I have been extremely busy these last couple of weeks. My husband has found a new job and it looks like my family will be moving to another province! It’s all very exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time. Thank you again for not only your support and encouragement but also patience with this here blog over the last couple of months as we spent time trying to figure out which direction to go. Our only obstacle now is selling our current home which certainly isn’t going to be easy in a town with so many other houses for sale. Your prayers are greatly appreciated as I try and trust in God’s timing.
With this move coming up for our family this year, I’ve been attacking my house with this knowledge front and center in my mind. Nothing is out of bounds. Piles of stuff like you see in this picture below are leaving my house regularly. I started off small but the fire of organization has taken over and is fueling my desire to just get rid of as much as I can now before we move.
It isn’t clutter necessarily but just stuff around the house that when I ask the following three questions I get a pretty clear answer as to how I want to deal with a lot of it.
1. Do I really need/love this that I want to PAY to move it? (moving is expensive!)
2. Would I rather deal with all of this stuff now or on the other side of our move where chances are good we’ll be living in a much smaller house?
3. How easy would this be to replace on the other side of our move if I really need to?
Let it go Laura.
So as you can imagine the organizing going on in my house right now doesn’t make for very exciting blog posts. I feel that all my pictures would be like these ones:
Craft cupboard before purge:
After purge:
As you can see I’m doing a lot more purging than I am organizing. My containers are being abandoned to my container’s container in anticipation of their new home. They are sad but know they’ll be needed again real soon. Poor things.
One of my friends in town has been going through all her books in hopes of downsizing her collection in case of a possible move as well. She recently threw what I like to lovingly refer to as a Purge Party. She put out all the books she wanted to get rid of (no easy feat, this girl LOVES her books!), served up some food and called some friends over to help themselves to both. I think it made it easier for her to part with her “babies” knowing that someone else would love them. We had such fun, it was a great time to visit and come away with some new reading material. My girlfriend says her house feels so much lighter now and she is totally motivated to do more purging. Yay!
Another girlfriend came with about 8 purses she wanted to part with. We played the Christmas exchange game for them and it was a hoot. I came home with a wild and crazy purple purse which, although quite the vibrant color, is a terrific size.
Have you ever hosted a Purge Party of your own? If not, could you see yourself doing this? Tell me about it.
Kim says
A purge party. Cool idea! I’ve been having my own purge party but I only invited myself. LOL So far I’ve purged my closet, my pantry and my office. I’m pretty sure noone would have wanted the 4 year old pancake mix I found in my pantry! LOL.
That is an extremely good idea though. We have our house on the market as well and I’m trying to get all this stuff done so I don’t have to worry about it when we start packing. Prayers for us would also be appreciated as well. It’s a tough market right now!
Hugs
Kim
ter@waaoms says
If you’re moving to Manitoba, look me up!
I *love* the idea of a purge party! I might set one up! I always hestitate to just give my things away because I don’t know where its going and who will get it but if it’s someone I know then I know they’ll take care of it! 🙂 I love the idea! I’m going to see about planning one! 🙂
I’m glad to hear your husband found a job, that must be a load off your mind!
Faithfulmom2 says
This sounds like us last year. We never sold our house but once again, I think we will get a relocation and once again…we are purging!!! Best Wishes!
Camille says
I’m hosting a Girl’s Night “Swap Party” in February! Everyone brings up to 10 items to swap for up to 10 items. Doesn’t exactly get rid of things, but it does get rid of unused items!
Michelle says
Laura – congratulations on the new job! Good for you for doing your best to embrace the change (and purge!!).
We will keep you in our prayers.
Laura says
Thanks girls!
Kim, will definitely pray for you as well!
Sorry Ter it isn’t Manitoba 🙁
Camille, I love the idea of a swap party as well. If you post about it on your blog afterwards, let me know. I’d love to check it out!
Colleen/And Baby Makes Five says
What a fabulous idea! When we were preparing for our move four years ago, I let go of a lot of “stuff.” We didn’t have a party, but we did have a very liberating yard sale.
