If you could only bring 2 suitcases...

Yeah, I don't like the clothes here either.  And too expensive.  What I see people wearing on the streets makes me stick to my old jeans and tee-shirts!  But can't afford to keep hopping back to Kohl's (or wherever) to stock up.  Would love to hit J.Jill for instance (only for the sales!)

The UK has a strange relationship with jeans.

  Also, depending on when we leave in September, my son may or may not have to have his own seat. I am still thinking we purchase a seat for him anyway...then he can technically bring two suitcases and a carry on too, right?

Check this.  My daughter is under 2 and doesn't need her own seat yet but gets to bring the same luggage allowance as us, plus 2 baby items (i.e., car seat and stroller) for no extra cost.  If you get in before his 2nd birthday, could save you a lot of money!

Would love to hit J.Jill for instance (only for the sales!)

Yes! 

I would be screwed....Let's just say I took a lot of suitcases [which, looking back now I don't use half what I took I don't think] - one suitcase consisting of only shoes... I would probably not do well prioritizing only two suitcases... 

Also, depending on when we leave in September, my son may or may not have to have his own seat. I am still thinking we purchase a seat for him anyway...then he can technically bring two suitcases and a carry on too, right?

Slightly  off topic, but depending  on where you're  leaving  from, woukd it make sense to sail over on the Queen Mary 2?

Children's fares  are discounted, and you can bring all the luggage  you can fit in your state room. There's  babysitting  during the day for children  2 and older, and a night nursery  for 1 and older. And tickets are comparable  in price to a one way flight. Plus, it's  fun and you don't  arrive jet lagged. Leaves from NYC and  gets into Southampton.

Slightly  off topic, but depending  on where you're  leaving  from, woukd it make sense to sail over on the Queen Mary 2?

Children's fares  are discounted, and you can bring all the luggage  you can fit in your state room. There's  babysitting  during the day for children  2 and older, and a night nursery  for 1 and older. And tickets are comparable  in price to a one way flight. Plus, it's  fun and you don't  arrive jet lagged. Leaves from NYC and  gets into Southampton.

I want to do this!

I half like the idea of a ship over. My husband said he would be at the front checking for icebergs. Haha
As to the original question, I can't do it with just 2 suitcases. My husband did that  when he moved from the UK to the U.S. in 2001. I've purged a ton already, but we still have a bunch to ship. We have no one here to store things with or send them on later. We aren't taking much of our furniture. My rule has been to compare the cost of replacement to the cost of shipping. Then I take how much I love it into consideration. 

Great topic! Oh, if I had it to do over again., I'd make smarter choices. I can't top most of the great advice already given, but I'd choose: a sentimental family photo (unframed), tiny amount of key jewellery pieces, fav jeans and minimal clothing/shoes (really had no trouble with UK clothing, except jeans and shoes due to odd sizes), Zycam, Neosporin, maybe taco and ranch seasoning packets, USA measuring spoons and cup for any USA recipes, laptop/devices. These are my priorities, and whatever else fits that you need and can't readily get in UK. Most of what I thought was not replaceable (certain brands of toiletries, and loads of other items) have long since been replaced. Maybe pack or securely ship key documents needed for immigration and/or tax / banking purposes. We don't have children or pets, so unsure on that front!

USA measuring spoons and cup for any USA recipes

^^ THIS!!! So happy I brought US kitchen measuring utensils!! Has saved my buns SO many times! Not because you can't easily look up conversions, but more so because it's a pain in the bum to convert EVERYTHING on a recipe when all you want to do is just start cooking!

^^ THIS!!! So happy I brought US kitchen measuring utensils!! Has saved my buns SO many times! Not because you can't easily look up conversions, but more so because it's a pain in the bum to convert EVERYTHING on a recipe when all you want to do is just start cooking!

You can actually buy measuring spoons here and measuring cups. My MIL bought my some when I was moving over. Totally sweet of her!

I brought my own green plastic set that has 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 1 cup. They only have 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and 1 cup in the sets here that I've seen.

You can actually buy measuring spoons here and measuring cups. My MIL bought my some when I was moving over. Totally sweet of her!

I brought my own green plastic set that has 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 1 cup. They only have 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and 1 cup in the sets here that I've seen.

To be honest, I never even realized! I automatically just brought my own out of fear I wouldn't be able to find them over here and would have to order them for US and pay customs, etc, for something so small haha

Your MIL sounds like a sweetheart! x

I moved to the UK in 1995 with two suitcases and my then 3-year-old son. One suitcase had the boy's favorite toys, the second suitcase had warm clothes. We lived in Houston and moved to England in November. My carry-on had a change of clothes, important documents and film negatives.

When we left the UK in 2004, I had four suitcases, three children and a husband. The suitcases had the kid's favorite toys, summer clothes as we moved in April to Texas and the carry on had the important documents & film negatives and other photos on disc.

From 2004-2008, we moved house, city and state every single year until we finally stopped back in Houston in 2008.

Because of all the moving, I don't have attachment to "stuff" really. My house is actually sparsely decorated. My oldest moved out (he's 23 and a father/ spouse), my other son is leaving for college in January and my youngest has four years of high school. I'm now looking at down-sizing. I took a look at the stuff in my house and I don't think I'll be taking anything to a new house but my husband's work computers (he works 100% from home) and our cats. I'll probably give most of our stuff away and/or sell it.

We are planning to return to the UK eventually and we will probably take two suitcases only again.

I can't say I have missed anything I owned and then got rid of in the many moves. I do find that I insist that I misplaced things like a waffle iron but remember that the last time I owned a waffle iron was in 2001. lol

Very envious, Lorena!  Wish I could just chuck stuff out and forget it.  I do have to say that when I moved back to the US I took only one suitcase and DH followed with more warm things when he visited. But don't remember sitting there thinking I wish I had such-and-such.  Mostly I just replaced what I needed and forgot about the rest.  But back in the UK again, I do find myself wishing I had nearly all the stuff I left behind.  Maybe it's because that stuff is all newer and better quality that what's here!  When I was coming up to retirement I decided I would get clothing and household things (non-electrical) I really like while I had a reasonable income.  Thinking we would be shipping some stuff over -- only to have DH change his mind on that