Since I have moved several times in the past couple of years (Sandy circumstances), I realized I had more tips than I thought up my sleeve. When a friend recently asked me for advice, I figured I might as well share it with everyone.

Each time my two boys and I had to move, we were forced to downsize. The size of the homes got smaller, and with that came smaller storage options.I had to get rid of more and more things with each move because I didn't want to spend money each month on a storage unit.

Now I am down to one shed. That's it. No attic, no basement, no garage, and no spare rooms in my house. But I feel so much better having purged a bunch of junk that it turns out we can live just fine without.

In my shed I keep the stuff that I only need to access once a year: the Christmas tree and holiday decorations, a bin of Halloween costumes that the boys still use, decorations for other holidays, some indoor/outdoor carpets that I use in the spring and summer, and a few other things that I need for the house like a tool box and filters for the AC and Heating vent. I keep the shed uncrowded so that it is very easy to find what I'm looking for and not open the doors and have to pull everything out to get to the one thing in the back that I need.

To clear out my closets, I sold some beautiful dresses that I wore only once at events to a local thrift shop, gave away some of the boys' childhood toys to my little nephews, put books in book donation bins, and then found good friends along the way that were able to store some of our precious family memories in bins in their shed or garage so that I wasn't forced to go through everything I own from a lifetime all at once.

I was (and still am) able to pick a bin a month to go through to continue to whittle down what I feel we need to keep. I have used tough love in determining what the boys will want me to have kept for when they get older like a couple of meaningful toys they might want to show their own kids one day, the arts and crafts they made me growing up, their first outfits, my first teddy bear and teenage journals, and tons of photo albums. Everything is stacked in clear bins with lids so that I can easily see what's inside, and they are waterproof so that if there happens to be a flood or dampness, this stuff won't get ruined.

I'd rather keep the sentimental memories and things that can't be replaced. The things that didn't have real meaning, I purged. Several times I put 20 or so bags at the curb for trash pick up, along with pieces of furniture that I knew someone would drive by and snatch up before I had to find a bulk pickup disposal place.

And, speaking of pick ups, keep track of your friends who have pickup trucks...they really come in handy when you need help moving. And for boxes, what worked best for me is calling a local liquor store to find out what day they get a delivery and could save me boxes. These boxes are great for moving. They are sturdy, small, and have handles. This is especially good if you are dealing with stairs, or if you want your kids to help lift and carry. The bigger the boxes, the heavier they are to lug. If you work at an office that stocks paper for the copy machine, these boxes are also excellent for moving.

If you need strong people to help you lift and move, check with your local high school. There are usually some strapping young men that need community service hours and will lend a hand! Your church is also a great resource for gathering helpful hands. Someone can pack up your kitchen, another person can unpack it at the new place and put things away. Same goes for your closets/clothing. And there are some non-profits and community organizations that could help you find access to moving vans or volunteers who will be kind enough to help you clean your old place once you have moved so that you can get your rental deposit back or so that the new owners walk into a decently clean house after the closing.

If you are in the position to get your new place a month or so before you give up your old place, this makes moving so much less stressful. You can make small trips each day, and get things like your cable tv, internet, and other utilities set up before the day you move, which really comes in handy, especially with kids.

Also, be on the lookout for charities that accept furniture and household donations like appliances, kitchen and bathroom stuff, bedding, etc. This way if you have to get rid of something, you can find a place that will come and pick it up when you donate it. THIS ORGANIZATION, M.O.V.E., is currently looking for donations for furniture and the like. It's one of many.

Best of luck if you have a move coming up. It is a really stressful time in your life. And my last tip is this: don't turn down any help you can get from your family, friends, and community! The more hands, the better...and the more people you have helping, the less you'll have to ask of each of them. And, believe it or not, as hesitant as you are to call someone and ask for help, your friends really DO want to help you...and then when it's their turn to move, you can return the favor.

 

 

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