How to decide what to keep when moving abroad
The sheer volume of accumulated belongings makes it incredibly overwhelming to figure out where to even start sorting. This paralysis often stems from trying to save things out of a fear of regretting the loss, rather than forcing a strict justification for why an item is actually needed. People often break this standstill by realizing it is usually cheaper and less painful to simply sell heavy furniture and buy new items after the move.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Keeping some things at a relative's place.Did this help you?
- 2Selling large or heavy furniture and buying new items at the destination.Did this help you?
- 3Filling a strict limit of boxes (e.g., 8 boxes for books) and getting rid of whatever doesn't fit.Did this help you?
- 4Packing a moving pod with definite keeps first, only adding secondary items if there is leftover room.Did this help you?
- 5Using the rule of asking if you would spend the money to buy the item again today.Did this help you?
- 6Adopting a morbid but practical mindset of whether kids would want to sort through the items after you pass away.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Moving to another country alone and have 10 years worth or stuff piled at my place.”source ↗
“It’s so overwhelming that I don’t know where to even start and can’t decide what to throw out and what to sell.”source ↗
“When downsizing it can be difficult to choose what to take, what to toss, what to sell, what to donate, etc. Not all rooms are same size or shape. Good luck to anyone who has to do this.”source ↗
“My last move, we decided that it was cheaper to sell all the furniture and buy new. Too much of a pain to move it.”source ↗
“We moved 9 years ago from 2800 sf to 1500 sf so huge downsizing and it forced us to get rid of a lot. Fortunately or unfortunately we have a huge cellar in the newer place so we still kept more than we needed.”source ↗
“Unfortunately my wife views it from the perspective of “would you regret getting rid of it” for stuff we haven’t looked at or used in 9 years.”source ↗
“I’m doing this now- from 5200sq ft to 2600 in Brooklyn. I started with a more saving stuff approach, then changed it to get rid of everything unless I justify why I need it.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 2How to choose between a big career move and your relationship?
- 12How to fix laminate floor damage before moving out without losing deposit
- 4Can I keep my Etsy shop and Payoneer account after moving abroad?