This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
One of the most expensive life events
You always realize how much crap you’re lugging around when moving. Often, we don’t even realize how much we’ve accumulated. It might seem like we don’t have much, but when the packing starts, we’re trying to figure out where all this stuff came from. And much of the stuff has gone unused for ages.
Months leading up to your move, practice eradication every weekend. Continue to get rid of stuff in every room of your residence until you’ve reached the barest level possible.
A good rule of thumb for buying: Whenever you buy one thing, let go of one thing.
2. Sell Your Stuff
Everything you found that you no longer need or use can be sold. Imagine that. You can essentially cover your moving costs by turning junk into cash!
There are too many sites to name that grant you the opportunity to sell your stuff.
Snap a pic, upload, and turn a profit.
3. Give Away Your Stuff
Not only help those who could use some free or low costs stuff but give yourself a tax deduction by donating your things.
Often, I give my stuff away and don’t take the tax write-off, but it’s always an option.
The more you give, the better your life is. There’s nothing sweeter than giving.
4. Don’t Pay For Storage
The best way to avoid monthly storage costs is to practice eradication in step 1. Yes, at times, storage is needed maybe because our housing situation is temporary, but even then, ask yourself: Is everything in storage necessary?
Those monthly storage costs add up. Instead of investing in a storage unit, you could take that money and double or triple it with a solid investment strategy.
5. Move Your Own Stuff
Here’s the process many people take for moving:
Rent a truck
Hire people to load the truck
Get hired people to move your stuff to a new location
Have hired people to unload your stuff
This is an optimal process that can be much more efficient if you have a lot of stuff. Still, we often underestimate how easy moving is – especially after getting rid of many possessions.
Get some friends and family to help you load and unload the truck and split the truck driving. It’s cheaper and may decrease your costs by 2–10x.
6. Hold Off The Furnishing
When we get a new place, we can be eager to furnish it and make it nice and pretty. Instead of buying everything right away, get items one at a time and spread out your purchases.
The goal is to decrease your upfront costs. So, think carefully about how you want to furnish your place and save money over time.
We tend to buy one thing and spiral into a consumption rampage called “The Diderot Effect.” Here is an example from James Clear:
“You buy a new couch, and suddenly you’re questioning the layout of your entire living room. Those chairs? That coffee table? That rug? They all gotta go.”
What happens? You go on a shopping spree until you’re finally satisfied (at least temporarily).
A remedy to the Diderot Effect: Buy one thing and stop there. Take 2–14 days to determine your next purchase. Waiting always benefits our finances.
Moving can be one of our highest expenses if we’re not careful. If you can afford it, continue lugging around all that extra stuff you possess, but if you could use the savings, try implementing some of these steps for your next move. For those who are struggling to part with their possessions, remember this one thing:
“[…] in a society of ever-bigger houses and ever more possessions: [..] there’s a hidden cost to all of that accumulating.” – The Daily Stoic p 75
The more we accumulate, the more we burden ourselves, affecting our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.