DECLUTTER Before the Move [Part 2]

Come along with us as we declutter the basement and crawl space again! Preparing to move, we are looking for ways to lighten the load. We are targeting six areas to declutter to: pile for the movers, pile to move ourselves, donate, sell, trash, and stuff that belongs in other rooms.
Whole House Declutter Workbook: www.ericalucas...
(page 10 for the four baskets I use when I declutter)
Decluttering led to a minimalist life which is now leading me to intentional living. My minimalism journey started with decluttering and extreme decluttering so that we could prioritize quality time together without the clutter and the anxiety caused by clutter. We also wanted to reduce spending and debt. Now, more and more moments of intentional living are finding their way to the surface - prioritizing the most important things to us - each other.
// YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY WATCHING
Tour Before Moving:
• TOUR before MOVING: Ho...
Part 1 Declutter Before the Move:
• DECLUTTER Before the M...
Minimalism and Move Chat with The Minimal Mom:
• Minimalism, Declutteri...
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New videos Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
#declutter #minimalism #minimalist
// OUR DECLUTTERING AND MINIMALISM JOURNEY
I didn't know that our family would be on an extreme declutter journey when we first started doing this. A recognition of habits, tendencies and our lifestyle has showed us the way towards minimalism.
Extreme Declutter Playlist:
• Playlist
Extreme Declutter Kitchen:
• KITCHEN DECLUTTER + MI...
Kitchen Tour:
• MINIMALIST KITCHEN TOUR
Kitchen Favorites:
• 10 Minimalist Kitchen ...
Extreme Declutter Bedroom:
• BEDROOM DECLUTTER + KO...
Declutter Closet and Get to Know Us:
• DECLUTTER Our Closet a...
// SAY HELLO!
Website: www.ericalucasloves.com
Inquiries: [e-mail]
Instagram: @ericalucasloves
Twitter: @ericalucasloves
Facebook: @ericalucaslovescoffee
Goodreads: @ericalucas
// MINIMALISM VIDEOS
90/90 Minimalism Rule:
• 90/90 Rule in Minimali...
5 Minimalism Rules for Decluttering:
• Minimalism Rules for D...
5 Money Mistakes Before Minimalism:
• 5 Money Mistakes Befor...
// PRODUCTS I USE FOR DECLUTTERING
Fireproof Waterproof Document Bag: amzn.to/3dnCXtZ
Pilot Frixion Pens: amzn.to/3dl8KvH
Cozy Minimalist Home book: amzn.to/2UuQgjE
// CREATOR NOTES
Music: Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicso...
Thumbnails: Canva: www.canva.com/join/blotch-foil-reef
VidIQ: vidiq.com/#_l_3i3
FTC Disclaimer: I may receive some products in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own and are not influenced by brand, person, or company. Please note that some links may be affiliate links, and I earn a commission from your purchase. These links share products at no extra cost to you.
// ERICA LUCAS
Erica Lucas is the owner of Begin and Believe, LLC, a company focused on encouraging, motivating, and inspiring people to declutter, purge, and minimize. We do this through various forms of media including videos, books, social media, speaking engagements, digital downloads, courses, and more. Visit Erica's website for more information and follow her on social media.
Begin and Believe LLC
c/o Erica Lucas
3553 West Chester Pike
Box #301
Newtown Square, PA 19073

[@lunagabriella213]

❤️❤️❤️🤣🤣🤣 He broke his collarbone for you, then sold his Harley for the minivan! YOUR HUSBAND AWESOME 😎

[@01baia]

I really like the relationship you have with each other. 💕 So easy, respectful, affectionate and fun-loving.

[@rajeshwarihemmadi3229]

Fruitful family time... I wish everybody had such lovely small helpers

[@pattikennedy5698]

A couple of take aways from this video: 1) I thought the album was metallica- but it’s alice in chains. nutshell is a fantastic song. also, big head todd and the monsters live album is one of my all time favs. 2) you two work so well together. you are so respectful toward each other. it’s probably the number one thing i noticed when you worked on the shed. 3) your patience with your children is amazing. i usually get frustrated and tell my kids to go somewhere else and leave me be while i’m working thru a big project like that. i love how you encourage your kids to help and you are so sweet to them! way to go mom and dad! 4) i love your attitudes while going thru the boxes. i could see the weight being lifted as each box was getting sorted. you guys are rockstars and i hope, when you move, you sit back and just appreciate all of the hard work you put in. i also hope you realize that you’re changing your family tree by showing your kids that “less is more”. 5) i love your dog. 🙂

[@michellehowington369]

"Aww, that's cute! I'm gonna donate it... But it's cute!!" Love it. Good for you.

