Moving to a new home opens up a world of possibilities. In a new house, you have the option to decorate it any way you want. If you have an overabundance of clutter in your current home, you don't have to take your piles with you. Here are some tips on purging items you no longer need while you are packing up for your next move.

Unopened Boxes

Do you have unopened boxes sitting in your garage or basement, left over from the last time you moved? If it's been more than a year since you relocated, chances are excellent that you no longer need these items. You can either bravely donate them to a thrift shop without even opening them to peek inside, or you can take a look through them first; but realize that if you open them, you're likely to change your mind about something and end up keeping it.

The exception here is if you have items that hold a special place in your heart. For example, while you most likely did not use your mother's wedding dress or your grandmother's photos, you also might not want to let them go. When you move into your new home, try to find a way to incorporate them into your decor or occasional use.

Clothing

If you are average, you might only use up to a fifth of what's currently in your closet, explains The Cut. If this sounds about right, you have some culling to do. While you're packing, ask yourself whether you really wear each item. Does it fit? Do you love it? Have you worn it in the past year? If you can't answer any of those questions in the affirmative, you probably don't need it.

Of course, there are exceptions here, too. A dress that you would only wear to a very formal event might not be used on a yearly basis, but you still might need it for a future occasion. Also, if you are currently losing weight, you might need to keep some clothing around in different sizes. Finally, if you are planning to have more children, consider saving previously worn maternity clothes, even if you haven't worn them in over a year.

Financial Paperwork

Do you have stacks of paid bills, tax returns and pay stubs? You might not need to keep all of this documentation. Bank of America suggests keeping old tax returns indefinitely, but you only need to hold onto utility bills for a month. With the possibility of digitizing everything, you might not need to keep actual papers at all. If you really want to cut out all of this paper, scan the items that you still need to keep and shred the paper copies.

Half-Used Consumables

Unless you are on a very tight budget, it probably does not make sense to drag along half-used bottles of toiletries that you don't use on a regular basis, condiments and other easily replaced consumables. This is particularly true if you are hiring movers who charge by weight: You could end up paying more to take the toiletries along than you would to replace them later. If your bathroom counter and linen closet have been overtaken by toiletries, find a battered women's shelter or another place that will take them and put them to good use.

Moving can be stressful enough without having to unpack unwanted or unneeded items once you get to your destination. While it will take more time to pack if you purge at the same time, it will save time in your new home if you can pare down your belongings before you arrive.

For more moving tips, contact a local moving company like Frank and Sons Moving and Storage Inc. Agent for Wheaton World Wide Moving.

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