And now I think it’s time to pretend that we’re moving … because we could certainly do with some more purposeful purging.
All the best to you and your family as you prepare for your next adventure…
Erin K. says
Congrats on your husband’s new job! Yes, God’s timing is perfect. About two years ago we were living in a not-so-great neighborhood and had plans to put our house on the market once we had our ducks in a row. Then someone got shot (yes, SHOT) in our driveway one night, and the very next day we contacted a Realtor and put our house on the market ASAP. To make a long story short, we are now in a house we love and God totally blessed our socks off! Also, our house sold just before the housing market tanked and now the houses in that neighborhood are worth a lot less. The moral of the story… God’s timing is perfect, His ways are higher than ours, and He can take the worst situations and turn them around for our good. 🙂
Also, I wouldn’t mind if you posted a few more of the before and after purging photos. That absolutely motivated me to see what things I could get rid of. I’ve never had a purging party but I’ve thought about it. I have a bunch of stuff at home waiting to go to Goodwill, so maybe I’ll do a purging party instead!
Sammy says
A purge party sounds like so much fun!
Good luck with the sorting (and packing) and congratulations to your husband on the new job.
Laura says
Erin, that’s very encouraging. Thanks for sharing your story!
Harmony says
Not Manitoba, how about Nova Scotia? Good luck with the move, we are contemplating a move in the summer and there is a LOT I need to purge before then. I like the party idea!
Lindsey says
Love your blog and I’m even happier that you’re moving (I realize that sounds weird)…however, I found your blog b/c I started looking for blogs about organizing…I kind of have a fetish for organizing too, lol…and I wanted to learn from a few others, pick up some tips…because we’re moving too! and now my organizing, purging is in overdrive!
I can’t wait to see more pics of your purging, preparing to move stages!!!
Laura says
Nope not Nova Scotia either 🙂
SnoWhite says
how exciting – praise God that He provided for your family by getting a job for your husband. wonderful.
I hear you on the purging … we may have a move in our future too, and I’ve got a whole room that is slowly filling with items we will not move!
Michele says
Keep the posts coming! Absolutely inspiring. Love the purge party idea.
Ally's Corner says
I’m so happy about your husband job!!! Atleast it was faster than my husband 15 months.
I am purging crazy. I said “do we rreally need all this stuff”.
I want things to be simple and I’m making it that way.
Danielle @ Transforming Home says
Congrats on the new job and move! How exciting.
I think the purge party sounds like a great idea. I am currently re-decorating our boys room, from nursery to big-boy room, and I have already donated 10 bags of stuff! Man, it feels GREAT!
Danielle
nicole says
My girlfriends did a swap party with purses, shoes and accessories. It was a lot of fun, and we took all the unclaimed stuff to a thrift store after. Your friend should use http://www.paperbackswap.com to make the most of her book habit.
Amy @ Finer Things says
Congrats on the new job, Laura! Your purging is inspiring… amazing what we can live without, huh? 🙂
Laura says
10 bags Danielle, that’s awesome!
Oh Amy it is so true! I have a feeling I won’t even miss most of this stuff.
Laura says
Thanks Nicole, I will have to ask her if she has heard of it.
Alison @ Hospitality Haven says
Wow! Congrats on the move/job! Being one that has moved often, I fully agree that purging prior to moving is a good idea. It feels fresh to know that you’re only packing what you want/need! I also LOVE your idea of a purge party!! I might just do that soon…I have a few things that have been purged in garbage bags just waiting to go find a new home…!
Coco says
Good Luck with the move and selling the house. I must be weird, because I LOVE seeing what people purge. It gives me an idea of what other people are parting with. In a way motivating and challenging.
Tanna says
Woo hoo! But this post leaves me slightly jealous because I so love a good move! I moved 13 times in like 15 years or something crazy like that. I have been in this house 4 years now and I have had the itch to move for the last two. So I just keep on re-organizing and moving furniture around! My office is kind of turning into a game room, the playroom turned into my son’s room. And the kitchen is also becoming my office. I think my bedroom needs a facelift. Hmmmm.
