I looked into this one a bit more and the suggestions included de-cluttering, simplifying my wardrobe and simplifying my commitments. As I’m moving home soon I’m going to focus on de-cluttering and simplifying our belongings, taking only the essentials and most treasured posessions to the new house.
I have a three step plan in place to ensure this process is completed by move-in day.
First Sweep: Throw, Return and Give Away
The first sweep of the house will involve all areas starting with the biggest challenges, the attic and various store cupboards. We will quickly throw anything that is clearly garbage, broken items, and dated stuff (which doesn’t have a monetary value) from the loft. I expect to find several boxes of belongings that we have stored for family and friends - these will be returned, and at the same time we’ll have an amnesty on items that we have borrowed, a clothes rail, a blow up bed, and crockery to name just a few items off the top of my head. The final part of the first sweep will involve items that we plan to give away, the best of Erin’s baby clothes and equipment will be donated to a young mum who is grateful for all that we can spare, my father-in-law has dibbed any army related stuff, and my sister-in-law may be interested in a few things as she has just set up home with her partner.
All in all I expect this first sweep to clear a lot of stuff
Sell and Replace
The second phase will involve doing a couple of boot sales with some of the good stuff. The money will go towards the move and replacing some items. At this stage we’ll also decide and make an inventory of what is to be replaced, off the top of my head I know we’ll be replacing most crockery, all towels and some bedding.
Pack
Finally I’ll pack everything that isn’t used on a daily basis. The exception to the rule will be Erin’s room, so as not to unsettle her I will leave this until last and pack everything once she has gone on ‘holiday’ with a family member for a couple of days. The plan is to have her new room completely set up before she returns, I hope this will make the move a little easier for her.
Have you moved house recently? Any Tips?
Photo by flickr user the amanda
3 Responses to “Parent Testing a Habit: Simplify My Life”
A friend of mine just moved and wrote the date (on a small piece of tape) on all of her small kitchen appliances. After 3 months, if she hadn’t used one out it went. She says it helped with the decluttering a ton.
Do consider using Trade It for getting rid of stuff, you’d be amazed what you might throw away that other people might be looking for (especially students at this time of year!) and then you don’t have to feel bad about chucking so much stuff into landfill!
hippy Paula from hippy Bristol!
aka Happy (Hippy?) Tracks in the Snow
[...] started my decluttering plan on Sunday by doing a boot sale. It was a strange kind of day. Up at 6am, drove to boot sale site [...]