I’ve moved more than 20 times.
In the early days, we’d rent a truck, pack our stuff in boxes from the liquor store and recruit my friends to help. Afterward, we’d eat pizza and drink beer.
As I got older, it got harder. My friends no longer wanted to help, our furniture got heavier and our stuff multiplied. Ellen and I would spend weeks packing the house. Then we’d hire movers to do the loading and unloading.
The last two times we moved I paid movers to pack us. This was the best. They came, packed everything in 2 days and delivered it to us a week later.
By my back of the napkin calculations, we spent over $50K moving our stuff.
It turns out, our stuff is worth way less than that.
I’ve been getting rid of all of our stuff for a few months now.
First, I tried to sell what I thought would be valuable. Quickly I realized I was better off giving stuff away for free.
- Kettlebells, sandbags and heavy duty exercise gear – Sold on Craigslist for 25% of retail.
- Never used Honda generator – Paid $1000, sold for $600.
- Never used, in the box, window AC – Paid $135. No takers. Gave away to salvation army,
- 50″ HD Smart TV – Paid $500. Listed for $250. No takers. Had 3 people mildly interested in it for free. Gave it to Zack.
- Furniture – Gave it all away for free. Including “valuable” antiques, an expensive bedroom set we paid $5000 for, a $2000 sofa, a $500 coffee table and a complete dining room set.
- 3 year old king size bed – Paid $1000. Gave to Zack.
- 10 year old Queen size bed in great condition. Gave to neighbor down the street.
I donated two truckloads of household goods to the Salvation Army. But even they refused to take our china cabinet. The driver told me they had too many armoires and china cabinets that they couldn’t sell. He said they had to pay to take them to the dump. He offered to help me carry it to the curb for bulk trash day.
And there you have it.
I was lucky that my son wanted to take some of our really beautiful antiques. We had lamps from the late 1700s, tables from the 1800s, ornate oriental rugs and cloissenette. He remembers these from his grandfather’s house and our house so they have meaning to him.
I was lucky that a nearby neighbor has a daughter who needs to furnish her first apartment. Rather than buying new, she took my dining room set, a bedroom set and more.
I was lucky another neighbor needs outdoor furniture and is taking our $1500 dresser (for free) because it reminds him of one he had as a child.
Otherwise, it would all end up on the curb beside the china cabinet, waiting to be carted to the dump.
What a waste. What an eye opener. What a lesson.
It seems like people have so much stuff, that they don’t even want my stuff for free. But then I see stores packed with people buying new couches, TVs , and household goods.
It’s like a disease. The disease of overconsumption.
I had it too. I didn’t think so, but I was wrong.
No matter what happens when I am on the road, I will never buy furniture again. If I need something, I’ll get it from Craigslist. For free.
I won’t buy another 3 bedroom house to fill with crap. If I buy another home, it will be an extremely small one room cabin or apartment.
I won’t be filling my life with more stuff for someone else to throw away when I’m gone.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself today. We’ll see what happens.