Between packing, cleaning, and making endless phone calls, moving can be a real hassle — so much so that after moving, many people swear they're never going to move again! Unfortunately, with the global nature of jobs and the nationwide spread of many families these days, chances are good that this won't be your last move. Make it a more efficient endeavor by following these moving tips to pare down your possessions before you hit the road.
Use the 6-Month Rule
You probably don't need 12 pairs of worn-out sneakers or the jeans you wore in high school, so why spend time and energy transporting them to your new home? A few weeks before your moving date, take the time to go through all of your items and do a deep purge. Get rid of anything you haven't used in the last 6 months (or a year if you want to be generous with yourself). If it's in good shape, donate it to a local thrift store or charity. If it's junk, put it in the trash or recycling where junk belongs.
Get Rid of Doubles
Do you have two DVD players, two coffee pots, or two of anything else? Choose the one you like best, and sell or donate the other one. Holding onto an extra in case the first one breaks sounds like a good idea, but in reality, all of those extras are going to sit in the back of your closet in your new home, too.
Be Sparing with Sentimental Items
It's worthwhile to keep a few things that are sentimental, but you have to be reasonable about this. Try keeping one item per sentiment. For example, if you have a collection of dolls that remind you of your mom, try selling all but one. The one will still remind you of her — and it will take much less effort to move than an entire collection.
Limit Yourself to a Certain Number of Boxes or Certain Size Truck
Tell yourself you're only going to fill a certain number of boxes or that you're only going to bring what fits in a certain size moving van. This will force you to be strict with yourself when choosing what to keep.
The less you bring along, the simpler your move will be. For more moving tips, check out our post "6 Moving Hacks You Need to Know."
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