing my best to dump as much as I can. It’s really hard!!
Good luck!
We’re moving out of our home of 28 years to move closer to the grandbabies in Ringgold! It’s crazy how much stuff accumulates over that amount of time. I love that you broke it down from room to room, so helpful!!! We have a dumpster rental arriving tomorrow because we’re starting with the attic (I can’t remember the last time I actually spent time up there) Thank you so much for sharing this list!!!
As a military family, we move…A LOT, and these tips are great! We have a weight limit to stick to and purging is a must before any move. We always accumulate more things at each new location, so there are definitely older items that can be sold or donated at the end of a PCS. We’ve moved 8 times in 9 years so I’m almost a pro LOL We’ve also gone from a 6,000sq. ft. house to a 1300sq. ft. house and that in and of itself is demanding of a major purge! It’s quite humbling (and embarrassing) to move to a smaller home and realize you have way too much stuff. We have at least 1-2 more moves ahead of us and I’m always in ‘purge mode’.
For all of the stressed would-be movers: Here’s what helped me. I am in my 80’s, widowed for 5 years, living alone & moving a long distance, after 45 years here. I am facing a major downsizing of living space.
I am moving to live more closely to my family. I tried to downsize on my own for 1 year & got little accomplished-then I hired a professional down-sizer. Having someone who is experienced helps a lot.
Think of this upcoming period as just another phase in your life (childhood/teen years, young married, etc.
Moving can be an adventure, you will change locale, meet new people (potential best friends).
All over our country, there are people in need: homeless people need clothing, toiletries, camping gear, victims of abuse need everything-even the overflow of your pantry. Get creative and help yourself and others-it may make things easier. Best wishes,
I have lived in my house for almost 50 years & we were both packrats. I lost my husband 4 years ago and still have a lot of his things to sort through. (tools, electronics)I have decided to move near most of the Grands, It is a bit overwhelming since I am 84 now and not able to do things like I used to. I am very lucky to have my daughter and son-in-law to help. We will be moving into a much smaller place. I think the first thing I will do is make a list of what I won’t move without. I think that may make it easier to let go.
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