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So I thought i'd start this to get those of us moving to post tips, ideas, motivators.

Today I'm taking a bag of nice jeans that don't fit to the resale shop.

(Post fr phone so pardon typos).

What are you doing to prep?

Im not moving, but my nb triumph of the day is decluttering under the bathroom vanity after I replaced a leaky faucet. I feel so independent and free!

I will be moving in a year from a big home I have lived in for 16 years. NPD-x being the passive aggressive person plus semi hoarder made sure to leave loads of messes.

My neighborhood had a free dump day and brought in one of those gigantic construction dumpsters.

My DD16 and I cleaned out a garage loft. You should have seen the junk he had up there. Tons of empty paint cans, ruined brushes, caulk guns etc...etc. etc...

We took over 3 full to the ceiling vans full to the dump.

We were covered in dust and dirt but it was so freeing!

I try to work on one thing at a time, and that helps me stay motivated.

Well, I sold some stuff but bought stuff...

I just recently moved out of the marital home to another state. This is what I did to make sure I left practically nothing behind for my STBXW: He made the mistake of telling me when I filed for D, "You can take anything you want but don't touch my hunting stuff." Okay! No problem!

1. I packed anything and everything worth value

2. Anything that I didn't want ... everyday things, such as towels, misc glassware ... Straight to the trash and I made sure the glass stuff was broken and it was very refreshing to do so.

3. Anything that I didn't want that had some value but I knew wouldn't fit into my moving truck ... I donated to a nonprofit (in my name only) for a tax right off.

4. Anything that belonged to any of our kids (28, 24, 22) I made sure that they came and got it or it went to storage per their request.

Literally, I emptied out a 3000 sq ft home into an 800 sq ft apartment I left STXWH: a bed, a dresser, his personal effects, the old nasty dining room table, love seat and the t.v. ... When I got to my home state. I sorted what I wanted to keep, loaded up my car on a daily basis and hit the antique mall and small shops then let the dealers buy from my car. I did this for a week and made great money. After everything was picked through there was only a car load of "stuff" left I had a garage sale this morning and made some more cash and donated what was left to goodwill for another receipt.

Rainy day movie marathon. While watching, you bring out drawers to the couch. On one side of you is a laundry basket to put things to "keep". On the other side is a trash bag. In front of you is a box for donate/sell.

You can do the same with shelves. Just scoop everything into a basket and bring it to the couch. Piles of stuff? Same.

Buy more trash bags! Nothing keeps you from doing it than nothing to put the crap into.

The night before trash day, make it a goal to fill the containers you put out at the street.

Find out if/when you have hazardous waste day in your community. In mine, it happens a few times a year. We can take paint and a whole list of things to get rid of. Same with electronics day. Old monitors (I have 2 in my basement waiting for this), TVs, etc.

Start packing now. Pack up out of season things into boxes and label them well. Pack up all those knick knacks on the tables and shelves, as well as the books. If it isn't functional in your daily life, pack it.

Make small goals so you don't feel overwhelmed. That one drawer, that one shelf.

I really need to go now and pull my junk drawer out and get to work. I'm not moving but it's still good advice I should take!

I'm prepping for an eventual move... Hopefully back overseas, so a big one.

I currently have a pile near my door that needs to go to goodwill: two bags of clothes, an old tv missing a remote, an old stereo sound mixer, and an iPod speaker deck that only works about half the time. Should I just toss the speaker deck? It's probably fixable but I don't care. Need to rent a car to take it all away.

i also have a DVD player that doesn't work that needs to be thrown out. Can it just go in the bin? Or do I need to bring it somewhere? If so, where?

Finally, I have two phones that need to be recycled and need to go through my shoes finally. Those are my first "tasks."

Regarding old cell phones, Verizon has a program where they donate to women in need; domestic violence, etc. They reset the phone to factory setting while you are there. They take any carriers phones too. Note sure who would take broken electronics??

[This message edited by Why?? at 9:26 PM, June 22nd (Saturday)]

Goodwill will take the "broken" electronics as they have a new program to break down and recycle if they can't repair the item

I am contemplating starting to list furniture that I won't be taking with me on Craigslist.

I am getting mixed reactions from friends and family on this idea. Some feel that I am taking a risk having strangers come into the house.

Thoughts?

mac that would scare me. I would worry about being a female alone having strangers come over.

I have cleaned out my bedroom closet, most of the kitchen cabinets, and am sorting books. I have already taken a load to goodwill and have more to go. I am doing bits and pieces. Have also done some painting and repairs so i get my security deposit back.

I have a month or so to go but I feel I am in decent shape- it will kick in high gear after the 4th.

My pile has been consolidated and organized. I have a friend who will be staying with me for a few weeks until the paperwork goes through on her new place. She's a teacher and off for the summer, so I might ask her to bring it to goodwill for me one day.

I also finally got around to hanging some pictures that have been sitting, framed, on my desk. Nothing like prepping for a move to really motivate you to finish moving into a place after three years, right?

Next step, the shoes... When I finish, my reward will be Guinness.

Oh I like the Guiness reward idea...maybe that's why I'm not getting anywhere

Only added one pair of jeans to the resale pile...boo.

Shoes sorted! I also vacuumed the shoe closet as long as they were all out. about half made the cut, the other dozen was a split between goodwill (WHY do I keep buying clearance rack ballet flats in fun colors that are a size too small?!) and the trash. I will also admit with a hint of shame that I kept two super comfy pairs of flip flops on the promise that I'll throw them away at the end of this summer.

And then I took out the garbage. Now: Guinness.

I'm going through a room at a time. So far I have done the bedroom designated for my grandchildren. I have taken clothes (mine that are 3 sizes too small), baby toys, and receiving blankets (youngest grandchild is about to turn 4) to the homeless shelter. I have condensed the toys/books/legos and put them in see-through containers. I took down the curtains and blinds, washed them and put them back up.

Now on to the next bedroom - the storage room. YIKES! There is a path in there, but so much to go through. I have so many Christmas decorations that I can get rid of - I find myself decorating less each year. It seems like such a big task but I will feel so much better when it is done.

I have the paint and flooring ready to put in the kitchen. It seems like every evening I am doing something to the house after work. Slow but steady is my motto.

NL

Newlease, I like that idea of going room by room.

How do you decide when to get rid of clothes when you are in between sizes? Ugh

I have under the bed boxes for off sized clothes. But I am ruthless about what I'll put in them - especially stuff that's too big. I only keep stuff that I love and know I'll wear if I gain the weight back. Anything that's older, less than flattering, cheap..... Gets tossed.

I won't be doing much decluttering for a while.... I have a friend who is going to be camped out in my living room for two weeks (maybe longer?) until closing on her new condo goes through. She moves in this afternoon.

I am contemplating starting to list furniture that I won't be taking with me on Craigslist.

I am getting mixed reactions from friends and family on this idea. Some feel that I am taking a risk having strangers come into the house.

Thoughts?

Mac - My sister sold some furniture via Craigslist. She was concerned about safety as well, so she rented a small storage unit, put the stuff she was selling there, and then would meet potential buyers at the storage unit rather than giving out her address. She brought a male friend with her to meetings so she would not be alone. Sold a lot of furniture over a weekend, and spent very little on the storage unit since she didn't keep it long.

IDK if that kind of thing would work for you, but it did give her peace of mind.

Unfortunately, I have no space under my bed to store anything! I have a small one bedroom with not much closet space so I feel like my bedroom is turning into a closet yuk