store stuff in US or get rid of everything? need advice

Looks like I'm moving to the UK for a while to work as a social worker in Sutton. I own a house and have lots of stuff and am prepared to get rid of most of it (I just sold  130 dollars worth yesterday) and sell the house. Debating about stuff I love that is bulky to store (wood furniture (dressers), wonderful patio chairs and books that I love. I have a free garage to store stuff in but it is a little damp in there.  Any of you have an opinion on selling and starting over (on both ends of my trip) or saving stuff for the reunion when I return. My Dad suggest maybe loaning out some furniture to take back when I return...wondering if that might work. I DO see myself coming back to the US in a few years.  Thanks, in advance!

Hi,

Stuff is a real personal thing.  Seeing that there are some things that you obviously love, you'd probably hate to get rid of these items, especially if you plan to go back in a few years.  If you do lend things out, you might want to prepare yourself that the stuff might not be in the same condition that you left it.  Not that anybody would intentionally damage things, but there is wear and tear...

Furniture and general household things over here can be pricey.  You might want to consider kitting  your UK place out with some second hand stuff rather than buying all brand new.  It'll leave you cash to buy things here that you like so that  when you do decide to return, you can bring back all of your great British acquisitions that mean something to you.

I, personally, could never get rid of some of my things.  I've lived in England for eight years and back in my early twenties, I lived in the Virgin Islands for three years.  While I was there, I let my brother use some of my stuff and stored what I didn't bring with me.  When I moved here to England, I knew it would be for a while so we shipped our entire household.

Now we are in the process of moving back to the US.  I have so many things I love from all aspects of my life;  I couldn't imagine being without them.

Having said that, we've got a lot to ship.  The movers confirmed that we have to have a 40ft container...  but to me, it's worth it because different things remind me of wonderful people, places and time.  I'm afraid I'm no minimalist.

What you do should depend upon how much you love your stuff!



Regards,

Kellie

Oh MAN! I wish I had asked the same question. . . STORE IT!!
I sold everything when I moved to England. Then bought everything when I arrived in England. Fast forward a year and I sold everything in England and moved back to the States! Needless to say, we are buying EVERYTHING again!
Hindsight is 20/20 - I really should have stored everything - all the way down to games. Oh well, live and learn.

OOh, may I jump in on this one! Possessions are a deeply personal thing, but at least store for the first year or so, until you have a clearer idea of where you might end up for good.  I have ended up with pretty much nothing, thanks to moving back and forth and selling stuff and starting again, in some ways this has made life easier (if a bit more expensive) but then I don't have family heirlooms of furniture and those are the things that cannot be replaced.

As you already have storage, I would plan to store for a while, you can always change your mind if you decide you fall madly in love with the UK and will be here longer, or you will regret it if you end up returning sooner rather than later.

If you're coming over to work as a SW, your pay depending on what level of social work you practise at, but it will not be top wages in this country ( although this also depends on what part of the UK) I work for a L.A in the South and it will be horrendous to buy everything new. Have you considered the fact that as one of the nation's key workers, you would be entitled to a very favourable loan/mortgage if you were to plan on buying a property here- which would be a good investment for when you sell up and move back to the States again.

I wish you well, Social Work is never easy anywhere........but they certainly have problems retaining quality SW's here.

This is of course coming from someone who swears the NEXT bed and suite of furniture and sheets I buy ( will be Stateside!) I am KEEPING forever!!

All the very best
Sheril

Thank you so much for your responses. Just today (7/6) I accepted the SW offer. Whewie!  As for the stuff question - I've been packing up to keep, selling a few things to a friend already and planning the garage sale for the weekend. I have decided to store what I love but use reason and good judgement...lol if I have any to decide! My friend made me an offer a rocking chair that I had picked up from the curb in the neighborhood and I surprised myself and sold it - 60.00 dollars pure profit - if you don't count my painting labors...so money speaks, as they say, when one is moving to an expensive country. As for the money, I think the money is enough (but maybe not to buy a house) and lucky for me my tastes run to second hand junky stuff rather then top of the line new. I'll be ok as I understand there are "boot" sales and that I can buy everything used - although I might bring a set of sheets. I have sort of thought that anything over 30.00 dollars might be worth packing - but if  one of you has a better way of making that judgement please let me know!  Thanks again.

as this is a us to uk post Id suggest moving it to the moving forum as many people who might find this thread interesting wont be looking at the repat forum. thanks

Thank you so much for your responses. Just today (7/6) I accepted the SW offer. Whewie!

I know I've been here a long time when I read that date as 7th of June!

You're going to have to get used to writing (and reading!) the date the other way!

ARGH!

The times I have messed up passwords/pin numbers thanks to my husband using the American format............

S:)