[@colleenkelly6460]

Your dog, always following you in the crawl spaces, cracks me up. He loves his Mama!

[@livemorewithless7817]

Erica I just love the fact that your husband is on board with going through stuff with you and minimizing that is sooo awesome and really cool! I enjoy watching you guys decluttering. It's fun

[@koala2464]

Growing up in a defence force family, moving every 2-3 years meant Dad (who was a very organised and rational man) gave us the rule of one box only each. Furniture, clothes, school books, school case, ghetto blaster etc would be packed and moved. But everything else had to fit in one medium size box. It meant we didn’t learn to hoard i guess. But once I left home I became a hoarder. And once a Mum, I got worse. I think not having a stable ‘home’ and life, meant once I could keep hold of everything, I did. I definitely know it was a mental illness situation and now I’m on a journey to let it all go. It’s good to show your children how important it is to care more for people than things. My 18 year old struggles with holding on to bits and pieces now.

[@ChynnaStAmour]

So the stunt to impress the girl obviously worked! So nice to see a couple still in love and happy decluttering together.

[@karlajohnson6911]

When you were describing that "impress a girl " story I was thinking "she is a good wife to talk about his past dating times before her"......then I heard you say that you were the girl🤣. Cute story!

[@hollieanderson-rambo17]

That story honestly game me chills! I just love you two together! 💓💓💓

[@kishakisha6962]

Husband of the year for helping you. I usually see youtubers decluttering by themselves.

[@jenniferchildress9785]

I love your authenticity! The coffee pot with old coffee grinds, the recycling bottles that got packed and stored for 3 years...you guys are so REAL but you are not WEIRD. Erica I love your sense of humor about it all. I love watching you guys as opposed to minimalists that are "too perfected." Give me real people who give me the real story of their journey anyday! I am not a minimalist but am aiming to live more simply!

[@jenniferchildress9785]

One comment on sentimental items. A few years ago I read an idea about how to help yourself be willing to get rid of something that you were somewhat sentimental about but weren't sure you wanted to keep it. The idea was to take a picture of the item so that you could remember it but not be stuck keeping it. Of course that would not work for items that you were 100% sentimental about. I have learned to do this with my children's homeschool projects. We CAN'T save them all.

[@Momonymity]

I had that same Alice in Chains cd! Sold it with a whole lot of CD for gas money to go visit my best friend. 8 years later, I gave birth to our son on our 1 year anniversary. Fast forward 13 years, he took him to see Metallica at the old Deer Creek, another band we used to listen to on road trips between South Bend and Indianapolis.

[@SpacieAcieBudgets]

Did you say "What in Stars Hollow is this?". My heart! ❤

[@EricaLucasLoves]

I did!!! I wondered if anyone would catch that. 😂😂😂

[@stowie5790]

I remember the first video of your crawl space and how you were in tears (and fears) of how much there was to do, how much you had accumulated and not knowing if you would ever get through it all. Ranger came in to make sure you were okay...and I think every time you go back in there, he thinks he has to supervise to make sure you are okay. Nice to see most of it was cleared out. The empty jars were hysterical. You give the rest of us so much inspiration!! I’ve been in my place for 20 years...and lost a ton of items due to an earthquake 6 years ago. Now that the kids have moved into their own homes, I’m starting to give my place a ruthless run-through and will be getting rid of most of the “stuff” - your videos have given me the encouragement to start...and keep going until it’s done!!

[@susieq2334]

Barbara Colt 💕💕

[@jennifershaw4756]

This video is bringing back memories of how our movers for the RCMP used to move us! LOL They just pack everything!!

