How to Get Rid of Stuff Before Moving

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

How to Get Rid of Stuff

Getting rid of your stuff can be tough. In fact, this post is a little ironic for me to be writing because I have been known to hold on to stuff. But after moving in together, the stuff has just piled up. From combining our belongings to bridal shower gifts and wedding presents to all the Christmas and birthday gifts over the years, we’re feeling a bit cluttered.

If you’re anything like me, once I got to this point, decluttering became overwhelming. There was so much throughout our condo and we quickly ran out of storage space. So, I had to mentally prepare to declutter our house and finally get rid of stuff.

Since it took me so long to figure out how to let go of things, I wanted to share some tips I’ve learned along the way:

Declutter one area at a time

Part of the overwhelm for me was walking throughout our condo and seeing clutter everywhere. Our dining room table was often used for storage, our living room had piles of knick knacks and each bedroom was its own mess. I won’t even mention the closets!

So instead of thinking about the condo as a whole, I decided to take it one area at a time. That could be as little as one drawer or one shelf. The idea is to remove the overwhelm by accomplishing small victories.

Sort by “Keep,” “Trash” and “Donate”

This is an old tip that I learned back in high school, if not earlier. I remember when my parents told us to clean our rooms they would give us three boxes – one for stuff we wanted to keep, one for stuff that could be thrown away and one for things we wanted to donate. Additionally, sometimes we would plan a yard sale, so we would also have a box for stuff we wanted to sell. 

The beauty of this trick is that it forces you to truly evaluate each item and decide where it belongs. I actually used this one recently when I went through my walk-in closet that I could no longer walk into. By taking everything out and evaluating piece by piece, I was able to get rid of a lot of stuff.

Ask for help to get rid of stuff

I tend to enjoy decluttering by myself, but there are definitely times when I cannot. Whether it’s asking your husband or significant other to go through their stuff or looking through stuff that belongs to both of you, it’s important to ask for help when necessary.

It’s also a good opportunity to reach out to a friend or family member who is good at getting rid of stuff. My cousins are perfect for this because they are really great at going through their houses throughout the year and clearing out stuff they don’t need anymore. Since I don’t have the same discipline as them, sometimes it’s helpful to call them over for reinforcement.

How to Declutter Before a Move

While keeping your house decluttered is always important, it’s especially important if you’re planning a move. While we’re not planning a move any time soon, I know the feeling of both packing and unpacking too much stuff. Here are some tips for decluttering before a move:

Stop buying new stuff

If you’re planning a move, try to stop buying non-essential items as soon as possible. This includes things like games, books, unnecessary clothing and shoes, knick knacks, etcetera. Also, if possible, don’t buy any new furniture or larger items that are harder to move. 

Get rid of stuff you haven’t used in the last six months

Using the tips above for getting rid of stuff, try to begin evaluating items based on if you’ve used them recently. For items that you haven’t used in the last six months or more, it’s time to consider getting it out the door. This could mean trash, selling, giving away or donating the items.

Give yourself deadlines

Obviously, the biggest deadline is your moving date, but that doesn’t mean you need to do everything at once. By breaking down into smaller deadlines, you can release some of the overwhelm that goes with packing. You can give yourself deadlines based on room or give yourself extra motivation by scheduling a yard sale or donation day.

Hire a Moving & Storage Company

If you’re truly overwhelmed, a final option is to hire a moving and storage company. Sometimes we just can’t get rid of everything or we want to hold onto stuff for the future. In those cases, there’s nothing wrong with paying for storage for your items.

Additionally, finding a trustworthy mover is one of my top tips for planning a move. I’ve done both self-moves and hiring a moving service and I highly recommend paying for last minute NJ movers. You can select from a variety of services from just moving furniture and boxes to full packing services. A reputable company in New Jersey is All in One Moving and Storage, Inc. which offers a full range of services, including local and long distance moves.

Final Thoughts

While getting rid of stuff before moving can be difficult, it will truly help relieve some of the stress to declutter. In general, keeping your home as clutter-free as possible can reduce overwhelm and help you stay focused on the more important things in life.

If you have difficulty keeping your house decluttered, I hope these tips help you make a small dent in your stuff whether you’re moving or not. I’m by no means an expert at getting rid of stuff, but I’ve learned some tips and tricks along the way. 

Hopefully, you can take care of the clutter long before you begin to pack for your move, but if not, take it easy on yourself and break the job into smaller tasks. When you have a moving date, please consider hiring a professional moving service to help you. And don’t forget to use all the services you need from packing to storage and everything in between.

Do you struggle with clutter or are you a pro-declutterer? What are your tips for getting rid of stuff before moving? Let me know in the comments below.