Here are a few easy steps that will help you go through and decide what you need to keep.
Find What To Keep
Paring down is more comfortable to say than to do- you have to keep in mind what’s important to you. Start with the more straightforward answers. Keep critical legal documents, family possessions that are important to your heart, and the things you need for your job and lifestyle.
After those crucial belongings, whittle down section by section or room by room. Go through your books, your DVDs, even your decorations- and decide whether or not you see yourself enjoying that within the next year.
Old clothing is an excellent example of this- if you haven’t worn it in the last year, you probably won’t wear it for the next one.
If it helps, you can invite a friend over to help you make impartial decisions. An outside eye may help you understand what you’ll need when you move.
Decide What’s Trash, What’s Not
You can’t donate, or sell, everything. Unfortunately, some belongings aren’t salvageable. When deciding whether to trash something or not, you have to take emotions out of it entirely. Think about what other people would see in it. Would someone else want to use this? Could you see someone spending money on it?
Keep in mind that some antiques wouldn’t be able to be used, but many people would want to buy them. The value of antiques holds true, especially in the South, where if you’re looking for Austin houses for sale, you can also find dozens of antique shops littered all over.
Decide How To Give It Away
Donating your unused items can seem like a great idea, you get a tax write-off and can give to a good cause- but moving is expensive! Some of your things have good value, and you could be better off by selling them instead. If you’re aren’t sure how much something is worth, you can check sites like eBay or craigslist to see if anyone else is currently selling it. Don’t leave money on the table if you have the opportunity to ease the expenses of having to change homes.
The final step is to try and pay attention to how much you gather in your new home. Don’t let yourself clutter more than you want. It can be so easy to let yourself fall into the trap of a good deal and end up with a bunch of new junk filling your new home, but by being self-aware, you can avoid having to start this cycle all over again if you move once more.