Bettiboop, Start now today eliminating everything you dont want or cant use, It is an endless task and you will be grateful you started the elimination process early. We started a good year before we sold the house and we still had TONS of stuff at the end that we didnt know what to do with.

Julie, that was such a wise statement about not accumulating more in the meantime. I LOVE to shop and buy cutsie things and it was so difficult not to buy new things, but I was tough on myself and didnt buy anything new in the past year knowing it would just be one more thing to drag to TV. Unfortunately , I still cannot let myself go crazy now that we are here because there simply is no room for anything new.

I will have to direct my energies into exercising and dancing instead of shopping, much more beneficial in the long run. Wow! this sure is a whole new lifestyle.

Thanks Julie! I'm hoping things will turn out where I don't have to wait the 2 years...thus I'm trying to downsize now so I'll be ready - just in case.:D

How soon are you going to make it to TV? I agree with you on waiting to purchase things when you get to TV. The less that has to be moved, the better!

:agree::agree::agree:

We don't plan on being fulltime residents till 2013. I have already started getting rid of stuff and I will probably still have way too much when it is time to move. Nonie you are right there is not room in our house in TV and I'm not buying anything else. I'm on the "Eat it or Wear it Plan" if we can't do one or the other we don't need it.

Thanks, Nonie. I'll just take it one item at a time and try not to feel overwhelmed. I know it is just a necessary "evil" that I have to go through but at least there is a nice bonus at the end...TV!! I'm so looking forward to being much more active with exercising and dancing, etc. Without a doubt it is going to be so good for me!

Halle, I like your "Eat it or Wear it Plan"...that is a good way to look at it. ;)

Betty, as luck would have it, OUR HOUSE FINALLY SOLD!!! Or rather I should say, it's in escrow which is set to close November 2nd.

We plan on taking a week or two driving cross-country touring America while we're on our way to TV, the promised land.

Congratulations Julie!

Im so happy for you! How long was it on the market?

Fantastic, Julie! It won't be long now! Have fun on the cross country drive. That sounds like fun!

Thank you nONIE and Betty!!! Our house was on the market 8 long months. Selling a home in this real estate market was frustrating, to say the least.

Tomorrow we have all the home inspection people coming over to the house. I'm fairly certain it will pass everything which includes the overall home inspection, the chimney and something else that I can't remember right now. I'm hoping to feel less anxious following all of these inspections. :1rotfl:

Congratulations, Julie!!! The best is yet to come!

Julie,

I sure know what your going thru. Its a real rollercoaster ride trying to sell. Ours was on the market 7 long months and the excuses people gave us were just unbelievable, from her grandmother falling down a set of steps like ours and breaking her neck to 3 acres not being enough property to take walks while saying the rosary. The excuses for not wanting it got old very fast!:ohdear:

We were thrilled to find a nice young couple who thought they died and went to heaven when they found our old farmhouse. Theres a home for everyone thank goodness!!

nONIE,

I'm jealous of you and Jeanne Beannie. Both of you have already made it to TV while I'm still stuck here in upstate New York for another winter. I've only just started to get rid of all the accumulated stuff in my house. Then I still have to put it up for sale and go thru that hassle.

Well, I only have another month at work and then I can retire and will be able to work on this project full time.

Niels

nONIE, Don't even get me started on those excuses...we had one family that came in five times and ultimately said our baseboard wasn't high enough. :shrug: (the baseboard was installed previously to our owning the house) WHATEVER!

Thanks Champion. :)

This has been quite a read. I see myself already running into some of the issues raised.

I'm a recovering pack-rat. Because I moved around so much when I was a kid, I clung to everything I possibly could. When my adoptive mother died in 1990, moving into her house was, in a sense, one of the worst things I could have done. I combined moving into the house of a pack-rat (there were suitcases in the basement that had stuff in them from 1968) with my own pack-rat-ness and having gotten married 3 years earlier to a woman who also kept *everything* (though I didn't know it at the time).

I knew I had a problem one day, years later. The house I've been living in since 1990 is a 10-room house with a 2-car garage and shed. 3BR upstairs, one on the main floor where the living, dining and family rooms are in addition to the kitchen along with a complete basement that had a 'summer bedroom' (no heat but nice and cool in the summer, window on the backyard) that later became my now-ex-wife's "dog shop" where she did grooming. That should paint the picture of how big the house is - and there were four of us living there - us and our two daughters.

