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Moving represents a bountiful pot of beautiful things. Your new home will include: new, friendly faces; the possibility for heartwarming memories; a safer neighborhood; and even a more affordable living situation. The problem is that there are certain costs involved with moving, though not all these burdens are financial in nature. The biggest problem with moving, especially when you have lived in one area for a period of time, is the amount of stuff that you have. The more stuff you have to move, then the more excruciating the process of moving will be. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can reduce the amount of stuff you have while avoiding some costly mistakes. 1. How Much Do You Use It? When evaluating the things you should keep, the first question you should ask yourself is one that involves the practicality of that item: how often do you use it? Things like those old lawn chairs, that new-but-seldom used table, that old microwave that you don’t’ use anymore, and that second stove that “sort of” works are all examples of things that you may not use often enough. These are the types of things that you should opt to remove from your home first. The best part about this question is that you are significantly less likely to keep the things that you don’t use. You have less of a sentimental attachment to them. 2. How Much Does It Cost? When looking at a cost analysis of your belongings, people often err by approaching the item in terms of how much they paid for it. This is a dangerous way to view items, as items depreciate rapidly once you acquire them. That new toaster, for example, that you paid $200 for 15 years ago may be replaceable with a $25 unit that has more features. The other part to this evaluation is that, by viewing the present worth of an item rather than how much you paid for it, you may make room for upgrades when you complete your move. 3. Can You Give It Away? Some items, particularly clothing, can often be given away. This is because, at their core, they are items with a fleeting value. Most people dispose of their old clothes, save for the ones that are special in some way, each year. If you’re looking for a place to lighten your moving load, then your dispensable items, such as your clothing, is a good start. You can give these items away with relatively few consequences. The best part of this approach is that you will make others in need happy with the items that you may not wear anyway. From keeping a homeless person warm while on the streets to providing an up-and-coming professional with affordable business attire, donated items like clothes can do a lot. 4. Don’t Break Up Sets One moving mistake you should avoid is breaking up sets. This can include everything from outfits that you have established to furniture sets that may include irreplaceable pieces. The reason for this is that it can be incredibly costly and time-consuming to replace a set once you have removed a component. A suit shirt, for example, can be difficult to replace because the shirt may have been tailored to fit the suit. Antique furniture is another example of a set that you don’t want to break up. The value of an antique set plummets when you remove one piece. 5. Refrain From Going Overboard The last major thing to take away when reducing your items for moving is that you shouldn’t go overboard. Things that fall into a gray area of keeping are safer to keep. You may find that your seldom-used power tool or your old business suit may be needed for a rainy day. Replacing these items can cost significantly more than it would to move them. Bonus Tip: Don’t Move Alone While this won’t reduce the amount you have to move, it will help you move your items in a safer manner: when you’re ready to move, get help. Movin’ on Movers specializes in helping people just like you move. We can carefully package your items and move them without scratching your... Read More