Feb
8
Written by:
Kirsty P
2/8/2011 10:04 AM
Ok, confession time now. My name is Kirsty, and I’m a clutter-holic. I’m a hoarder, I probably use about 10% of the stuff that I have in my flat, but I still keep it all ‘just in case’.
My new years resolution is going to be to de-clutter enough that by the next time I move house (probably at some point this year if my history is anything to go by!) that every item I pack in a box I can safely say I need and use, and yes, those boxes that are already packed and have stayed packed over the last 3 moves are subject to this blitz too!
How am I going to do it? Well, I’m not going to make lists this time (see previous post on lists) but I am going to make piles instead. Four FINAL piles to be exact (I say final as no doubt during the process I’ll have the inevitable maybe pile…)
Keep – I’m going to be strict on this pile. For clothes this means clothes that fit me, and those that I have worn in the last 12 months (to take seasonality into consideration). For books and DVDs it means those that I will read or watch again, not the free chick lit that came on the front of red magazine that I read on the beach one year in Ibiza.
Sell – for the stuff that I don’t use or want anymore that is worth some money, I’m going to sell it. I might as well make a bit of spare cash to go toward the next move (my dream is to have the moving company pack for me!!). Depending on the quality of the items I’ll be looking at e-bay (I’ll wait for a free listing weekend maybe) or for the masses of used clothes, old books and random items I might try a boot sale before I look at donating.
Donate – for those clothes that I don’t think I can sell I’m going to donate them. My local recycling point has collection bins for various charitable causes for clothes and shoes. For other items like books, DVD’s, puzzles (old hobby…) I’ll take them to the local charity shop so that someone else can make some money for a good cause.
Throw – then there is the stuff that is completely useless and I should be ashamed of still having, that’s going straight in the bin (I can see a lot of my ‘make up and nail varnish’ drawer ending up in here as well as notebooks full of old lists…)
My keep pile will then be returned to its rightful homes. Clothes into drawers and the wardrobe (if they don’t fit I have too many!!). Off-season clothes into storage boxes if I’m limited on space (I don’t need my ski pants out all year round!), pictures on walls, crockery in the cupboard and books on a shelf. Anything that made the keep pile that can’t have a home right now (like I have some great pictures but not enough wall space in my current place) can go into storage either at a storage facility or in the loft.
And then my life will be clutter free and my packing for the next move will take all of 5 minutes and I can save that money from e-bay for a bottle of housewarming champagne……….
Wherever you are moving (especially overseas) de-cluttering can really cut down your costs as part of your fee will be made up based on the volume of items you're moving. It also makes sure you’re ready for your fresh start in your new home, without being bogged down with a load of junk! Good luck and don’t forget to share your tips with other members by commenting on this post or heading for the forums!
2 comment(s) so far...
Re: Decluttering for a House Move (and reducing move costs!)
Hi, I can’t understand how to add your site in my rss reader. Can you Help me, please
By Utah Public Storge on
5/4/2011 7:59 AM
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Re: Decluttering for a House Move (and reducing move costs!)
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By KirstyAdmin on
5/4/2011 8:01 AM
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