Moving is a fabulous time to go through your possessions and get rid of what you don’t need. If you’re moving from Hawaii to the mainland or vice versa, purging can also be an essential way to save money on your move. Wondering about the best ways to purge? Here are some tips:
1. Start in the Back
It’s hard, if not impossible, to purge the items you use on a daily basis. Because of that, you should start in the back of your pantry or closets. That allows you to start with stuff you use infrequently.
2. Apply a Rule
If you have a hard time getting rid of things, you may want to apply a set of rules or guidelines to the purging process. For example, many people use the six-month or one-year rule with clothing. Basically, if you haven’t worn a piece of clothing for six months or a year, you should get rid of it. This rule prevents you from holding onto clothing you’ll probably never wear again.
Alternatively, you may want to embrace elements of the Konmari method. At its simplest, this popular organization strategy involves getting rid of anything and everything that doesn’t bring you joy.
Choosing a set a rules or criteria can help you get rid of things more effectively. This is especially helpful if you really want to downsize before the move, but you struggle with detaching yourself from material objects.
3. Purge by Category
In the interest of efficiency, you may want to purge your items by category. This can help you to stay organized as you pack. For example, you can purge the books you don’t want. Then, you can pack everything you decide to keep. When that’s done, you can move to china, sweaters, holiday decorations, or another type of category.
4. Think About Moving Costs
In addition to downsizing, you should also think about moving costs. If you are in the midst of a long distance move, it can be expensive to move items. This is especially true in relation to large furnishings and vehicles.
In these cases, you may want to crunch a few numbers as you decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Figure out the cost of moving the item, and estimate what it would cost to replace the item in your new location. Then take into account any revenue you may gain from selling the item and the amount of time involved with selling versus moving. If replacing something is cheaper and easier than moving it, you know what to do.
5. Make Plans for Purged Items
As you get rid of items, you have to decide what to do with them. If you want to generate extra money for your move, you may want to sell some items. Keep in mind, however, that listing items online, fielding emails, and dealing with buyers can be time consuming. Similarly, garage sales can also take up a lot of time. However, if you can manage the logistics, both of these options can help you put extra cash in your pocket.
If you have lots of garbage, you may want to rent a dumpster. Note, however, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. With that sentiment in mind, you may want give away old possessions instead of throwing them out. There are many charity organizations that are willing to pick up donations. Alternatively, you can drop them off at thrift stores.
Moving can be challenging, but at Island Movers, we’re ready to answer your questions. Contact us today to talk about your move. Whether you’re moving nearby or over the ocean, we can help.
As someone new to the minimalist lifestyle, these tips are very helpful. I want to purge my house before I move. I am looking to rent a roll off dumpster in Honolulu. I need something that will be able to hold demolition waste from a house renovation too, along with all the other things I want to throw away before I move into my new place.