Great news, love ya girl! I’m heart broken that you don’t have to move to the states but I understand. I don’t know if the US could handle both of us.
Laura says
Tanna you seriously crack me up! And I so know what you mean about the arranging and rearranging. At least if we ever get committed for our “craziness” we know we won’t be alone 🙂
Jenny says
Congrats to Hubby on the new job. I “think” we are currently in the same province, which upped our chances of eventually meeting, but since you are moving away, I will waive to you instead. /WAVE!
Jenny says
Oh and to make you feel better, I was working on our basement storage this weekend, since we’ve been here a year and still have stuff in boxes, and found at least 3 boxes of things I was sure I had purged before we moved! Bleh.
Andi says
My friends and I had a group purge party/swap in the fall and it was so much fun! We all brought items from our houses we no longer wanted (nothing was off-limits but it had to be things that we thought someone else would actually use) and then we were given tickets to place on the items that others brought that we wanted to take home with us. names were pulled out of a hat if there was more than one ticket on an item. We had a great time – and all of brought home some “new to us” things that we really needed. We do the same thing at Christmas time as a gift exchange. Instead of buying something for each other we wrap something from our home that we no longer want and play the gift exchange game.
I must say that your purging is inspiring! Congrats on your husband’s new job and good luck with the move!
Belinda S says
all the best as your family starts on this new adventure.
I am in NB and I doubt there were many jobs here but I can dream, right?
I MUST ask…what did you do with all your old craft supplies? throw it out? I sometimes have things I can not decide on and it sits for a few days and then I ask my husband to decide and I don’t even look as I know it is now in the garbage.LOL
Keep ther pics coming, fun!!!!
Laura says
Hey Jenny, that makes the decision pretty easy for you then to get rid of it doesn’t it…lol!
Andi we do that too at Christmas time. I love the gift exchange game!!
Laura says
Belinda, I donated the majority of my craft supplies to my son’s preschool. They were so appreciative!!
Marci@OvercomingBusy says
WOW! Tanna has me beat by a mile! I was going to tell you how we have moved 5 times in the past 13 years, but Tanna wins! In all that moving, you get pretty un-attached to things. We move about every 3 years. If there are things that didn’t come out of the box since the last move, it gets tossed or donated. We have been in this house about 3 years and I am noticing the need to de-clutter. With no move on the horizon, I am just pretending to need to move and getting rid of stuff.
Dee says
Congrats on the move, & may God go before you & prepare the path! We’re not moving, but we are completely moving into the house we’ve lived in for ten years. It was my mil’s home & we moved in with her. At that time we believed it was a temporary stay. She passed away a few months ago; we’ve purchased the house & are in the process, with my brother-in-law, of removing her things & bringing home things we’ve had in storage all those years. We will be purging as we go. A family changes a lot in ten years! The biggest issue will be convincing the 6 year-old that he doesn’t need all the toys that belonged to 5 now teen & older siblings.
Selena says
We recently moved from Washington to California and I knew a year ago that I didn’t want to pay to move stuff that I could live without. We brought down hardly any furniture and have been able to slowly thrift replacement pieces. As luck would have it the new pieces are better than we left. We had a huge yard sale and sold $3500 in items which helped pay for our move. Good luck in your purge and soon to be new home.
Kim N says
I love it! I am going to start planning one of my own.
Sharon says
Just wanted to say congrats on the new job!!
If anyone can handle organizing a move, I know YOU can. 🙂
Good Luck with all of this. So happy your dh has a job!
Joyce says
Yay for the new job! What a relief. Good luck with the move. We’re going to do a purge for when we switch the girls’ room. Seriously, there are somethings that we won’t ever need…like old schoolwork…
Sara says
I have heard about Purge Parties, but have never been to one or had one. But all I know is how much I want to come to YOURS!!
Laura says
Marci I like the idea of pretending to move if you aren’t just to spark the purge process, that’s awesome!
Selena, wow $3500.00 in a garage sale. Amazing!
