Last day for Week Three of the Clutter Cleanse: getting rid of the big things.
The biggest way we downsized our stuff: we moved overseas.
Life can bring some wonderful coincidences. After we purged like mad and got rid of over half of our things, including our car and the torch I ran with in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. After we payed off most of our debt mountain. Once our home was in good order and we had a solid grasp on our personal finances, we found ourselves moving overseas.
I can still remember my husband telling me he was applying for a job in the Isle of Man. After looking up where that was exactly, after several fun conversations about the possibility of moving overseas, some real excitement settled in.
If we made this move we could GET RID OF ALMOST EVERYTHING.
My minimalist wannabe self was overjoyed with thoughts of selling every last stick of furniture and just owning whatever fit in our suitcases (the reality ended up being a bit different).
If removing a big piece of furniture hasn’t kicked you into action or selling your home to yourself didn’t give you new eyes on your stuff, think about what you would do if you moved overseas.
The big challenge with your things when you move internationally is that you have to think critically about what the cost of storing or shipping items is versus what the item’s real value. Is it worth it to spend $5000 a year to store furniture that is worth $5000? Do you want to spend $4000 shipping furniture that you could buy second hand in your new home town for $3000?
Pretending that you are moving overseas quickly gives you a clear benchmark of high value items in your home. And the value can be financial or emotional. That easy to replace bookshelf from Home Depot can go but the coffee table your Grandfather made will be carefully stored or shipped.
Pretending that you are moving overseas can release you from the “it’s irreplaceable” fear. Family heirlooms that you really love: irreplaceable. High backed chair that you got for a steal at a furniture liquidator: replaceable. This is helpful when you want to make the leap and downsize but you’re fearful of the what-ifs. Very few things are truly irreplaceable. Yes, you might have to “suffer” with a different style, color or model, but most of what’s in our homes can be purchased again. And if you’re open to buying pre-loved, those things can be bought at a fraction of their original price.
Our overseas move and return, and all the stuff decisions, are still pretty fresh in my mind. We could have brought a few less boxes on the way over (didn’t know what our furnished rental would have) and the stuff we stored in Canada with family – some breakables, a few small appliances – was spot on. The only thing I would have changed was to loan our small appliances out so that they go some use instead of sitting. Our coffee machine bit the dust from sitting for four years and our mixer had to get serviced because the oil separated from no use. We had a rough go with the items we sent back from the Isle Of Man so if I could have a do over, knowing that our stuff would take three months to arrive and a lot of it would be moldy, I would have sent even less back.
So if you’re still struggling to let go of things, if your home is still packed with the big stuff, think about a big long distance move that you would pay for yourself. The idea that you’re paying for that stuff in your house in time and money – storing, cleaning, maintaining – can be hard to put a real dollar number too. But actually hiring a moving company, having to outlay a few thousands dollars or more, can make you see your valuables and the things you truly need, more clearly.
This is the last post for Week Three. Next week: Kid Clutter!
Me and my husband have moved from California to the UK 10 years ago. We have also sold and gave away all the furniture pieces that we owned. The feeling was wonderful! We had all together 4 suitcases with stuff that we brought with us. It is so easy when you have less things! Now we live in a small house and we are trying to keep a minimalist lifestyle, because it nicer to have less things! Great post! Thanks for sharing!
As one who lived the overseas move 3 times (and back for a total of 6 treks “overseas,”) I can attest that it is an excellent way to pare things down. Sadly, we had the “luxury” of putting things in storage at government expense. Therefore, we didn’t pare down as much as we should have.
I still recall our 3 years of living in a “small” apartment in Japan as a blessing. While it was the smallest dwelling we lived in (after having children), it was absolutely the most well-thought-out floor plan of any housing we’ve ever resided in regardless of whether we owned, rented, or lived on-base. The 3 bedrooms and the hallway had floor-to-ceiling closets. The washer and dryer were in the kitchen, but it was still quite spacious. I often find myself longing for the simple, yet effective, layout of that apartment. Frankly, based on the space allotted there, we could house nearly 4 families in our current home. Yet, we find this whole house to be rather awkward due to small closets and an extraordinary overabundance of stuff. (We’ve been in this house eleven years. This is what happens when a non-minimalist family doesn’t move!)
As I read blogs about minimalism and simplicity and pore over tiny house plans, I wonder if there is hope for anyone in this family. (There is hope for me, but I’d have to live alone. And that’s rather impossible. LOL!)
What incredible timing for these wonderful posts! Also active duty military family, we are getting ready for another move and I have taken on the minimalist mentality whole-heartedly. Since we may be moving into an RV from a 3500 sqft house, I have a huge task ahead of me. Your blog is really inspiring me and providing some great advice and insight. I can’t thank you enough for sharing!
My kids and I lived abroad a couple summers ago with one suitcase each. It taught me so much about how much clothing we all need for one season. While I still brought too much (toys, why did I bring any toys? They played with cardboard the entire time) the lessons came back with me.
We’ve moved several times in the last 17 years due to posting, with our levels of stuff going down prior to the move and gradually creeping up – defence houses here are ridiculously big and they kinda echo when there’s nothing in the main lounge room but a TV cabinet and single couch. The last few years though, it’s been more down, than up. Work in progress, but working well.
it’s funny but my husband was always the hoarder – I might need this, but I paid money for it! – and since most of our moves have been because of and paid for by the RAAF, with removalists doing all the packing and most of the unpacking, it’s never been more than a weeks inconvenience to unpack/sort/store all the extra crap. Can’t park the car in the double garage because of it, but ‘I might need it’
Our last move though, to our own house, was funded by us. Rented a truck, packed everything in boxes, picked it up and moved it ourselves. It took 3 days to move 20km, several trips, midnight unloading to get the truck empty to return on time. Guess who’s on board with a little minimalism now?
Couldn’t agree more that this exercise is very meaningful and helpful! Moving forces you to evaluate EVERYTHING. Every tiny little thing in your home. This is why we minimised – we had to move almost every year due to military service requirements.
When we moved to Ireland, and then BACK to the US, we whittled down our things to an astonishing minimum. We found that books and CD’s were a great source in funds, and that we didn’t miss them at all; the books are almost always still available, and we copied the CD’s onto small devices.
Genius advice!
Reading this now, all summarized in one post, I wonder if your husband would have even considered applying for a job abroad if you still had the car and all the stuff you had once owned, not to mention the debt. I wonder if the feeling of freedom you had already created gave him the freedom to think in terms of an adventure unencumbered with clutter and debt, as you were at that point?