[@kaycee625]

You two are a hoot!! And you’re going to feel soooo good when you get thru all that stuff. A celebratory family dinner is in order! 🍾🥂including the dog who was a great helper 😆

[@megana5658]

Your husband is doing awesome at decluttering!

[@normanmiller1331]

I’m not judging. You’re doing an awesome job decluttering. But the stuff you pulled out of the crawl space is more than we own, after 30 years. I’m glad you got on the decluttering band wagon!

[@Amandahugginkizz]

I know its crazy she deff bought to try to keep up with the high class Jones but they never will get there, glad she realized that....

[@myminimalchaos]

This whole video had me in stitches!! It reminds me of the story my mum still tells to this day. When the airline moved us, the movers individually wrapped cheese slices from the fridge (not the pack of cheese slices, every INDIVIDUAL cheese slice!) & packed them in a box that she discovered 6 months after the move. Hahahaha!!! They also boxed an actual bag of trash & for 3 weeks my parents couldn't figure out where the stench in the garage was coming from. LOL!!! Thank you for this honest video & the hilarious walk down memory lane for me. 😅💞

[@EricaLucasLoves]

😂😂😂

[@olivemaycards]

Oh my gosh, this was a fun one. So many WHAT?!s and WHYYY?!s. Lol. Doing this now will be so helpful but I’m sure you’ll still have a lot of things that you’ll ask “why did we move this?” Don’t forget that you can like something and have happy memories and still be ok with passing it on to someone else to enjoy. For example, maybe take a photo of your kiddo holding the twinkle star sign and enjoy how grown up he is now, and then let it go? Because you’re not actually going to use it again, are you? I am listening to “Decluttering at the Speed of Life” and she’s all about having things for life now, in this house, in this reality. Harder when you’re always moving and home is always temporary, but keeping things from the past and for the future gets in the way of having a great life now.

[@sunflower7766]

What a wonderful collection of random crap and stuff to watch you declutter. Enjoyed this video a lot!

[@amandastiff39]

Your dog is the best!

[@3llenzinha]

He is so cute

[@IcedReality]

The collar bone story is adorable!!!!! Also, it's ok to get rid of sentimental stuff! Just because it's old or one of a kind or tied to a happy memory, it's ok to get rid of. 🙂

[@johannathorisdottir2456]

Good job decluttering!!! it feels sooo goood!!! i got rid of 95% of our stuff in our appartment and our storage room and we don´t miss any of it!!! Just keep going and you´ll see how much space you´re gonna have to live in!!! I turned minimalist and i love it!!! And i´m not nearly done i´m still going .... ahhhhh i love my empty spaces

[@barbaraburdett9594]

The book on Theodore Roosevelt is great a must read!

[@efitz3397]

I think after 3 years and not missing my stuff, I would give the unopened boxes away! I hope your next house doesn’t have a crawl space! I never knew they existed! 😄 Also I say love it, use it or say bye-bye! 🤣

[@kathleencremmins286]

I have my parent's information and grandparent's and it is wonderful to look at those memories. I LOVE the empty jars being packed. We are also CD/DVD people - the kids have EVERYTHING on their phones...don't discuss albums I want to be in my storage room now. :D

[@averildaniels7479]

Woman, you have me so hooked. I’m still wanting to keep watching but it’s the end lol... hahahha..the empty jars was trippy

[@lynnthomas7275]

Watching some older vlogs and just thought I'd add my first comment. I'm 66 and live in the UK. As a married couple we have moved house a lot, 3 times in one year once!! We have always done a self-move, renting a large van each time. I sorted and packed everything myself and on one occasion even got all the furniture downstairs whilst 8 months pregnant, lol

[@ninieh5336]

A.i.C. ❤Jar of flies❤

[@bleumoon8426]

I'm so happy and excited for your new chapter in life; new home with your new way of living. Your going to be so happy and stress free. I absolutely love your videos, you have such a fun personality and I truly love you and your husband together :) Very much looking forward to your future videos and seeing you both in them!

