Decluttering was half the battle—moving day was the real nightmare. Our huge mistake? We accidentally threw away my husband’s passport with the trash!

After feedback requesting more decluttering details, here are extra lessons learned from our move from Chicago to Japan.

1. Label Everything: Sort items into “Need,” “Might Need,” and “What’s the Point?” Setting aside essentials helps movers estimate costs accurately. Stick to 3-4 label types—too many just creates another mess.