Pack Less, Stress Less: Smart Tips for Purging as You Pack To Move
Moving to a new home can be stressful, but it's also a fantastic opportunity to declutter and get organized. As you pack, you can purge at the same time to help save time, space and even money. This is especially true for long-distance moves, where fuel costs mean every pound matters.
Later, when it's time to unpack and get organized in your new home, you can purge a little more—and take advantage of the move to make sure everything has a place.
The trouble is, getting rid of stuff can be just as overwhelming as moving itself. So how do you kick-start the process and make your efforts count? These 10 smart tips will get you on the road to success.
1. Start Early and Set a Goal
The closer you get to moving day, the more rushed you may feel. That's why starting early (even as soon as the day you decide to move) is a smart approach.
Begin with your goal: Perhaps you want to downsize your belongings by 20% or to focus on a couple of categories, like kitchenware and kids' toys. Then, plan to break the process into manageable steps, such as tackling one category per day.
2. Create Categories for Sorting
One way to waste your valuable time is to simply move things around without a clear destination. Instead, come up with categories and set up boxes to capture items as you go through them. For instance, you might use the following groupings:
- Keep: Only what you truly need or love.
- Donate: Items in good condition that you don't use, but others would want.
- Sell: Items of value that may garner a profit online or at a garage sale.
- Toss: Things that are broken, outdated or no longer useful.
A key tip? Be ruthless. If you haven't used or even thought about an item for at least the past year, it might be time to let it go. You can also consider replacement costs to help with decision-making: If you need to replace the item in the future, will it be cheap and easy, or expensive and time-consuming?
3. Purge by Category
To help prevent decision fatigue and ensure thorough purging, try tackling one category at a time—think electronics or clothing—rather than going room by room. That way, you'll get a clear understanding of what you have, rather than trying to remember how many coats are in the basement while you're cleaning out your bedroom closet.
4. Sort Through Clothing
Speaking of clothing, it's a common source of clutter for a reason: Fit, style, season and occasion are all factors to consider, and who hasn't had trouble finding something to wear?
This is where patience and a bit of effort come in. Try on items to see if they still fit, are still in good condition and if you even still like them. Donate wearable items you no longer need, and if something is hard to part with for sentimental reasons, consider taking a photo. Crafty folk might also repurpose old clothing, such as by turning items into T-shirt quilts or rag rugs.
5. Clear Out the Kitchen
That juicer that's been sitting neglected in the back of the top cupboard? Think of the joy it will bring to someone who will use it regularly. As for your 10 different spatulas, do you really need all of them, or can you pare down for the sake of less-cluttered drawers? Items like these are prime candidates for donating or gifting.
Also, think about food. Now's the time to check expiration dates and eat your way through what you have so you don't have to move it. You can also donate unopened, unexpired food to local food banks, or give it to friends and neighbors.
6. Declutter Books and Media
Everyone has a different book philosophy: You might choose to keep only those you truly enjoy or that are valuable, or only those you think you'll read in the future. Either way, the books you don't want could be a treasure for those looking for new reads. Donate to thrift stores or charity book sales, or pop them into a Little Free Library. Just be realistic: Your out-of-date college math textbook is likely not in high demand.
The same goes with old DVDs, CDs or (gasp!) VHS tapes you no longer use. Digitize sentimental items like old home movies, and give away the rest.
7. Streamline Office Supplies and Paperwork
Even in the so-called digital age, paperwork, pens and other office accoutrements have a way of accumulating. Sort through old bills, receipts and other papers; scan what's useful; and shred what you don't need anymore, like the papers for your 2002 taxes. Donate excess office supplies, and throw out useless items like nonfunctional pens. Doesn't it feel good?
8. Evaluate Furniture and Home Décor
Budgets matter, of course, and most of us can't fully replace our furniture when we move. But in some cases, existing pieces simply won't work in your new space. Check whether that couch or dining table will fit in your new home, or if cheaper furniture items (like that rickety bookcase) will even survive the move. Also, purge decor items you no longer use (maybe you're just not a candle person) or no longer love.
9. Consider the Cost of Moving Excess Items
Depending on your destination, your movers might charge by time or weight. Or perhaps you're moving yourself, and you have only so much time and gas money. Either way, it's going to be a costlier endeavor to move more stuff, which means downsizing can bring down your moving budget.
Estimate how much it will cost to move, say, a pound or 10 pounds of possessions. Then keep that number in mind as you work on your purging. You might find the math to be extra motivating.
10. Stay Organized During the Packing Process
As you purge and place items in "Keep" boxes, label them properly to make unpacking easier. Use a good marker to jot down a box's contents, category, target room and even owner (especially for clothing or kids' items). And be sure to take your time packing fragile items so they make it unscathed to the other end.
Another smart tip? Pack essentials last, and keep them in a couple of well-marked boxes so you can find them first thing when you arrive. This category might include bedding, towels, key clothing items and other things you know you'll need right away.
Smart Packing = Less Stress
It might seem like more work to purge and organize as you pack, but the benefits are worth it in the long run. Not only will you have less stuff to move, but you can save both time and money. Start the purging process as soon as possible—why not today?—and you'll be setting yourself up for a fresh start in your new home, both physically and financially.
The Synchrony HOME Credit Card can help you purchase things you need for your new home. Use the Synchrony HOME locator to find Synchrony HOME retail partners in your area that may have special offers for cardholders.*
READ MORE: 5 Steps to a Successful Move for Couples
*Subject to credit approval.