[@keetz8490]

Can I suggest that u take all the pictures out of the frames and put them in an album ? Even if it’s a binder and page protectors. If you decide you’re not going to put them on the wall or display them somehow, then u can flip thru an album and it’s so much less space and safer ( no glass). The kids would be able to get them out and look thru them and see all the memories so easy! 😊

[@marlenejohnston4854]

My thoughts exactly!

[@catharinab8860]

That’s a great idea!

[@melissatamer9193]

Great idea. I would use a photo album so photos dont stick to plastic while in storage.

[@EricaLucasLoves]

Great idea!! Love that!

[@efitz3397]

I use project folders, neater and less expensive. I used to have a photo wall up my stairs, the last time I decorated I didn’t put them back up. ( I was fed up of cleaning them) my family all admired how much bigger the space was and none of them noticed for weeks that the photo’s were gone! We were all long gone from even seeing them on the walls! whereas looking through the folders is more entertaining. 😀

[@MsPandachen]

Nothing like a big move to finally get rid of stuff 😂 sometimes I just want to get rid of everything and redo my whole place 😂

[@ikrobiee]

Those military movers really threw absolutely everything in a box. 😂

[@vzeimen]

So I first started watching your videos about a month ago. I was feeling overwhelmed and in need of inspiration. Now, although I've become a little stuck on watching decluttering videos I've realized that I have to change my mindset before jumping in to decluttering for myself. I feel very similar to you when I see how many storage containers you have emptied. I had made a list of the storage containers that I needed to buy for decluttering purposes and then somewhere in one of your videos you said you were never going to buy a container again. Man! That hit me like a ton of bricks! I threw my list away and realize that if I need to find another container to fit my stuff into, I have too much stuff. Not only that but how counter intuitive is it to be buying more stuff if I'm really needing to get rid of things. Thanks for this lightbulb moment. I have a huge job ahead of me but along with my donate piles I hope to be getting rid of a lot of storage bins as well.

[@reneea7811]

❤❤❤

[@naomiquinlivan905]

You and your hubby are sooooo cute together.

[@heathercheatham2598]

I’m loving this packing and unpacking declutter series!!! It’s helping me get ready to move and get excited! Great job both of you on seriously decluttering so much more! It’s true if you can live without it so long then keep doing that. Looking forward to seeing the next video!!

[@texasred2702]

I LMAO'ed at some of the stuff you unearthed from those boxes. I went through 8 PCS moves as a kid and 7 more as an adult. It was no joke the movers would grab a coffee cup with the coffee still in it and wrap it 50 sheets of that moving paper and 6 months later you'd unwrap it in Japan, along with 25 other totally random things you'd end up throwing out.

[@emilyh6709]

Glad I found you 😊 Enjoying your journey to minimalism.

[@tkdally]

Wow, I'm am loving watching these videos. You're making such progress. Can't wait for the house tour 🏡

[@annekearney239]

Is that Alice in Chains Jar of Flies! Love you two! Sooooo inspiring!!!❤

[@marylober3005]

Someday these videos of your little dog trying to help and be with you are going to be so precious they’re only young for such a short time. Got to love the loyalty and sweetness of your new doggy

[@angiedimsdale9016]

Seeing a lot of NC State stuff 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Our son graduated from there 🎓 We are born and bred North Carolinians!!!

[@kimberlyakers5923]

you had me at Big Head Todd and the Monsters ❤

[@elkeschoolmann5043]

I'm happy for you, that you went through all the boxes before your move, now there is so much less stuff to deal with in your next home :-)

[@sheilanolagal]

Bah! I wanted so much to have the satisfaction of seeing an empty crawl space - pretty please show us that in the next episode! 💕😊

[@EricaLucasLoves]

Hope so!!! There’s so much

[@biznatch18]

Oh my gosh if I had it boxed for that long I’d just toss it all. Kuddos for going through it all!!

[@ALi-bn6bf]

I’m so entertained watching the two of you declutter!

[@rebeccaofpollywogflatts8976]

I have sentimental parties. Friends come to my house. I have gathered and sorted. Usually find that I sort of sort it into relevant piles. Five came last time ( time 2 for me). One just steadied scrap booked projects that we jointly gathered. One helped me sort and keep it all straight while writing and editing a project list. Another kept the cocktails and munchies coming. Another cleaned up after everyone on a continuous basis. The newbie flitted from here to there. Many hands make light work. Awesome. Next time need to designate someone to document with pictures what we are doing.

