How did you wind down living in the US before you moved?

I am mailing a few boxes over before hand. At about $60 each so I am thinking only 3 or 4. I plan on doing an extra bag or two for the final tip over.

I did the layer thing a couple times, and carried a jacket AND coat each time I came back, even in June and September. There were a couple times I also shoved my carry on FULL of books just because they can be up to 40 pounds and I saw it as a 'free' way to get some of my books over.

I do this one every trip I make!

I did the layer thing a couple times, and carried a jacket AND coat each time I came back, even in June and September. There were a couple times I also shoved my carry on FULL of books just because they can be up to 40 pounds and I saw it as a 'free' way to get some of my books over.

Be careful with this! Some airlines now limit the weight of your carry on and you could end up having to check it/get charged. Virgin Atlantic has become increasing strict with this. Double check the airline website before you fly.

Be careful with this! Some airlines now limit the weight of your carry on and you could end up having to check it/get charged. Virgin Atlantic has become increasing strict with this. Double check the airline website before you fly.

Good point. With the way they are changing the rules every five minutes, it might be different than it was all the way up to last summer. I'll peek at the airline's site so I know before we head back next month.

I admire those that can move in suitcases...proving that I definitely have too much stuff!

Gotta-I have a friend who works for England Logistics, a big commercial shipping company. She helped me as sort of a 'friends and family' thing. I probably paid too much, but with so much sentimental stuff it was worth it. I say all this as my stuff is still on a boat. Maybe I should wait until it arrives!

I admire those that can move in suitcases...proving that I definitely have too much stuff!

For me, 'suitcases' meant hubby's and mine overstuffed, for five trips, with an extra case each some of those trips.  We also shipped eight boxes, used carry ons crammed full each trip, tucking things into MIL and the nephew's cases on return trips because they came with us to see my family, since everyone adores everyone. Plus, the back room of mom's basement is still full of boxes of our stuff we either intended to still get over, or kept in case we moved back. I think, somewhere along the way, we both knew we'd only be here a few years even though our plan was to come here to stay.

So, I too admire those who can just throw the 'most important stuff' into a couple cases and go. I hang on to far too many things for sentimental reasons.

Winding down my life in the US for me consisted of working loads and loads just to get as much money as I could.  I was recently divorced and had already whittled stuff down a lot (I let my ex keep most of the household stuff) to fit into a tiny apartment.

Then I had to put stuff into storage when I went to Ireland for the summer.  It all had to fit into one closet!  So I gave away so much more stuff.  Most of it went to my workmates (all poor 20-somethings) and my sister got two pieces of furniture (all I had, really) that had been my grandparents.  My bed, which was a futon and frame went to the break-room at my work.

When I met my husband (that summer in Ireland) and then got engaged, I got rid of almost everything else.  I don't regret that at all.  I moved over with two suitcases, my harp (padded with lots of clothes inside its case), a small carry-on which was my lap-top and important papers and my fiddle.  I mailed myself about 6 small boxes of books (I had loads and loads which all got given away--kept only my music books and a few others) and photos.

In my best friend's basement there are I think 3 boxes of stuff, and I don't even remember what is in them!

I did wear two coats on the plane.  My normal winter coat and my vintage black velvet coat-dress which I no longer have anyway.

Our move started 9 months ago and now we have 3 weeks left before we go! 

Sept/Oct 2011 Had 2 yard sales
Oct-Feb: Packed boxes with personal items we're taking back to store in garage
March/April: House on market (sold!)
May:  4 yard sales over the 4 Saturdays, have booked the movers, flights, overnight hotel & shuttle to airport.

Still have to sell 2 cars, one in about 10 days, the other after our last yard sale over the Memorial day weekend, when the house should be empty apart from what the movers will be taking. Anything left will be taken to Goodwill and then we'll no longer need the car.
Also that last week hopefully our beds will sell. We're literally only bringing with us personal items like photos, clothes some books my saucepan set/casseroles etc (about 15-20 boxes), a couple of brand new sofas and recliner (which we bought 3 months before we knew we would have to move), a couple of coffee tables bought at the same time and the dining room table!! Every else will have to go/has already gone!