LOL, Sara, the only purge party I should probably have is a container one but I just don’t know if I’d be strong enough 🙂
Laura says
Thanks for all the well wishes everyone, you are all so nice!!
Lisa says
Sounds fun! I have been generously gifted and have given, but never held a party for it! That would be great! Bring food in containers you don’t want! lol….
Ezzy says
Good luck on the move. I hope it isn’t going to be snowing much. I moved in January 2 years ago. Running along the great lakes wsn’t very fun.
And thanks for the email on my dishes. It was very helpful.
Jennifer says
This cracks me up! A purge party!
jerilyn says
Found you via Musing Mommies interview – so great, and so many good tips!!! I will be a loyal fan of your blog now!!
Jen says
Love the idea of a purge party. Your container’s container has inspired me to create something like that when we move in a couple months. Love the color of that purse.
Jenny says
Yes!! I just hosted an accessory party. Friends came over with any kind of accessory they wanted to part with and we exchanged…purses, scarves, hats, necklaces, earrings, shoes…amazing time!
Belinda S says
wow!!! Selena’s garage sale $3500? I can not believe it!!! We did one 2 years ago for a fundraiser for our local autism center and we barely got $450!!!!! Amazing!!!!!
Laura, donating makes the process a lot less painful, eh? Knowing it is going to good use and not a waste of money. A lot of people have trouble with that.
Do you watch Hoarders on A & E? I go into an organization overdrive from watching it. Sad stories though.
HeavenlyHomemakers says
Never had a Purge Party, but it sure does sound like fun!! My church does a clothing exchange every year though and it’s AWESOME!!! http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/women-with-a-mission-the-great-clothing-exchange
SO thankful to hear that your husband has a job!! I’ve been praying for you. Yay God!!!
Can’t wait to hear what God has in store for you in your new home!
Stacey says
This idea is so great. I’ve held a women’s chocolate group monthly before because food and friendship seems to bring us all together. I’d love to try a purge party! You are so good to be purging now and I love your ideas. Thanks!
Toni says
A Purge Party, I wish I thought about that before I moved. Good luck on the move & with the new job.
Oh, I do like the purple purse.
Julie says
I thought your craft closet was lookiing good before the purge! Now, wow. Tis a gift to be simple!
The purge party sounds good. I think I will keep it in mind for if and when we have to move again. When faced with boxing and loading things up into a truck–purging may come a lot easier.
I wish you all the best on your move.
Rachel says
We call them “Trash to Treasure” parties and have one before the church’s rummage sale. You bring your stuff, you take some stuff, then all the rest goes up to the church. It’s especially good for kids’ toys and books and clothing, but we have mom stuff in there, too! Also great for half-used containers of stuff that didn’t work for us … lotions and whatnot. Stuff they would pitch at the Goodwill.
AnneMarieZ says
oh- now this is a great idea!!!! I love it!!!
I just went through one box of my boy’s clothes and gave away 2 bags…. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
felt so good!!! I am going through the whole hose like you- do I love it or need it? then toss it!!!
odessa says
Oh please continue to post about your move process. I am in the same situation and could use the encouragement watching someone else deal with all the stuff of moving.
Michelle Sarabia says
Laura – I soo understand! We are looking at moving to Austin, TX. This economy is killing us and when your in construction you have to go where the work is.
I’ll be praying for ya!
Christine says
Asking yourself not only if you love the item you are possibly purging but if you would want to pay someone to move it can totally change how you look at something… great way to think about it!
It was our pleasure to feature your wonderful site on our blog and good luck with your move!
Keri @ Spirit of Power says
Purge Party – LOVE IT!
Thinking about if it is worth it to PAY to move it – that is powerful. That would really cut through and make me think about if I really need and love whatever it is I am considering.
Congrats to your husband, by the way!
Wendi says
I used my fiber fill (stuffing for craft projects) to pack some of my more fragile items in when moving…..useful and then I had it when I needed it after the move.
Alea says
We had a friend who threw a “house cooling” party. The opposite of a house warming – every guest had to leave with something!
Jena OrganizingMommy says
Love the purple purse! We had to move often with the military, so I know the value of purging. It’s fun and hard at the same time. Hope your move goes well.
