Moving house is one of those things that sounds kind of exciting on paper—fresh start, new place, maybe even a better view from the kitchen window—but in reality? learned that the hard way when I moved out of a place I’d lived in for nearly a decade. What I thought would be a simple “pack and go” turned into an archaeological dig through layers of forgotten junk, half-broken appliances, and things I swear I never even bought.
Somewhere between dragging a rusted BBQ out of the shed and deciding the fate of an old mattress with a spring sticking out like a rogue antenna, I had a moment of clarity. We should’ve rented a dumpster.
But of course, we didn’t. We thought we’d be fine. A few trash bags here, a quick trip to the tip there. Classic underestimation. Within hours, the wheelie bins were overflowing, the car was full of random garbage bags tied shut with shoelaces, and the front lawn looked like we were hosting a yard sale for broken dreams. That’s when I realized—renting a dumpster might just be the unsung hero of a smooth move and I went to elginsdumpstersmiami.com/
See, the thing with moving is that you suddenly see your stuff for what it really is. stuff. That broken blender you swore you’d fix. That box of tangled-up cords that probably belonged to electronics you no longer own. The mystery drawer. You know the one.
And it’s not just the inside stuff. The garage, the shed, the attic—all become battlegrounds in your war against clutter. You can Marie Kondo all you want, but some things don’t spark joy—they just spark anxiety. And while it’s easy to think “I’ll donate that,” or “maybe I can sell it,” when the clock’s ticking and the moving truck’s booked for next Saturday, there’s no time for romantic notions about secondhand heroes.
Renting a dumpster cuts the nonsense. It’s a big ol’ box you can throw things in, no questions asked. No need to bag everything. No need to sort. Just heave it in and move on. That busted plastic chair you’ve been pretending still works? Gone. The rug that smells weird no matter how many times you vacuum it? Toss it. Even the emotional weight feels lighter.
Sure, some folks will say, “But I’m not throwing away that much stuff.” Maybe.Cracked Tupperware. Bent curtain rods. That weird piece of IKEA furniture that never really worked right. Now, I won’t pretend it’s the cheapest option. Renting a dumpster isn’t pocket change. Depending on the size and how long you need it, it can range from a couple hundred bucks to more. But if you factor in the time, fuel, dump fees, and general aggravation of trying to do it all piecemeal? Suddenly it doesn’t sound so wild.
And there’s something to be said for the psychological relief too. Having a dumpster sitting in your driveway during the move is like having a “delete” button for your belongings. You don’t have to overthink it. If you’re on the fence about that water-damaged bookcase, guess what—off the fence and into the bin it goes.
It’s also worth thinking about the end of the move. That final day when you’re dead tired, sweating through your shirt, and all you want is to shut the door behind you and be done. That’s not the time you want to be cramming another bag of junk into an already-full boot or making one last mercy trip to the dump with stuff that somehow still didn’t fit.
Of course, there are a few things you can’t toss in a dumpster—paint cans, batteries, maybe some electronics depending on where you live—but for the most part, it’s the closest thing you’ll get to guilt-free decluttering. Just make sure to check what’s allowed in your area, or you might get a surprise fee. (Yeah, learned that one the hard way.)
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Renting a dumpster turned out to be the one thing I regretted not doing during that last move. If nothing else, it would’ve saved me the embarrassment of a neighbor walking by as I wrestled a sagging beanbag chair into the back of my car like it was a rabid animal.
So is renting a dumpster for moving house worth it?
Look, if you live like a minimalist and keep your home as clean as a showroom—maybe not. But for the rest of us? The collectors, the “just in case” crowd, the sentimental types, the people with garages that are basically time capsules? Yeah, it’s worth it. It saves time, saves hassle, and gives you one less thing to worry about when your to-do list already feels like a phone book.