[@AprilDP1979]

During the unpacking phase of my last move I found an old windshield wiper. Not sure why garbage got packed up but it did. So I found it hysterical and totally relatable when you found the old pasta sauce jars.

[@bmcdonald7303]

“It’s a little bit grimy but our grimy” 😂

[@minnesotagal507]

Those boxes from years ago is kinda like Christmas , can't wait for new house tour. Love the videos !

[@lindamaglione7189]

What a great job you two did! I feel kinda guilty....it's a lot more fun to watch somebody ELSE go through everything and get ready to move than it is to do it yourself😂❤

[@deborahsoderlund3079]

PCS life: I had movers pack our keys once, luckily I had a tile on them-but I learned to prepack the car before the movers come and basically have NOTHING in the house I don’t want them packing because they will pack it all!!

[@jaynemarshall9304]

My air force hubby tells of an overseas move with his first wife... a soiled diaper was packed in the diaper bin! Almost everything delivered with it a month later smelled the same! 😮 ('My job is to PACK, not think!")

[@fianorian]

It's fascinating to see stuff here that appears in vids months later...some of which then got disposed of. It just shows that decluttering and cutting down is a continuous process.

[@maryflynn5336]

I really appreciate your banter, makes me smile. The collar bone story made me laugh. Keep up the good work!

[@KarlieJJohnson]

Recycling Tip: Old metal kitchen supplies like the muffin tin and such that are not in good enough condition to donate can be recycled at a scrap yard. 👍

[@EricaLucasLoves]

Awesome tip!!

[@paulsharon7521]

If it hasn't been opened in five years who needs it

[@LifeWithAllOfUs]

I really enjoy your channel and you and your husband seem to have such a great relationship and I love that ❤️

[@vanillaskye55]

You will absolutely declutter more when you get to the new place. I went through my apartment before when moved to our house and got rid of so much clutter it was insane. Then we got to the house and i saw how much stuff we still had 3 years later im still decluttering more. I think of decluttering like pealing back an onion. The stuff your getting rid of now is just the first layer. As you become more confident in your decluttering decision making about 1/2 the stuff you kept in this round will go.

[@julies9267]

Bravo Lucas family!!! I bet you are excited to get to the new place and then go through another purge!!! You are so motivating to declutter my own home. 🙌🏼

[@sharonshmuel3386]

Absolutely brilliant you are both adorable & gave me plenty of laughs with your witty humor - so gratifying to be able to donate. If you haven’t used or seen all those boxes in so many years just proves that most of it wasn’t missed or needed

[@marcidrag]

Loved hearing all your stories as you decluttered. Wishing you a smooth move!!!

[@kellymccarthy4953]

This video was so fun to watch. It was like a modern day archeological dig !!

[@deirdreclark8154]

You and Andy are just the cutest when you are together! I laughed out loud at some of the items y'all found. Keep the videos coming!

[@lenabruening5942]

We have the same green plate/mug/bowl set that you have from when you got married!!

[@RussellsLovingLife]

That is so funny that the movers packed a drawer and jars with liquid. 😂🤣 There is no telling what else you will find. Got to have coffee first.

[@hannahjordan6461]

Omg! You have soooo much stuff!!

[@liviadrusilla6778]

Years ago when I was moving I took what I knew I needed out of the attic. I binned all the unopened boxes that had just sat there for the last few years since we moved into that house. I never knew what the boxes contained and I never missed any of it.

[@barbaraknake9628]

Consider watching the Minimalists when they talk about the packing party...perfect for you sense you really are packing to move. You only keep what you use what you unpack at the new house, everything else goes!

[@Loeviis]

That's a good suggestion!

[@mmulligan7360]

Yes you have a great head start to do the minimalists packing party! 😀

[@danixoxo8637]

I think I could let go of a whole room

[@dellahayden5606]

lol 😂it’s amazing what we save thinking 🤔 we may need it and then when we look at it later, I say… what was I thinking 🤔 😂😂😂..