Susanne says
A purge party! How fun! And I love the purple purse. Playing the Christmas game for them is awesome!
You are doing good, girl. Moving is insanely expensive. I couldn’t believe how much they wanted when I called around when my daughter moved to another province. How are the kids feeling about really scaling down their things.
Amy says
Hey Laura, Have been thinking and praying for you ever since the post when your husband lost his job. SO HAPPY to hear he has found something. We sold our house last March right after the economy dipped in October ’08. We just prayed that the right person would come in, and quickly!!! With 3 small children, I just couldn’t keep cleaning it to sparkle every day!!! It sold in 6 days!!! I pray the same prayer for you, that He is your Real Estate Agent, your Moving Company, your Babysitter, etc etc, that the right people will come in, and quickly!! and that you have the peace of Christ filling your heart and mind as you walk through this time. We have had so many changes this last year; your blog has been such an encouragement to me, I cannot tell you!!! When I have lonely days in a messy house, I come here first!!! I always leave with inspiration and confidence!! Thanks for doing what you do! God Bless!
Michelle says
We have moved 10 times in the last 10 years. Our last two moves were for jobs. I can imagine your joy with mixed feelings at finding a job and needing to relocate. The entire process is exhausting. The purge party sounds fun to me. Great idea. A nice way to say goodbye to the friends as well.
Pip says
Ever hear of Butler Bags? I’m sure I’ve seen them on organizing websites..well..Walmart has them in Canada now! They’re $27 here in Alberta. They’re very nice looking on the outside, I’m not sure they’re what I need but I’m sure someone will love them!
Daisy says
I love your blog for many reasons and this is one of them. You are already so organized all you have to do is purge. My family and I just moved a couple of weeks ago and it was just up the street. But let me tell you…with a set of twins and a blogging business….it was tough. I’m thankful for the consistency of my readers and bloggers like yourself.
Your move will be smooth. I’m telling you this now(and yes I threw a little prayer in there too–wink wink)
Please let me know if you need any guests posts throughout this process as I know now, that would have been so helpful throughout my move (thank goodness it was over the holidays). My specialties: #1Coupon, #2 My Photography Blog, #3 My cupcake LOVE & blog.
Take care and thanks again for having such a great site for others to gain organization in their life too.
Becky L says
So happy to hear that your husband has found another job. I’ll be praying for the sale of your house to be soon and your purging not too painful. I look at all my stuff I have and remember all my mom had when we had to move her out in 2008 and into a nursing home. Alot of cards and things I now have to store in my garage…knicknacks. So glad she gave some old Christmas stuff away the previous Christmas. So I want to have less for my kids to go thru. I love the purging party and the purple purse is awesome. Enjoy it!! I’m a pursaholic myself so I have to be careful about getting too many. :0) Take care and keep yourself sane in all this, my friend. God bless
Carol says
we’re also moving in about 2 months or so. please do post more of your ideas. thanks!
Ryall says
We call then Savvy Swaps. Me and my friends and their friends all bring our clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, and “stink pretty” items and we swap. SO often we have in style items in our closet that we are sick of, don’t fit or just don’t need. This has been a fab way to purge, get a few new items and have some great girl time. My husband loves it too, because I am not spending any money but am getting “new” clothes. Our local “green” store does this once a month with different themes, womens, childrens, mens, etc.
jen says
No purge party for me..but congrats on the move!
Mel says
Question – What is one to do if one’s husband wants to keep everything? Argh? Just interested in your suggestions.
Pam Smith says
I’m happy for your family that your husband found a job. What an answer to prayer. May Jesus bless your family during this time!
I love the Purge Party idea. I have SEVERAL things I could pass along to others…now you’ve got me thinking.
kathleen says
exciting! Freecycle.org is a great way to recycle goodies. Find one in your area and post away. Folks who need things will be thrilled to get your goodies!
