

We got rid of enough stuff to bring everything as carry-on or checked baggage. It was at that point when my husband and I decided to seriously downsize before moving abroad. Seeing those quotes was a real eye-opener for me. how much space your package takes up), whichever is more expensive.Īlthough it’s cheaper to ship by sea than air (about 40% based on our quotes), we were told anything shipped by sea would take THREE MONTHS to arrive! If you can go without your stuff for three months, why even ship it in the first place? Typically, you’ll either pay by weight or by volume (i.e.

International shipping is incredibly pricey because of how transporters charge you. Why you should declutter before moving abroad As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Just jump to step 3 and skip the details about international relocation (and be glad you don’t need to deal with the logistics!). Even if you’re not moving overseas, this process will help you minimize before a move.
#Declutter before moving tips how to
I want to empower everyone to learn how to declutter before moving. In the end, it was cheaper for us to minimize before a move and buy replacement items than it was to haul our stuff across the country. And by following the steps I’ve outlined here, we were able to skip the pricey moving companies and even make some money in the process. We did multiple cross-country moves in the US before we moved to London. In fact, it can cost up to $10,000 to move across the US. I remember running through our initial list of what to bring and thinking, I could fit all of this in our walk-in closet!Įven if you’re not moving overseas, it’s not exactly cheap to move cross country, either. I’m talking prices in the five-figure range. I’m certainly no minimalist, but I was never the type to have lots of stuff or shy away from donating unused items.Įven so, the estimates we received for shipping our belongings from Texas to London were mind-boggling. But if you learn how to declutter before moving abroad, you can purge the excess and make a few bucks in the process.

It’s remarkable how much stuff we accumulate over time. And if you have too many pots, these 7 space-saving ways to organize pots and pans can help you find what you’re looking for.Photo albums.

Also, if you have a tiny kitchen, here are 7 ways to double your space in a small kitchen. If your family is prone to cluttered shoes everywhere, here's 7 space-saving ways to organize shoes in your entryway. This is vital for security, and keeps you protected from potential identity theft. You can buy shredders of different capacity to suit your needs, and ones that can even cut credit cards like this Bonsaii Paper Shredder for Home ( $31, Amazon). When disposing of personal or confidential documents, always remember to shred first before throwing them out in the trash. Again, be ruthless and throw out old paperwork, leaflets or receipts that you just don’t need. Then, file away important items in filing/storage boxes, and discard or recycle the rest. The best start is to set up multiple piles for the different categories such as household bills, receipts, documents, certificates, etc. In fact, experts say it should be one of the top things to declutter right away. Paperwork is another decluttering challenge that can literally pile up, and get out of hand. Pile of paperwork (Image credit: Shutterstock)
