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Most everything that I am not shipping back will go into a local storage unit until I get my feet under me in San Diego. I want to keep my storage size and moving costs to a minimum and figure it's best to donate or throw away. I also figure, it I move it or store it, it will cost $.
But is it worth keeping the camping boxes/home repair (tools, nails, etc.) as the cost will be minimal to store and move or best just to get rid of it and start over once I get settled?
I use the camping gear but it's cheap stuff. The best part is that it's all in a box and organized after years of trial and error but again, I can buy it on the other side.
I wish I had more time to sell things but I don't. The furniture that I don't like along with books and old kitchen items are easy decisions but the smaller things seem to be causing me to over-think it. "It's not that heavy or bulky, maybe I should store and move it but then again, it's cheap stuff that really doesn't justify storing and moving".
One of my guidelines for what to keep is how much am I using it now? If not much, why not? Then, will I use it more when I move? For many things, the answer was no.
Camping gear is a gray area for me anyway. I always have two working lanterns, a multi-fuel double burner stove, small bottle of fuel, and a small and large cooler, large enough to hold the contents of the freezer in the event of a prolonged power outage in the summer.
This stuff doubles as emergency equipment for me. However, I no longer have two large back packs, multiple sleeping pads, and several weights of sleeping bags. Nor do I have a box of lightweight cookware. I did keep one Alpine pot and one pan . . .
I generally have to use this type of equipment at least once a year, either for an emergency or because I take it along on a road trip. Given the cost of eating out, I tend to make my own breakfast and lunch.
More than you asked, but this is an example of the thought process I use.
We, too are preparing to move and have had the same struggle with deciding what to keep and what to donate/sell. We decided that if we didn't have an immediate need for the items when we reached our new destination, we would not store them or keep them. There is a cost to storing things and moving things. DH is keeping only the special tools that he uses often and that are costly to replace. We got rid of all the nails and smaller tools, and only keep essentials, like a hammer, pliers, etc. Got rid of all camping equipment except for a small one burner stove for days when the power goes out. Kept a cooler because it was new. Got rid of lots of plastic bins. Saved some that we will use for packing and moving. Basically, trying to take only things we are sure that we will use often. If in our new location, we find the need for something that we got rid of, we'll go out and buy it. But most likely, if we didn't use it on a regular basis here, we will most likely not use it in our new location. Sometimes I keep an item because it is small and doesn't take up much room. But then I realize that I justify keeping another small item and then another and another. Before I know it, I have boxes of "small" items that I'm not even sure I really want or will ever use again. Then I rethink it and decide not to take them. I don't need more stuff, especially stuff that I may not even use. Best of luck to you.
We, too are preparing to move and have had the same struggle with deciding what to keep and what to donate/sell. We decided that if we didn't have an immediate need for the items when we reached our new destination, we would not store them or keep them. There is a cost to storing things and moving things. DH is keeping only the special tools that he uses often and that are costly to replace. We got rid of all the nails and smaller tools, and only keep essentials, like a hammer, pliers, etc. Got rid of all camping equipment except for a small one burner stove for days when the power goes out. Kept a cooler because it was new. Got rid of lots of plastic bins. Saved some that we will use for packing and moving. Basically, trying to take only things we are sure that we will use often. If in our new location, we find the need for something that we got rid of, we'll go out and buy it. But most likely, if we didn't use it on a regular basis here, we will most likely not use it in our new location. Sometimes I keep an item because it is small and doesn't take up much room. But then I realize that I justify keeping another small item and then another and another. Before I know it, I have boxes of "small" items that I'm not even sure I really want or will ever use again. Then I rethink it and decide not to take them. I don't need more stuff, especially stuff that I may not even use. Best of luck to you.
That makes sense to me and appreciate your suggestion and Meemur's suggestion too.
Sell/donate everything except what you can fit in your vehicle and some minor shipping. It's a very liberating experience to get rid of all that "stuff" that just accumulates.
If you are going to keep using it, just keep it. If you wont be able to take it with you, just ship it. (uship.com) Donate the rest; churchs, schools, camps, goodwill, or even that nice kid a few houses down who can help you do a few things for your move. Let them appreciate it if its just going to be a hassle.
You can always just do a bulk listing for like items on cragslist, camping lot, home repair stuff.
Sell it cheap on craigslist. If cheap enough it will go in a day.
This.
If it isn't selling, you can give it away for free on Craigslist too. People will jump at anything that's being given away for free. So let someone else cart away your heavy junk!
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