Sarah @ BluebonnetsandHaggis says
OMG! You are like an answer to a prayer. I came to your site today hoping that I may find some moving tips and what do I find? OrgJunkie is moving too! I am so happy for your family. Our family has 30 days to vacate the house we are currently renting due to structural issues and I am feeling WAY overwhelmed. Now I can come here and commiserate. Thanks for everything!
Patricia Linehan says
I am coordinator of a MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) group and a couple of years ago we started putting out a MOPSwap table at every meeting (we meet twice per month). Members can bring ANYTHING they want to get rid of— we’ve had a lot of interesting items put out there! Every couple of months we take the MOPSwap leftovers to the local Salvation Army drop off or the Goodwill store.
Martha says
Best of luck with the purge and the move Laura! I think purge posts might even be more helpful to most than regular organizing posts!
Kim Rempel says
Purge Party? What an interesting idea! It’s a reason to get together and share what we have … I think I would be worried though, that people would think I was just trying to get rid of my junk. … Garage Sales are commonplace and accepted … what’s the perception of Purge Parties?
I think if I knew my friends would appreciate it (I would appreciate my friends sharing their stuff), I would definately do that. … Countless times I’ve heard of someone say they got rid of something, and I wished I had known about it so I could have bought it or had it. … Purge party would be great for that 🙂
Amy says
Congrats on your hubby finding a job! How exciting that you get to move and start fresh. I haven’t had a purge party before but I love the idea!
MemeGRL says
Congratulations on the move! I’m very excited for you and your family and grateful that the web keeps you right “here” in my computer where I can find you and your inspiration when I need it. Wishing you an easy embrace of the new chapter for your family!
Leah says
Congrats on your husband’s new job and good luck with your move!
Dawn says
I LOVE the Purge Party idea. I think I’m going to have to give that a try – maybe more than one with themes – like Kids clothes/toys, Ladies Night, Housewares, etc.
Stacey says
Hi, Laura.
I’m a Professional Organizer who just happened upon your website. You are very smart to ask yourself if you want to PAY to move your stuff and if you want to deal with the stuff later. I always advise my clients to purge their belongings before they move so they DON’T have to pay to move them.
I have an article on my website called, “It’s Just a Sea of Boxes: Helpful Hints for an Organized Move” http://www.organizedartistry.com/orgomove.html. I hope it will be of help to you as you pack up your home…
Best of luck with your move and keep on purgin’!
Peggy says
Hello!
I have come back to your blog multiple times today trying to figure out HOW you cut your crafts storage down so much. My workroom closet started out so nice but is a nightmare now! I don’t know how to decide what has to go. Crafts can lead to needing just about anything!!
Peggy
jennifer says
Don’t forget that in some cases it may be less expensive to move than replace. If you’re paying a moving company, you can call them and ask them how much it would be to move each piece. I did this and when I figured it would be $10 to move an item or over $100 to replace, I decided to move the item. Keep that in mind when purging and replacing later.
Creative Triplet Mom says
I swear every time I come to your blog its like reading my life. I haven’t been reading blogs in a while because I too am preparing for a move. Purging here and there. My major tackle is my craft room. I even got a friend to help me because I had a problem with purging stuff because now my kids are really into crafts. I did donate 3 big boxes of paper and punches to their school. Oh, we are not moving because of my husband’s job it’s the taxes here. It’s killing us. We need to downsize. Problem is we need to get rid of the clutter before listing house on market. Good luck on your move.
Leah says
What a great bunch of tips. And here I thought I had invented the Purge Party LOL! I came up with the idea as I am planning to move from an apartment I share with a friend to my own 2 bdrm condo. I have lots of great stuff, books and clothes and trinket. Just not stuff I really need anymore or care to move.
I googled purge party to see if anyone had done it before and had any ideas and I found this! Can I also mention how many disturbing “purge tip” eating disorder sites are online. Scary.
Anyway, I LOVE the idea of people putting tags on the things they want and then drawing if there was more than one. I was wondering if there would be nail-baring cat fights if someone wanted the same thing. I also thought about handing out some play money and having people “bid” on what they want. Might be fun.
Thanks for all the great ideas! I have bookmarked this site and will be back often!