A year ago, my partner and I packed everything we owned and moved cross-country. 

Well.

Everything we still owned.

Before we moved, we did a deep clean and purge of what we had in our two-bedroom apartment. It was one of the best things we did when it came to that move. Not only did it mean we had less to pack, but it really forced us to take a look at what we had and ask questions about what we still needed, if we were ever going to pick that hobby back up, and stuff like that. It was an interesting exercise in evaluating our lives that I definitely needed, but there were a ton of other good things that came of decluttering pre-move.

Here are some reasons you should definitely consider pre-move decluttering: 

Declutter for monetary gain

The most obvious benefit of our decluttering was the money. Initially, our desire to go through all our stuff was so there was less to move—something that you really need to think about when you’re moving across the country. I found two main reasons for that.

Moving Costs

The more stuff you pack, the more the movers have to pick up, drive, and drop off and shocking no one, that costs more money. Some movers charge by weight, and some charge by the amount of space your boxes take up in the truck. It’s a delicate balance of “how much can I pack this box?” and “how many boxes do I need?” and estimations are somehow always off. Or maybe I’m terrible at figuring that out, but it’s worked out in my favor.

You might not think that you own that much stuff, but trust me, it adds up fast. You’ll open drawers you don’t usually look in, open boxes in the back of your closet, and find clothes with the tags still on them, but you can’t remember when you bought them. It’s life – at least, it is for me. Finding all that stuff is a good chance to declutter without actively trying to. If you haven’t thought about it in a while, do you really need it?

Making Money

Another reason I firmly believe you should declutter while you’re preparing to move is that moving is expensive. Even when you do most or all of it yourself, all sorts of costs add up, and your budget will go out the window. 

Decluttering can help you make some money for your move or anything else you’d want it for. When we were packing to move, my partner and I put together a few boxes of books, records, and other things to Half Price Books. The store went through what we brought, offered to buy what they could then sell, and gave us cash for it. The best part, though, is that whatever they didn’t buy, they did the legwork to donate! 

You can sell pretty much anything online. There’s Facebook Marketplace, which has the added bonus of local people buying your stuff, which means you don’t have to worry about shipping. Etsy is a great place for vintage stuff or art supplies you don’t need, and Mecari and Poshmark are great platforms for clothing.

And don’t forget about taking stuff to your local consignment shop! 

Declutter for Peace of Mind

I don’t know about you, but cleaning is a great way to ground myself. Part of it is the mindfulness of doing a task that requires (mostly) undivided attention, but also I can take the time to evaluate what I have around me. As someone with ADHD who struggles with throwing things away, piles appear everywhere, and it’s not always possible to clean as you go. 

By taking the time to declutter, you can make the space around you feel better. For me, I don’t usually notice until there’s too much stuff and it feels like walls are closing in around me. Anxiety can really derail from everything else going on, so decluttering can make the space feel workable and keep you on task. Sleeping is easier when your space looks and feels good. 

Moving is the perfect time to determine what you want for your space and part ways with what no longer works for you. In some cases, decluttering may just mean reorganizing. When you’re decluttering one room, you could find something that works better in another. 

It’s no secret that moving can be overwhelming. Decluttering as you’re packing is a great way to give future you a break. You’ll pack less stuff, you’ll move less stuff, and then you’ll unpack less stuff. Plus, you might make some money in the process!

Check back soon for tips on how to declutter when moving.