I heard my wife say "Maybe we should get a storage area".

That's when I finally started breaking my habits. Not completely and not all at once. But when four people can't live in a 10-room, 2.5 bath house, something is WRONG.

Years pass, stuff accumultes to the point where we're not too far away from becoming one of those families you see on "Hoarders". I give up on cleaning because, no matter what I do, 2 days later it looks like I haven't done anything. We no longer have friends over. I can't even repair the house because the wife won't let anyone in the house. It gets so bad that tax appraisers can only do "drive by" appraisals since she won't let anyone in the house - all while arguing with the towwn clerk to take her word for it that the house isn't worth what they say it is.

Around my 44th birthday in 2006 she moves out, hoping (among other things) that she can have a better relationship with her boyfriend (who subsequently moves to Florida). A week later I hire an appraiser for a walk-through. The appraisal comes back $84,000 less than the tax appraisal. The following year, I actually get a check for $1000 back from the town as a 'rebate' of property taxes (I filed for an abatement and let an assessor in for the first time since 1994).

For three years I've been working on this house that has suffered from the benign neglect of the situation for 15 years. Cracked foundation, broken heaters, doors, painting, floors, most recently new roofing over the garage. All while trying to reclaim the house and make it liveable.

In early 2009 a heating pipe burst causing over $20,000 in damages. Because it took weeks for me to notice (due to the location of the break), there was mold all through the basement ceiling. They called in the guys in the bunny suits to work on the house. I filled two flatbed dumpsters with trash from what was destroyed and contaminated in the basement - and yet still my basement is cluttered (still working on it).

I still have a couple of rooms to be done. The divorce was finalized lasty year and this past weekend the last pass through attic crawlspaces got the last of the stuff that my ex wants. She hasn't changed her ways. Now she's paying some $300/mo in storage rental fees.

What wasn't done by professionals, I did in the only way I knew how based on all the moves I had when I was a kid. You work on one area at a time. Clean THAT ONE SPOT. If the spot is a room and will take more than one session, then attack it in order. Start somewhere and go clockwise or counter-clockwise around it. Do it until it's done. Then don't touch it. Heck, put up yellow tape if you have to.

I now have one daughter who's graduated college and one who's about to graduate high school. Those two rooms (one now 'unoccupied') still look the way they did the day their mother left. My older daughter has learned some and hasn't replicated things in her apartment. My younger daughter still can't budget her time to allow for cleaning.

It's not easy. Each thing you put your hand on has memories and triggers all kinds of reactions. It's slow going and not always pleasant (especially when you've gone through a divorce).

I'm 47 now. My finacee is my age and now we're looking towards retirement as something we need to decide on - at least for what we want to try to accomplish. She's got all her stuff too (raised 3 kids) - but it's boxed up nice and neat unlike how mine was!

I have the luxury of time. Don't rush it. Set small, reasonable goals - things you CAN accomplish so you don't get overwhelmed and feel defeated before you start. It may be a huge job, but it can be broken up into little jobs.

Good luck.

Do what we did
 

Sell the "STUFF" with the house, problem solved....Yea!....We only packed our underwear!....No really, we gave most of the junk to Habitat (one mans junk is another's treasures) and of course there is the "Garage sale" call it an estate sale and it will be gone tomorrow....giggle......j

I just want to thank all of you....at this very moment, there are movers bringing stuff INTO my house, my husband had 3 tons of stuff in storage!! Since we can't have a garage sale here in our city, we brought a lot of it over to my inlaws. with the remainder here so I can see what I want to keep and what to give the kids....hoping to have the good weather last long enough to have a sale next weekend at the inlaws. I took a break from it all to check TOTV and noticed this thread...feels so much better knowing that everyone has gone thru this and survived...Thanks again..now...back to work :)

You gave good advice. The original poster was looking for help...........in April 2008!

My wife and I have been happily married for almost 40 years. But we just may kill each other trying to get through this move. :cus:

OH MY SOUL NONIE! For a minute there I thought you were still trying to get rid of your stuff. Thank goodness you have done that since this was a revived thread from 2008!!

To those about to do it, or are doing it, you have my heartfelt sympathy and support. It was one of the toughest tasks that wasn't really SERIOUS that I have ever dealt with.

