It's finally time to invest in that dream condo. The kids have all left home, and the house you have enjoyed for so long is now just too big. While parting with any of your belongings may be tough, your new smaller home is not going to fit everything!

Passing Items Along

If you have grown children, than this is a great time to pass on old toys or memorable items you have been saving for them or your grandchildren. Lay everything out in an open space and invite friends and family for a day of reminiscing reclaiming, giving them an opportunity to take what they want or could use; this way you will still be able to see your valued belongings being used by others, which makes it easier to part with these items. While this should help thin out some of your belongings, you may still be left with too much to move.

Selling

Now comes the hard part. Your friends and family have taken everything they can, and you still need to get rid of years' worth of accumulated possessions. Having a garage sale is a great way to clear out some of your belongings, and it gives you a chance to see neighbors before you leave and even make a bit of spare cash. If you are worried about bigger items such as stereos not selling, you can always use Craigslist or eBay.

Donating

Another way to get rid of items you no longer use or want is to donate them. If it's getting closer to the moving date, and you are still left with more items than your new residence can handle, why not call Goodwill or the Salvation Army? These organizations will in some cases even send their own truck for large items, so you can support a good cause and clear out your unwanted belongings without having to move that heavy couch or bed on your own. Churches often look for second hand clothing, so you may want to use this opportunity to downsize your closet as well.

Storage

If there are just too many things you can't part with, renting a storage unit will give you some extra time to ponder what to do with these items. Try to clear out as much as possible before packing a storage unit, as a larger unit will cost more.

It is important to begin this process as early as possible. After all, you don't want to be tied down by a garage sale or heavy items when you are getting very close to moving. Although packing up and giving away so many of your belongings may seem difficult at first, you will feel less weighed down by all the clutter in your new home if you downsize as much as possible. This will give you a fresh start, and an opportunity to make new memories in your new home.