When was the last time you moved? If you are like most homeowners, you don’t have to face that prospect too often. Luckily. Take a look around your house and ask yourself, “If I were to move tomorrow, how much of all this would I take with me?”
We are in the middle of a big move (it’s very exciting!), and we've basically moved two times in one month. How? Well, we've shoehorned ourselves into a 1,000 sq. ft. short-term rental, down from a 3,000 sq ft. house, to prepare the house for sale - and we've moved all our other household goods into longer term storage, for the future new residence.
After two distinct moves, I have some takeaways for you to consider:
As a culture, we own entirely too much “stuff”
You can get a great arm and glutes workout from hefting boxes
Goodwill is a treasure
Dumps are treasures, too
Buried Under Stuff
How many of us keep something that we’ve only used once or twice? For example, that ice cream maker who’s mixing bowl takes up too much space in the freezer, or the fondue pot that seemed like such a fun idea for the family, but is entirely too much hassle to clean.
How about things that are past their usefulness to you? The kids bikes from years ago that were a bit spendy, but are now too small. That decorative basket that’s outdated, those old plates.
All. Those. Stuffed. Animals.
Not to mention the crummy, inexpensive furniture, picked up on the cheap, that is now destined for the dump. How many ways can press board be fashioned into trendy shelves, tables, etc?
Lesson: Buy it once, buy it well-made, or, maybe don’t buy it in the first place.
Lesson: You probably live in too big of a place, and don’t really need all that space. What do you do with extra space? You fill it up with... STUFF.
Lesson: You don’t save money in the long run from buying cheap furnishings. You buy some temporary convenience, but you are also buying a future trip to the dump because Goodwill doesn’t want your crumbling press board, either.
Ab-solute Workout
Baby, all those things in your house? They gotta be packed up and moved. Just make sure you are using good form during your moving workout. Engage that core.
Lesson: Hire a mover! Or, feel the burn.
If Goodwill Handed Out Frequent Flyer Miles, I’d be in Paris by Now
Some people hold garage sales, some people feed Goodwill with some really great items. Seriously, you should go to the North Seattle Goodwill - I have donated thousands of dollars of great household items that are looking for a good home. You should go.
Lesson: If you really want a fondue pot, try Goodwill first before paying retail. Betcha you’ll find one that’s barely been used and still in it’s box. Maybe with all the money you’ve saved, you could buy a ticket to Paris. Oh la la.
Dumps Aren’t Just for Trash Anymore
Do you know how many things you can take to the dump for recycling?
Barbecues, appliances, old tools; anything that consists of 50% or more of metal can be recycled. That’s a lot of stuff. Don’t forget you can recycle so many other things: Light bulbs, paper and cardboard, glass.
Just be good and don’t dump household chemicals there. Go the the HazMat site for that, m’kay?
If you are downsizing, moving on up, or simply ready for a refresh, let's talk. While I don’t offer personalized packing services (I can hook you up with an expert who does), I have a pretty deep understanding of what it means to let go of the things that no longer serve you in your life. I get it.
My design services might be just the thing to usher you into the next phase of living well and living in style - even if it means living with less. Or, as I like to think of it, living with more of what you really want in your life!
Contact Robin
Call: 206-794-0314
Email: robin@robindalycolor.com