To those thinking about moving across country to a smaller home.

Please listen to me.

Don't buy anything new and start throwing stuff out. If your spouse won't throw stuff out. Get rid of your spouse.

Good Luck None!!!!! We are going through 33 years of stuff. My wife is harder to let go of things than I am. Personal and sentimental things must come with you. They are who we all are. Remember you have limited storage at TV. I would rather get rid of the other stuff and buy new if need be at TV. Less to move. I'm all about filling the dumpster. I know it's really hard to do, but it must be done. There are great organizations to give a lot of stuff to. Like Veterans, Lupus, salvation army,and many church organizations. The old rule If you haven't used it in a year get rid of it. GOOD LUCK! Just think you will get to come to TV more and play. :thumbup:

It's really quite simple---the moving companies charge an average of $.50 a pound to move things. When you are trying to decide on whether you bring an item or not, ask yourself if the item is worth $.50 per pound---or if you'd rather not pay to get it to TV. Let's face it, all of it is just STUFF. Leave it behind and get more when you get to TV!

Moving on
 

We just said "

" This is gonna hurt!" Start heaving! Three weeks later it was gone. We now feel better and do not miss any of it.

Kids, charity other familys are happy! Movers with their scale are not!

We are now Stuff free!

Yea

Stuff
 

"Stuff accumulates to fill the space allotted to it"

From 3250 sq ft to 1450 Sq ft in TV-- Ahh!! that feels better.:D

Going through the same thing right now...yard sale starts in one hour. It is easy for me to get rid of "stuff" knowing I am downsizing. Who needs all that "stuff" anyway? I am trying to convince my husband! Here come the earlybirds now!

Hi Nonie,

We went from 4,100 sq ft to 1,680 sq ft. Cleared out 49 years worth of stuff. Turns out it was pretty easy. I donated everything appropriate (like my business suits) and then contacted a local auctioneer. They actually came in, put everything into "lots", took pictures and had an online auction. Everything went smoothly. Kinda like eBay. I do admit, however, that it was a little difficult to see some of the items leave the house. But it was a small price to pay to move here!

Good luck!

I have already instructed my kids " no gifts for the holidays". I insist on roll over gifts. They can get us things we need for the new house when we move in 2015 and I will redeem my holiday gifts at that time. They both came for the closing this past Monday and they are as excited as we are. We have over 4300 sq feet going to a Gardenia. This post was calling out to me. I have a fourth generation bedroom set that nobody wants. So sad.

I know this is an old thread, but its a popular subject. We just returned from our LSV and we have a 3 story townhome and storage unit to go through before we can paint, recarpet and sell. I have two children who are not interested in my fine furniture, much of it antique. It is heartbreaking as I have collected (antique prints, linens, silver, china, books, etc.) for over 35 years and it is difficult and time consuming to donate, give away or sell (for next to nothing).

I tend to love objects and enjoy seeing them everyday. Those will be the tough ones for me. Im thinking of maybe having a "living estate" sale after packing what we do want to take in a pod. Then donate or toss what doesnt sell. Then we can easily paint, carpet and put house on the market. This is definitely going to be tough, but coming to TV will be worth it!

Since I had no one to help me I hired a Senior Move Manager. He helped me sort through everything in my home, pack boxes, move furniture and stage my home for sale. My house sold in two weeks. We are now preparing for a "moving" sale.

There is a web site for the National Association of Senior Move Managers at NASMM: Welcome to help find a service in your area.

I couldn't have done all this by myself. I will close on my new home in TV next month. Can't wait!

I feel you. We had a 5br house with an walk up attic FULL of "Stuff". I let my children have first walk through to grab anything the wanted. After that I sold the pieces of furniture we were not taking with us. - (Most of it did not make the move as the style in No. VA is much too dark for my FL home) The rest of the furniture I sold via Craigs List.
What didn't sell got donated. Same goes for much of my clothing as I no longer would be needing business suits. LOL.. I now live in shorts and sandals. I must admit my husband was the best at either taking stuff to the dump or convincing me to just give it away. And.. after all that we still brought too much with us.
My advise is if you haven't used it or touched it in a year... find it a new home.

