Moving - How Do I Decide What to Get Rid Of?
Posted by humboldt_honey on May 25, 2008 · Member since Feb 2007 · 12529 posts
I'm going through my cupboards. In my kitchen I have things like a salad spinner (two actually) and I don't bother spinning my leaves, so I know those are obvious to get rid of. But what about things like my electric tea kettle. I haven't used it in years, but I like the thought of having it. How do I decide what to keep and what to donate?
Having moved WAY too many times, ;) I always consider how much space I'll have in the new place, how much it originally cost me and if I think I'll really use it again or just like the idea of owning it.
I'm pretty cheap, so if I think there's any chance I'll use it again, I keep it. Probably not the best way to pack though - :D
I don't envy you having to pack. We just moved at the end of last year and it was quite a chore...still is, LOL!
I would say that if you haven't used it in a couple years, let it go. If it's something you will honsetly use, keep it.
I agree with Jewel...determine how much space you will have at your new place. We pared down A LOT, but still have way too much stuff for our home. So now we are going through stuff again as we continue to unpack and plan on having a garage sale. Whatever we don't sell will be donated to charity.
Have fun packing and good luck with your move! :)
The 411 is that I'm not going to look for another house until mine is on the market, which will be sometime after next Monday, if the agent thinks I can get what I need for it in able to move. To that effort, I've rented a storage locker and am packing and putting lesser used items in there. If I get to move where I want to move, I think I'll be in a similarly sized house. I'd like to have less than what I have now - but chosing which babies to part with is proving to be a challenge.
I have moved many, many, many times. :-( happily for you, that means I can pass on some knowledge! I like making several boxes or piles. For example:
DONATE (or give to someone you know who would use it)
SELL
DEFINATE Keep
STILL THINKING about it
For the DONATE - I feel much better get rid of things when I know they will be put to good use somewhere else, by someone who REALLY needs it... When I left Tucson, I had a bunch of pet supplies I did not need- so I passed those onto a rescue I worked with. Some things I gave to friends/family. Furnature I donated to the Tucson Refugee Program (they rent and furnish apartments for refugee families who are brand-new to the states) You may have a refugee charity in your area. Or maybe you have a group who helps "aged out" foster kids who would normally be thrown out on their butts at 18. One for teen moms. Or maybe there is a program for victims of fire/flood, etc. Don't get me wrong, salvation army is nice and all, but I find when I'm donating things to a "REAL" family, I'm much more generous and can do with much less. :) With a lot of things, (like the electric teapot) you can easily find them at garage sales/ second hand stores/ craigslist when you get to your new home...it cost more to ship somethings than it costs to rebuy it used. (esp. if its bulky or heavy) Oh, and donate most of the food items, maybe just keep a "started box" for yourself, but give the rest away, even if its nonparishable.
I sell things that I'm frustrated to get rid of because I paid a lot for it. Lots of times these things are just too big/bulky to bring along, and really don't NEED it. And it can also fetch a big enough price to make it worth the trouble. I sold many of my "larger items" on craigslist. Yard sales usually totally bomb. With craigslist, you say the buyers have to pick it up, arrange a time to meet them and who ever gets there first with the money halls it away. I made $600.00 selling various stuff in my yard (like a gazebo, an old car that didn't work, fence panels I never got around to putting up, etc.) Be sure to post pictures or nobody even clicks on it.
DEFINATE KEEP is self explanatory
STILL THINKING ABOUT IT: this is where I put the things that i have a sentimental attachment to but don't really want, things I'm not sure if it will cost more to ship or rebuy, things I kinda like but don't use really often, etc. Once I start packing the DEFINATE KEEPS I can judge how much more room I have for the "still thinking about it" pile. I go through that pile all the time...throwing the things I don't want in the donate pile, and the things I suddenly realize I can live without in the KEEP pile. I don't LIKE moving at all, I'm always overwhelmed by a great feeling of loss, so I allow myself enough time to decide what I do want...i don't rush myself.
And I refuse to feel guilty about keeping the stuff I really wanted/needed even if it was stupid. ;) A few months ago when I moved up to Maine, I paid to ship all 15 lbs of my dried beans accross the country because It took me about a year to collect so many diffent ones in so many shapes and colors. I know I coulda rebought it here, but I wanted them. :P
opps, you posted while I was typing...I guess my advice is more applicable for long distance moves, sorry.
Particularly in the "clothing and hobby" line, but anything really, my rule of thumb is: Not using something is like not having it. If I haven't used it in the last 3 years, sell it/donate it/toss it, depending on condition and what it is. There are a few exceptions to this rule of course, like reference books and things with high sentimental attachment. But it has to be HIGH. (I just went through this when we replaced the built-in wardrobe which was full of 25 yrs if "stick it in the wardrobe.")
I guess it's because my mother was such a packrat you literally couldn't get into the basement. Then when the river flooded, thousands of dollars worth of fabric, gadgetry, etc had to be tossed because what came into her basement came out of the sewers.
My rule of is that if it didn't get used since I moved into this place, it wasn't coming with me to the next. Or if I was at a place long enough, then I used "if it hasn't been used in a year, to charity or trash it goes".
If you have not used it in six months, place on list.
Weigh in moving costs, time and storage space. Fuel $4/g?
Making one trip is much better than a multiple of trips.
Good luck, separating oneself from ownership can be trying especially during a move.
After much deliberation, I'm getting rid of my electric tea kettle. And my nut roaster. And my salad spinner. And...
I'm selling my place as a vacation house, so I'll be leaving the beds, couch, and refrigerator. I'm getting pretty excited about moving as few things as possible. I've gotten rid of half of my books and I still have five bookcases worth. They're the hardest.
I am doing packing as well HH! While on one hand I really do enjoy the opportunity to pare down my belongings, and have been doing so, we are moving from a tiny condo to a 4.5 bedroom house. Luckily our sellers (my in laws!) are leaving furniture that they do not want to move so I will have dressers and beds in a few of the rooms. But otherwise our house, even with all our junk, will be empty. I would love to be able to keep it that way too, so its clean out time.
I love VHZ's pile idea. I have three currently but will start the Contemplate pile asap!
Since we do live in a condo a yard sale idea is out, so I am going to donate to Goodwill or Freecycle things that are too good to toss but not something I want to keep. If you have these options, use them!
Good luck with the packing and sale!!
just be sure to note that Cat is not included.
(i saw that on a TV show... they got a house with a pet included!)
I heard that when people move out of apartments, it's not uncommon for the cleaning crew to find an animal left behind. When I bought this house, I bought it with Cat in mind. There were two options, one with stairs and one without. I got the house with stairs so he could run up and down them.
just be sure to note that Cat is not included.
(i saw that on a TV show... they got a house with a pet included!)
I heard that when people move out of apartments, it's not uncommon for the cleaning crew to find an animal left behind. When I bought this house, I bought it with Cat in mind. There were two options, one with stairs and one without. I got the house with stairs so he could run up and down them.
Back in the days when I had acess to Animal Planet (*whine*) I used to get sooo mad at "Animal Cops" where people would move out and not only leave the house or apt full of junk and flat-out garbage, they would also abandon one or more animals in the house, and lock the door...probably thinking, "Oh the landlord will take care of the mess and the critters."
Sorry, OT, I know...but it happens a lot, confused animals getting left behind. I know you would never do that HH. You comfort me.