How much decluttering would you have to do for a sudden move?

[Tradd]

This question is prompted by experiences with two friends recently. Both got sudden job offers out of state and had to move rather quickly (everyone I know who can get out of IL is jumping at the chance).

I helped both pack up and get rid of stuff.

One friend was somewhat minimalist and kept the clutter down to a minimum. She was good at keeping on top of it. The only "clutter" she had to deal with was getting rid of food items. The local food pantry got all the canned/packaged items. Frozen items were given to those of us who helped pack. '

Friend two is something of a packrat. Can't bear to part with books or clothes (lots of clothes that were decades old and hadn't fit for years and years). She had to get rid of the clothes that didn't fit and hadn't been worn in a long time. Some business clothes went to an organization that helps women get on their feet in the business world. Books (too many boxes to count) went to the library for the friends of the library book sale. Friend's new employer was paying to move her. They would pay up to a certain weight limit and anything over that she would have to pay for. When she saw how much she would be over, she finally let the clothes and books go.

This made me look at my stuff. I sort of did the KonMari thing over the winter. I'm down to about 30 hard copy books. The rest are on my Kindle. Really cleaned out my clothes. Cleaned out papers and other assorted junk. The only things I'd have to deal with would be food items.

[Teacher Terry]

After I finished grad school I got a job offer halfway across the country and with my DH's profession he could get a job anywhere so we moved. We had a 3 story house plus a basement and a small apartment where I went to grad school for a year. To complicate matters he had gotten laid-off so was working near where I went to grad school. so I went home and in 11 days packed, gave away or sold everything that would not fit in the largest uhaul you can rent. My Mom held a big sale with items in a few of the front rooms and I slept about 4 hours/night. Some days a friend came to help. With a family of 5 we had plenty of stuff and my H came home on weekends to help but it was a 400 mile drive each way. One thing that helped is that a few years prior I had given away my kids clothes, toys etc that they had outgrown to my foster families because foster kids are hard on things. Also the summer before I had insisted we get rid of the junk in the basement. I never imagined that I could pack a family of 5 so fast. My kids were all teenagers and out of town at various things so could not help.

[iris lilies]

The last time we moved across states, my employer picked up the tab for a moving company. That was somewhat unfortunate since that did not encourage us to get rid of stuff. i already had minimal furniture and lived in a small house. Also, we moved a car, putting it in the moving truck.

Later, much of that stuff was jettisoned or sold.

[Reyes]

I don't have clutter:-) I don't say that to brag (although DW may disagree:-). I have kept things to a minimum for over twenty years. My grandson has more possessions (i.e. toys) at my place than I.

[TxZen]

Very quickly...we did this with our move from Tn to Tx. Rented the smallest Uhaul and only filled it 1/3 of the way. I tore through each room, packing as I went. I put a plastic bin in each room for what we were taking and really considered each item. Most was donated, some things sold and the rest recycled or trashed. I am very decisive and do not regret anything.

[Ultralight]

None. ;)

[Gardenarian]

Way too much, though we moved not so long ago. Dh has so much.
Personally, I could get my stuff organized very quickly. It's more complicated when you're a family.

[Chicken lady]

I never intend to move again.

[Teacher Terry]

Never means "next." :~)

[Chicken lady]

I didn't say I was never moving. I know better than that! This house is the house after the house I was never leaving. I said I never INTEND to move again.

if I have a sudden move it's most likely to be by ambulance.

[Tammy]

None. We moved in 1/2 day last time. About 4 trips with our jeep across the city.

[pinkytoe]

Well, since I have two weeks left to get out of our house and its still a work in progress, we shall see. One thing for sure, I am letting stuff go that I never would have considered before. The Goodwill pile grows so large each week that we have had to make multiple trips. On Monday, I will call Salv Army to come get what I can't sell over the weekend. And I will never have this much stuff again. I should have another garage sale but way too exhausted to pull that off and move too.

[Teacher Terry]

When you are pressured for time it is so much easier to let stuff go-I know from first hand experience.