MAKING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MOVE – HOW TO PACK LESS AND USE MORE TIPS AND TOOLS ON WHAT TO GET RID OF AND WHAT TO KEEP

You have bought your dream house, be it your first or third. You have a ton of items that you haven’t looked at
in years. What should you get rid of?

KITCHEN
CUPBOARDS
There are always a ton of mismatched glasses and plates in cupboards. Keep the sets of glassware and donate the rest. If you have plastic cups that you never use, get rid of the bulk, but keep two for small guests. If this leaves you without enough glasses, then pick up an inexpensive matched set from Ikea, Costco, or Fred Meyer after the move is complete. They have great inexpensive glassware, so it is not a huge financial burden to replace. Be sure to get rid of Tupperware-type containers that have no lid. I suggest keeping ten pieces of Tupperware. (Keep this as a general rule: 2 tiny pieces for condiments, 2 small for side dishes, 4 medium, 2
large for leftovers)

THE JUNK DRAWER
This is the place where you need to be diligent about donating and or throwing things away. Every time I pack a home, I have to sort through things with my clients. Remember, you don’t want to pack your junk! Throw away souvenirs from take out like chop sticks, plastic forks, and condiments. They are easily replaced, and chances are you will never use or need them. If you have a time where you are packing a lunch that requires such items, pick up a bulk pack of chopsticks form Costco and keep them contained for later use. The papers you will find will range from throw-away items like old receipts to important documents like the warranties on appliances that the new renter or buyer will need for the house. Be sure not to pack these! I usually leave them in the top kitchen drawer along with the garage door openers and extra sets of keys.

UTENSIL DRAWER
If you have multiple sets of silverware, keep your favorite set and donate the rest. You can always purchase a new set at http://www.amazon.com or at Ikea. I guarantee you will find great deals at both places. I always seem to find multiple copies of the following items:
• Spatulas
• Wooden spoons
• Plastic server spoons
• Ladles
• Soup spoons
Keep three of each at most donate the rest. They are taking up precious space in your drawers and counter tops! You really don’t need nine of each.

PANTRY
A lot of the people I pack feel guilty not packing all of their food. If you are moving to a home in the same state this is ok. If not, either donate the excess food to a food bank or toss it. There is probably some outdated cans and frozen food in the mix that should be tossed. (Check the expiration dates on all before donating.) As a general rule, don’t pack open items. An open bag of flour or sugar is a nightmare when you are unpacking and it decides to explode on your new clean kitchen floor!

GARAGE
RECREATIONAL
Chances are you will have way more outdoor gear then it is possible to use. Take an inventory of how many hiking boots, skis, snow boards, snowshoes, kayaks, ski boots, back packs, and camping gear you really have. If there are only two of you in the home keep items at most to two sets per person. For example, if you are an avid skier and have a pair of regular skis and snow blades (shorter skis for tree weaving) it is ok to keep both, if you DO USE both during the ski season. If you have five sleeping bags and there are only two of you, donate the rest to a donation station of your choice. Keep in mind you can sell your skis in a variety of places. Why
clutter your garage space with things you don’t need?

SEASONAL
Be sure to sort through your boxes of Christmas and other holiday decorations. A lot of times you will find old dusty items you no longer care for. Put all of the items you intend to keep in some kind of plastic bin for safekeeping. I also suggest using color coded bins, such as these from Ikea: http://tinyurl.com/2mxgb
They come in different colors, such as green for Christmas or Chanukah. Be sure to be consistent with the color and type of bin you purchase for each holiday. If you run out of room, this may mean you need to get rid of a few things. Keep in mind the sorting task every year you go to decorate. You will find you have way more that you will every use or need.
BOXES YOU HAVE NEVER OPENED FROM THE LAST MOVE
If you have never opened these boxes, there is absolutely no reason to keep them. If you haven’t needed anything in them by now, chances are you won’t again.

CLOSETS
LINENS
Often people have more towels than they need. However, these are a great padding device for breakables. I like to use these for padding in larger boxes or for items like TVs and stereos. You can put a note on the box saying, “TV and old rags” that way when you are done unpacking you can get rid of them. This can also be done with old sheets you will no longer have the bed for, or you just don’t care for anymore. If you have a pet, keep at most 10 old rags for wiping his/her feet at door. I wouldn’t recommend using old towels to dry the car, as they may scratch.

SHOES
Be sure to do an inventory of your shoes. A lot of times there are many pairs of shoes you haven’t seen or thought of in years. Keep in mind, most of us only wear 20% of what is in our closets. This is because we can’t get to or see the rest. While taking inventory of your shoes, take an inventory of your clothes and see what shoes best fit most outfits. Get rid of the ones that don’t go with a thing, like the dyed pumps or uncomfortable tuxedo loafers from that dear friend’s wedding.

COATS
I am personally a coat junkie. I love and wear all of my coats, I really do! I do however get rid of a few each year. The ones that are on their last legs, or I know I won’t wear again. Don’t ever keep “the just in case I lose the weight” coat. The truth is by the time you lose the weight they will probably be out of style. When you do lose the weight, think of how fun it will be to get the new wardrobe!

BEDROOMS
KNICKKNACKS
A lot of people are collectors. They love their stuff. They keep things like a sticker from their first date with their hubby, or the collection of hinged Pooh boxes. Take a look around your room and look at it through a stranger’s point of view. Ask yourself the following questions:
Is it cluttered? What is overtaking my bookshelves? Which of these items would I be o.k. with getting rid of? After taking the inventory, I suggest getting rid of half of the knickknacks in your bedroom. They are cluttering up the space and your mind. Keep the items that hold real sentimental value for you. The odds and ends that were gifts from a friend can be donated. You don’t have to keep everything. These kinds of items come into your life continually, and if you don’t clear them out continuously, you’ll be overwhelmed by them.

JEWELRY
I love my jewelry. I have a few pieces I wear and that is it. I have quite a few clients who have a ton of jewelry and love to wear a great deal of it. However, even they have managed to get rid of quite a bit that they don’t wear regularly. It is impossible to wear hundreds of pieces of jewelry in anyone’s lifetime. Keep what you love, not what you think you may wear, or that which was given to you. You will enjoy what you do have all the more. First of all because you will be able to find it, and second of all because you won’t feel the guilt of not wearing the other stuff you don’t care for. Use the money from the sale of the jewelry you’re getting rid of to buy yourself
a massage and you won’t feel a moment’s regret!

BOOKS
Books weigh a ton! First off, get rid of the paperbacks. You think you will read or re-read them, but with all of the other books you have on you to be read list, when will you really find the time? If you love the book, toss it, and if you miss it later buy a hardcover. Think hard about the following before you decide to pack them:
• Book sets
• Hard back classics
• First editions
Try to channel future-you who is lugging around heavy boxes and buying new bookshelves, and ask yourself:
“Am I really going to be that upset if this book doesn’t make it to my new home?”

FAMILY ROOM/DEN
MAGAZINES
Magazine weigh a ton to move and the likelihood of you looking through them again is not high. Either keep your favorites in magazine organizers, but to a minimum of one bookshelf (That is all you should allow yourself!); or tear out the things you will refer back to. Once you’ve done that, either file them or use Scanalog, http://www.scanalog.com

VHS TAPES
Unless you have a VCR you regularly use, get rid of these tapes!

CASSETTE TAPES
Unless you have a tape player you regularly use get rid of these tapes!
If you can’t bear to part with them, consider converting them to CD or DVD. They take up less room and you can listen to them with your current audio/video equipment. Just remember: keep what you own down to a minimum. You will not only save money on the move (including
boxes, packing materials and tape) but you will enjoy the items, and use them more.