Moving : The Proper Way to Purge

After living somewhere for an extended amount of time, you’re bound to accumulate a lot of things—many of which you don’t need. Now is a great opportunity to take stock of what you have, and decide what to get rid of.

Ask yourself: Do I use this?

Questions like, “Do I need this?” and “Do I want this?” are easy to justify. You can imagine hosting a future party where you’ll finally put that countertop rotisserie to use or bring out the novelty St. Patrick’s Day plates.

But do you use these things? Have you ever? When was the last time you used something? If you forgot you even had it, you don’t use it. Throw it away. If you haven’t worn something in the last six months, it can go.

If you’re concerned about being wasteful, you have options:

• Donate it – Many charitable organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army will take a variety of goods and give you a receipt for tax breaks. They’ll take everything from clothes and kitchen appliances to electronics and furniture. Get a complete list of charitable organizations and what they take. Alternatively, list items to give away on sites like Craigslist and do a poor college student a favor.
• Sell it – Hold a garage or yard sale, post things for sale online, or bring clothes, shoes, electronics, and furniture to thrift stores and secondhand stores to sell.
• Recycle it – Search for places in your area that recycle electronics, construction materials, and sports equipment.