The best piece of moving advice nearly everyone agrees on, is don’t move everything. While that is great advice, you’ll still have to do something with all the items you don’t move, and that can be tricky. Here are some ideas for what to do with all that extra stuff, and how to prioritize what to get rid of.
What Might Save You Money
While it’s very tempting to go through every item in every drawer, or on every shelf, that’s not going to save you a lot of money, unless the movers are packing for you. The real savings come from not moving big stuff. Measure your furniture and your new home. Take a good look at your new home. Can you imagine your furniture in it? If not, you might want to get rid of some of it. If the movers are packing for you, getting rid of some of those items will save you some money.
If You Still Want to Get Rid of Small Stuff
While getting rid of small stuff might not save you a lot of money on your move, decluttering is always a good thing, and it means less for you to pack. The best way to get rid of a lot of stuff is to hold an old fashioned yard sale. Hold it on a weekend, preferably a three day weekend. Do some research online to see what similar goods might go for, and put price tags on each item. If you have some that don’t have a lot of worth, bundle them, or put them in a box with a price for each item marked. For example, you might sell old paperbacks at $1.00 each. Advertise your yard sale on social media and Craigslist. You can also put signs up throughout the neighborhood, and at any local coffee shops with bulletin boards.
And What About What Doesn’t Sell?
If you don’t sell everything at the yard sale, or if you don’t want to hold a yard sale, you can sell items directly through sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. If you’re worried about meeting strangers in person, most police stations provide a safe place to meet. You can also donate many items to thrift stores, but note that most don’t take upholstered furniture. If you donate clothing, make sure it’s not stained or torn.