OK, it’s time for you to move. You’re job is now in a new city and it’s time to pack it all up and take it with you……or is it? Are you going to be that person that moves from snow-country to the desert, and you pack your snow shovel? Do you need that lawnmower for your new apartment? Take a look around to see which items would not make sense to take with you, and then get rid of them.Now is a great time to think about a purge. If you don’t purge then you have to pack it all yourselves and then move it, and then you have to unpack it and find a place for everything.
Purging for a move can be done for a couple of different reasons. First there is all of the stuff that you don’t need that you’ll have to pack and move. This stuff can be considered as a typical purge, and I won’t get into that in this post. The second is the big stuff. This includes things like beds (mattress and frames), TV’s, washer and dryer, refrigerator and freezer, couch, chairs, coffee table, kitchen table and chairs, desks, bicycles, kids toys, treadmill, and whatever else that is big.
The big stuff is almost a no-brainer. These items take up a lot of space and are expensive to move. Consider just purging them. Sell them, put them on Craigslist, or just give them away. The thought here is that you might get a little cash for them, you don’t have to move them, and you can replace them (or not) when you get to the new place with something better, or more suitable for your new place.
My living room furniture was about ten years old, my dog had chewed on my kitchen table and chairs, my TV was big and getting outdated, my mattress was brand new, but it was too big. I had so many reasons to get rid of stuff, and almost no reason to keep them. These things were just stuff. I can get stuff anywhere, and at any time.
In some cases an employer will pay for your move, either by reimbursement, or better yet, by giving you a flat amount. When they give a flat amount it can sometimes be more than your cost to move. If they give you a flat amount you have even more of an incentive to purge. Less stuff means less cost to move. You can take that cash that you saved and put it towards replacing some of your stuff with items that fit your new surroundings.
Now think about the large items that I mentioned. Think of them one at a time and decide if you really need that particular item? If you are thinking about your bed, your answer might be “yes, I need my bed”. Of course you need a bed, but that isn’t the question. The question you need to ask yourself is “do I need this particular bed.” If you have some super-duper orthopedic/massage/heated bed then your answer might be “yes, I need this bed.” But if you just have any old bed, then your answer might be that you can get rid of that bed and buy a new one once you reach your destination.
Story time: A friend needed to unload a mattress and box spring (bed) that he had bought for his RV. He bought a brand name king size bed, but when he tried to install the new bed he found out that RV’s have a special size that is called king size, but it really isn’t. His new bed didn’t fit in his RV so the mattress and box spring sat around for a while in his covered shelter just being in the way. He finally decided that it was time to get rid of the bed so he gave it to me. I tell you this story for a reason. Basically I had a great queen size bed that I needed to get rid of in order to accept the king size bed. I could have listed my bed on Craigslist at no cost, but giving away stuff for free on Craigslist is an interesting experience and you shouldn’t try it. Instead I listed it on Craigslist for $50. I listed it as being in great shape, and from a smoke-free, cat-free home. I found a responsible person that wanted it for their nephew who came to stay with them for the semester. They appreciated so much how nice the bed was that they called me a week later to thank me for giving them such a value. I tell you my bed story because the items that you sell for a reasonable price, or even give away to friends, are sometimes valued more by those that receive them than they are for you to keep.
In a nutshell, if you are planning to move, it’s time to purge so get purging.
If you struggled with this issue or can inspire others on this subject I would like to hear your story. Please comment below.
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