We are doing this now in preparation for the move My husband cleared out the basement while I was at work only the garage is left and after next week we should know what house we will have in Tv the rest will be easy. I never thought abut how much we had but we sure wasted a lot on things we did not need. We both have turned over a new chapter We only need to have something if we are going to use it

In our case we are going to do it in two steps. The really unused items will be picked up by a local charity next week.

The furniture we will not be taking will be picked up the day before the movers arrive in 2015.

After spending the better part of this year cleaning out our house,
it has cured me of BUYING ANYTHING for my house!

We're still at it and hope to have even more stuff gone by the
time we sell and move to our house in T.V.

Keep this in mind.... you may love your house (and things in it) but your house (and those things) don't love you back. We had all our pictures (from 40 years) scanned and put on to DVD's. Got rid of all the photo albums! Once you downsize you think twice about ever buying "stuff" again. Who needs a Christmas plate, Easter plate, Thanksgiving plate, USA plate, when one plate will do?

I would advise that many of the homes here have areas above the kitchen cabinets that look very bare without anything up there. If you have a collection or theme, save to put in that space. Good luck!

Love your ideas about the photos!

Our house in Tampa has so many shelves (built-in bookcases,
Plant shelves, etc.) so I have so much stuff like that.
I think when I get to T.V. I should have a garage sale!
(We are in a neighborhood now where we cannot do that.)

I know this is an ancient thread, but it sure holds true even today. One part that really hit home for me is:


I, too, have scads of Christmas decor (I know! shocking) some of which I display all year. It's going to be hard trimming back in that department. I think I can be (and already have been) pretty relentless elsewhere. Some Christmasphile is going to hit the mother lode at our final yard sale!

Dear Santa,

We all feel your pain, many people here have great Christmas displays and they're still so much fun to see! But it all has to be stored for 335 days in a hot attic or garage.

I will have been here a year on April 22nd. I scaled down to the stuff that I couldn't live w/out (small uhaul trailer and 2 stuffed SUV loads) and still think that I brought too much at times. I know it sounds crazy, but I get very anxious about my sons having to take time to come here and wade through it. I think your perspective on things changes depending on the circumstances. Just an opinion.

You have put everything in the right perspective with that one sentence. IMHO we should not leave our lives for our children to throw out, not fair to them.

On a lighter note - we made a move from one State to another and I was having trouble getting rid of stuff in the attic, i.e. their school reports, their childhood photos, the little clay thingee of their hands and feet when they were babies. Well, finally one of the boys said "no worry Mum, I'll do it". He laid heavy plastic sheeting beneath the attic stairs and I stood at the bottom of those stairs and cried while he literally threw everything out of the attic onto the floor. EVERYTHING, even the little clay hands feet were smashed in the process.

It's only STUFF....................

This thread began 6 years ago and is timeless. We are going through 37 years of stuff to compact to a house 1/3 the size. We asked ourselves how do we get rid of the cute things our kids (now mid 30's) made as youngsters? Then we remembered going through my mothers items 4 years ago of the cute things I had made. It was fun to see the things, but it was time to let go. We've started 3 piles, with each of our children's names on. They can make the decision of what they want to keep from their early craft days.

We know all the furniture can't fit. To sell it for penny's on the dollar isn't financially responsible when we have children that can use the items. They can have what they want. Other items we can donate.

Now for my question. What do you do with something you don't use often, but when you need the item, can't live without?

I have a crazy mess of my own to deal with when I retire in December. I work for the State Dept. Foreign Service branch, so I live and work overseas. All of my stuff (furniture to dishes) has been in storage for close to 20 years and I have bought stuff through the years and added it to the pile. I have no way of remembering most of what is even in there (I know I have 2 living room sets) and I can't even get to it until they deliver to my house in TV next January. So there will be no sorting through and throwing away what I don't want ahead of time, that is going to be fun:cryin2:

Just finished that job it took us months of work it was sad that no one wants to take donations we just had to dump a lot of really good stuff .We cont to get rid of stuff once we got to TV and discovered we could not use it .Good luck with you move

You have one thing going for you down here - there is abject poverty everywhere outside of TV, so your items will probably be treasures to the needy.

We also have a wonderful Sheriff who supports the Florida Youth Ranches and they will literally take everything, and then they write you nicest thank you letter imaginable, and it is hand written by one of their boys/girls. Makes you feel good about doing it.

I get calls every week for clothing, for appliances, you name it, there are literally dozens of collection services in this area.