Small steps - one at a time .....
Feb 22nd 2010 | 12:58 pm
#16
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,394
From: England
Re: Small steps - one at a time .....
Well last year when we were thinking about going home I wanted to take my furniture with me (it had all been paid for out of the money my mother had left me when she died in 07). At that time I kept looking at it all and thinking to myself "Ohhh my mother's money paid for all of this ... I can't sell it ... what a waste!! etc etc".
Since Christmas though my attitude had changed. I suddenly thought to myself "Mam wouldn't want me staying somewhere where we were unhappy ... if she were here now she'd say "Sell it!! Get rid of it!! Come Home!! So that's what I'm doing.
To ship it all would have cost me thousands and where would I ship it to? We'll be moving in with my sister and she didn't have the room for all my things as well.
To be honest with you - I feel so less burdened now that it's all gone.
I'll be 53 when I get back home - with not much to show for 6 years away - at least not material things. But I feel stronger in myself now than I have for the past 6 years - I swear I've been living in some sort of comatose bubble for the last few years!! and I can't wait to start making up to my daughter when we get back, taking her out, seeing things, doing things etc etc.
Since Christmas though my attitude had changed. I suddenly thought to myself "Mam wouldn't want me staying somewhere where we were unhappy ... if she were here now she'd say "Sell it!! Get rid of it!! Come Home!! So that's what I'm doing.
To ship it all would have cost me thousands and where would I ship it to? We'll be moving in with my sister and she didn't have the room for all my things as well.
To be honest with you - I feel so less burdened now that it's all gone.
I'll be 53 when I get back home - with not much to show for 6 years away - at least not material things. But I feel stronger in myself now than I have for the past 6 years - I swear I've been living in some sort of comatose bubble for the last few years!! and I can't wait to start making up to my daughter when we get back, taking her out, seeing things, doing things etc etc.
Feb 23rd 2010 | 2:51 am
#17
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 388
Re: Small steps - one at a time .....
Your a youngster yet....I do know what you mean about living in a bubble...I feel stronger myself...but wish I could of done that an easier way..lol...I might have a buyer for my Chesterfield so fingers crossed......I would like to sell everything...practically wise and also just for a fresh start as well....you will have many years to enjoy your time with your daughter and the 6 years away will soon feel like a small glip....all the best ....
Feb 24th 2010 | 8:23 am
#19
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 447
From: Norfolk UK
Re: Small steps - one at a time .....
This is an interesting thread.
We are in early days of smartening the house for sale and have concluded we will sell our furniture and carry / ship back only the few treasured momentos. It's been tough getting our minds around to what we can let go but as time goes on we add more things to the 'get rid of' list.
Oddly, although a few months ago we enjoyed our furnishings it is now becoming very pleasing to remove (or at this stage plan to remove) stuff from our lives. Even taking pictures off the walls for house-showing is becoming somehow free-ing.
As for selling furniture etc, we plan to show the house furnished with little notes on furniture items for sale (suggested by Realator). Whatever is left after we have a comitted house buyer is to advertise larger items on websites (craigs list is popular here) and hold a garage sale shortly after. It all depends on time scale though and we'll adjust as needed.
Locally it seems that furniture sells for about 1/3 rd cost of new, I suspect that our more expensive items will sell only for 1/3 rd the cost of 'cheap' new stuff though.
We too are wondering with amusement how our last days in this house will be, probably as some of you, and as we were when we bought our first ever UK house when we married; a camp bed, a portable radio and pizza.
We are in early days of smartening the house for sale and have concluded we will sell our furniture and carry / ship back only the few treasured momentos. It's been tough getting our minds around to what we can let go but as time goes on we add more things to the 'get rid of' list.
Oddly, although a few months ago we enjoyed our furnishings it is now becoming very pleasing to remove (or at this stage plan to remove) stuff from our lives. Even taking pictures off the walls for house-showing is becoming somehow free-ing.
As for selling furniture etc, we plan to show the house furnished with little notes on furniture items for sale (suggested by Realator). Whatever is left after we have a comitted house buyer is to advertise larger items on websites (craigs list is popular here) and hold a garage sale shortly after. It all depends on time scale though and we'll adjust as needed.
Locally it seems that furniture sells for about 1/3 rd cost of new, I suspect that our more expensive items will sell only for 1/3 rd the cost of 'cheap' new stuff though.
We too are wondering with amusement how our last days in this house will be, probably as some of you, and as we were when we bought our first ever UK house when we married; a camp bed, a portable radio and pizza.
Feb 24th 2010 | 9:23 am
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 181
Re: Small steps - one at a time .....
Well we are in the small steps, softly softly process too.
My OH has the theory that we will take it all back the UK. The whole lot that way we don't need to purchase much when we get there.
But everyweek, I just run past him another few items that 'the kids don't use anymore', or we haven't had that out since we have been here. And slowly but surely I am going to get the load down to a reasonable amount.
I have quietly told the children to keep bouncing on a couple of cheap sofas (bought in the UK and shipped out) as the springs aren't quite what the used too be. And it must be working as OH said the other day - gosh these aren't as comfortable as they were. So success - they are allowed to be sold once house is listed and sold.
But ours is a softly softly approach. Kids and I are dead keen to go, OH happy whereever and can't be bothered with the move. So slowly but surely, one step at a time
Hard - as I am not a patient person.
My OH has the theory that we will take it all back the UK. The whole lot that way we don't need to purchase much when we get there.
But everyweek, I just run past him another few items that 'the kids don't use anymore', or we haven't had that out since we have been here. And slowly but surely I am going to get the load down to a reasonable amount.
I have quietly told the children to keep bouncing on a couple of cheap sofas (bought in the UK and shipped out) as the springs aren't quite what the used too be. And it must be working as OH said the other day - gosh these aren't as comfortable as they were. So success - they are allowed to be sold once house is listed and sold.
But ours is a softly softly approach. Kids and I are dead keen to go, OH happy whereever and can't be bothered with the move. So slowly but surely, one step at a time
Hard - as I am not a patient person.