[@belindaulibarri2260]

Wow! Your house had a TON of storage! Feels good to get rid of the old junk!

[@paigepicard2591]

The jars 🤣 Been there! We’ve been moved by the Army, the struggle to go through those boxes is so real. And then you stop and go- they did what?!

[@shirleykinney3777]

Love how you are doing this together.So cute!!

[@wk8678]

Gotta have that copy of Office Space! Lol

[@melaniehumphreys6445]

What a joy to watch you two together. You are such a fun happy couple. You make decluttering look fun. 😁 Thank you for taking us along on your moving journey.

[@JennyT101]

As far as the weird stuff the movers packed - they have to pack everything. They are not allowed to make decisions about items, even if it looks like trash to them.

[@familycarr398]

I can understand that as crazy as it is BUT the drawer??😆😆

[@mjcarr2011]

@@familycarr398 yes! They are bad about packing items that say do not pack! Boxes are always random. You have to watch your trash cans too! They will pack the trash! Our last move was our worst by far! Most broken and they just threw stuff in the boxes!

[@jennylhenry78]

Wow! Great job Erica and Andy!! 👍🏻👍🏻 Can't wait to see that crawl space empty. And really excited to see your empty new home tour.

[@elizabethchetwood1916]

Erica, you can clean a coffee grinder with uncooked rice! Add 1/2 cup rice to grinder and run till rice is pulverized. Depending on how much coffee oil/residue is there, it may take multiple rounds of rice to get it completely clean. Leaves no odor or residue to interfere with coffee flavor going forward.

[@kristimccullough6715]

He is so good at quick decision making! That makes it so much easier!

[@pollydowdlepolly]

I was in a bad mood but then I saw this! Immediately better.

[@dottydisorganised8965]

You have made me think about our roof space that has boxes in it that have not been opened since we last moved 19 YEARS AGO 😟

[@shellyjay8954]

Erica, you are shuffling stuff 24/7. Yard sale!!!

[@debrahiers1073]

Yea Team! Decluttering the crawl space!! You are working great together!😃

[@keetz8490]

I must say watching u clear out that space was so gratifying for me lol. I know the time it’s taken you to go through it and to get to empty these boxes was ahhhhhhh wonderful!! Lol my daughter and son in law are military so I know the struggles of moves and movers. ( they are currently packed and shipped to Italy as soon as they get cleared they will follow ) thanks for sharing!!!!!

[@EricaLucasLoves]

It was gratifying for me too

[@miajoyce11]

Future criteria- house w/o crawl spaces😳. Carry on warrior!

[@LoriTaylorSmithGA]

Oh, the m&ms really cracked me up!!

[@annabelcarter6667]

You two are doing an incredible job, well done!

[@courtenayhillger9716]

I would be so unbelievably overwhelmed doing what y’all are doing! I think I would just get rid of it all and start over 😆

[@thebiggshomesteadkitchen]

Awesome declutter!!

[@millzb8169]

I could watch excellent decluttering like this all day!! :)

[@catharinab8860]

Great job both of you! Really like these videos that’s a little bit longer and with a lot of decluttering 😍

[@jenniferbarney4220]

It's so liberating getting rid of stuff when you move! Can't wait to see the empty house tour. :)

[@Lizzy43645]

I’m excited for the empty house tour! I’m also loving how in to this Andy is - you two are couple goals.

[@doedoe49]

Those old game stubs ,are worth saleing !. .

[@Knitterbug]

It kills me what military movers pack! 😂😂😂

[@springbird21]

Y’all add so much fun to my life! Thank you for adding so much laughter... you 2 & your family & Ranger are SO GREAT! Whoop whoop!

[@MollyStott]

Just a tip for any tickets that are sentimental, I recently made a collage in a large frame of all my tickets from various trips, shows, and things. Saves space, and means that you actually get to see them :)

[@thehappinesstree8089]

Almost in tears here with happiness that your crawl space now looks like that :-) Such progress!x

[@catrinarich3711]

You woo are an expectorant team. I'm glad to see you recycling and donating. Anything metal is recyclable. Best buy takes wiring and old electronic stuff. Thanks for sharing your journey.