[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by jebartle

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

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

[brostholder]

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.

[graciegirl]

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.

[GTTPF]

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.

[cricket1]

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!

[CarGuys]

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

[Challenger]

"Stuff accumulates to fill the space allotted to it"

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

[tainsley]

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!

[Joaniesmom]

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!

[maddie101]

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.

[CassieInVa]

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!

[lhasalady]

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!

[MartyRR]

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.

[stroglass]

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

[alanmcdonald]

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.