Oh and we're a family of 6, and school finishes the day we go!! The kids will come home from their last day of school to find the movers are here, then we'll walk with our wheelie carry on bags (which are ample to fit all the clothes we'll need plus our laptops, and is all we ever travel with now!) to the hotel to overnight before flying out the next morning!

But today we still have a houseful of furniture! The trick is not to get rid of what we're still using too soon!! We don't want to have to sleep on the floor for too many days!! 

Getting rid of the furniture and being floor bound is one of my concerns. The apartment building I live in has a "guest suite" they are letting me rent for a few days. Just like a hotel room. $50 a night. I am thinking I might just go to a regular hotel so breakfast is included. Might cost me a little more, but I think it will be worth it in the end. I'm trying to save money like mad, so was able to get out of my lease 2 months early. Friend is letting me stay with her for 2 weeks in July and I will visit my sister for a week then as well. So only have to hotel it for a week or so.

Some hotels and motels offer weekly rates, and some advertise as extended stay. I don't know if that would work out cheaper for the time you need to be in one, but it might be worth looking into as a money saver since you mentioned trying to save.

Using up my stash of shower gels, lotions, shampoos, etc. Things I've bought on sale or whatever. It will save money now not having to buy new and will cut down on what to take with me.
I also have about 50 brand new tooth brushes, which the dentist keeps giving me. I use an electric so are pretty much surplus to requirement. 

I've been using the odds and ends of shampoo, body wash, lotion etc, instead of buying more for the past few months. It is amazing how many odds, ends and trial sizes you can accumulate in just under three years. I just might have most of it used when we head back to the States next month.

Can you donate the toothbrushes to a shelter or somewhere that could use them? The ones I've always been given by dentists are wrapped. It would be a way to pass them on guilt free, and not have to feel bad about them being tossed.

So I'm pretty much freaking out. The plan is for me to go in August, DH & kids have been there since last August. I've had to do EVERYTHING on my own.

The reason I'm still here is we own a business. I've had to keep everything a secret and we still haven't told anyone (other than family & close friends). I'm hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to tell my employees that another company is buying us so they will still have jobs. BUT that is still up in the air so I'm not sure if it will happen tomorrow or not. I dread this conversation, especially if the outcome is that the other biz doesn't buy us and they all lose their jobs. I've been in a constant state of nauseousness for months.

After that I have to liquidate all other biz assets (as the buyer is only interested in client list & employees & few pieces of equipment). I need to have all sold & 1800 sq ft office/warehouse cleared out by 10 July in order to avoid paying another month's rent. And this is just the business side.

On the home front I think I have been procrastinating way too long. House is not on market (we may opt to rent it out) and none of our neighbors know (because of the business thing of not being able to tell anyone, I can't do any personal stuff either). Have started putting big stuff on craigslist. Have two cars to unload and a 5 bedroom house to empty. Have a possible renter lined up, but they want to move in 1 July and I haven't even emptied the house yet!

At least we're not planning to ship much, will hoard a few things at my mom's in TX and get rid of everything else. BFF has been helping me go through papers the last few weeks - lots of shredding in my (near) future! Hoping to have a estate sail at the end of June (hoping my mom will come up for that).

I guess to answer the original post question of "how did you wind down?" I'd have to say - I haven't done enough yet!

Ugh. Don't envy you momof2. 

Lots to do yet! Still, there is something about a deadline looming large that gets it all done in time. You somehow start figuring out your game plan and it all comes together. I can understand why your situation is different, with the business.

Now that we are in the moving back to the US stage, my mind keeps telling me we have a lot of time left. The calendar tells me I am on a plane June 18th so I'd better be finalizing things. Even though it is annoying we have recently found out hubby isn't going to be on that flight, and has had to postpone his until Aug 6th, the silver lining of that is he will be able to ship things before he leaves that we were going to have to get ready and have his mum ship (because of the way money comes into the bank account).