by Hope
Exactly one week from today we will be moving into our new space…cutting down from 1800 sq ft to 900 sq ft. I am SO PROUD of how well my kids have gotten on board with this move and the minimizing and purging we have been doing over the last six weeks since this move became a reality. So here’s where we are at today, one week from move day.
- Little Gymnast and Princess rooms are completely empty. They have moved into my room, just as we will be living in the apartment. We have a king size bed and a twin mattress on the floor. (At this time, I am also taking a double mattress that slides under my kind size bed just in case we need our own space ie they fight too much on who sleeps where.)
- All of us have packed all of our clothes except for 3 outfits which we will use for the next week. There is one exception to this, History Buff and Sea Cadet are attending their first Cotillion dance of the season on Saturday so they kept out their suit and dress shoes for that event.)
- Every closet has been cleaned out and packed.
- Every bathroom cabinet has been cleaned out and packed.
- The twins room is down to bare bones with just their twin mattresses on the floor and their clothing (three outfits and suit each.)
- The living space is all packed up except for computers, tv and video games.
- My “office” area (in my room) is beginning to get purged and packed. I will get it down to just computer and desk by Friday. Lots of digitizing and shredding going on along with testing electronic equipment and matching it with all cords in ziploc bags for packing.
- The kitchen will get packed over the weekend. We have purged all the cabinets so the only items remaining are those that we will live with, but I am keeping those out as long as possible so we can continue eating at home and using up the food we have here.
All items packed and ready for move are labeled and stacked neatly in the garage for easy loading into the moving truck next Tuesday night.
I think we are ready and very prepared for a stress free, as stress free as moving can be that is, move next week. And I am proud to say that the only money spent in getting to this place is as follows:
- 1/2 dozen rolls of packing tape at $3 per roll = $36
- 3 trips to the dump @ $24 – someone had given me $12 when they moved = $12 (uses convenience coupons you have to purchase)
- Gas for 12 trips to thrift stores = $0 (negated by receipts for donations)
- Boxes (From curb of neighbors on recycling days and twins dad’s job) = FREE
- Garage Sale (advertised for free on Craigslist and Facebook, no signs or newspaper ads) = FREE
Total $48
And we have easily made that back in our garage sale, donation and bartering. We are ready!
Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.
But life has a way of rewriting your plans.
A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.
Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.
Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.
She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.
That is quiet an accomplishment Hope! Kudos to your helpful kids. Good Luck!
Thanks, TPol. I have been super impressed with them especially with as much “stuff” as we got rid of. One thing we did do was that if it was something special that was harder to part with, we took a picture of it (sometimes several) so we can print them and put them in their scrapbooks. I did the same with lots of the art work I had.
wow, I’m sort of excited to see how this turns out. Good luck and kudos for being so organized
I’ve been excited along this journey as well, thinking of all the possibilities. But I have to admit as we get closer to the reality I have begun to doubt and get twists in my stomach. But like you…I am holding on to hope and excitement at what is on the end of the transition that I cannot even fathom!
Can’t wait to hear more on how this turns out. You guys are doing great and I’m glad your kids are all on board.
Thanks, Kayla! I’m also glad that they have jumped on board so readily. Not that it has been without it’s heartaches, but overall everything has a great attitude and is excited to see what comes next.
Bless your hearts, every single one if you. That’s all I can say. You are a bigger person than I will ever be!
Helene, my favorite saying these past weeks has been…”when the going gets tough, the tough just keep putting one foot in front of the other to get through it” and that is exactly what we are doing! And breaking up everything into bite size pieces has definitely made it more manageable for all of us, me especially.
I love your story, Hope. You’ve done a great job. I think the world will call your choices weird, but pay them no heed! Your family is close and loves each other and everyone is exploring their own interests. I’m excited to see how this turns out. I do think living in 900 sqft will be tough at times but it will also build character. Good luck with the move and way to go on getting your tuition covered!
Nice job, Hope. Do you feel lighter knowing that so much stuff has been removed from your life and will never need to be thought about or organized again?
Good job to you for doing whatever it takes to get your family in a better position. You’ll have to keep a list of things that you truly miss having around during this year (like the instruments mentioned in the next post). Then when you reach a point where you have a larger space, you will know to only re-purchase those specific items that you value.
Man, we just moved and there were only three of us! You and your family are rock stars!
My recommendations based on how our move went: Save one box/bag into which you place all toothbrushes, toothpaste, phone chargers, computer chargers, hand soap, toilet paper, a couple of pens, kids’ favorite stuffed animals/toys, a utility knife (for opening boxes!), and I’m sure there were other things that I missed! I ran around like a crazy person because I didn’t have any of those things – I had thrown them all in random places at the last minute.
You’ve probably already thought of that, but… it can’t hurt to put it out there anyway. 🙂
This is very good advice. Also, paper cups for water, paper towels, basic screwdrivers and snacks.