Moving Your Shoe Collection

Shoes are like clothes—when you have too much of them, they can complicate a move as much as a big screen TV might. The key to moving your shoe collection is to pare it down first. The following is a checklist of things you might ask yourself.

• Does this fit me? There’s no sense in trying to squeeze into a pair of shoes that you’ve simply outgrown.
• Is it comfortable? Likewise, there’s no sense in keeping a pair of shoes around that you never wear. Sometimes women get ahead of themselves and buy good looking shoes for “special occasions.” They use it as an excuse for not wearing an uncomfortable pair of stilettos ever again, for example. For the sake of minimizing clutter and getting the most out of your shoe collection, be critical. If some shoes are simply irrational to keep around, try selling them off.
• Do I have something similar already? We’re part of a consumerist society that follows trends blindly, fashion trends in particular. The riding boots that were in style twenty years ago are back in style this fall! Doesn’t mean that you need to have two pairs of the same thing, though.
• Is it worn out already? If so, you know this pair of shoes has passed the test—you’ve worn them consistently and faithfully over the years. They must be comfortable. And above all else, you know you truly love them! Consider taking them to get resoled at your local cobbler.
• If your shoes are too worn out to be spruced up by a professional, and you’ve fallen out of love with them, never fear! Organizations such as Recycled Runners, Reuse a Shoe, and Souls 4 Souls will take used shoes, no matter how worn they are. They’re sent to other countries to help those who can’t afford footwear at all. They’re also recycled into everything from gym flooring to playground materials. It’s easy to find use for things you may be ready to indiscriminately toss out.

The most important thing to remember when you’re moving your shoe collection is to start by trimming it down first. In fact, at the top of every moving list should be “get rid of stuff you don’t need.” It’ll expedite your moving experience by a thousand fold.

Learn more about difficult things to move.