Moving to Spain: What Should You Bring and What Should You Let Go?

By
Bruno Bianchi
-

Question

“We are moving to Spain, and have over a hundred boxes of stuff in storage waiting to go to Spain with us. Part of that is that we are older and have many years of collecting higher quality items, so the ‘just buy a new one in Spain’ system doesn’t work as well for us, but also a ton of books that are not easily replaceable, and the rest of it is memorabilia: gifts from dear friends, items we’ve purchased together on vacation etc.

I think the important thing is sorting out what is important to you. Will having your memorabilia around you make you feel safer in the uncertain times of learning a new language and a new culture?

Also figure out how much it costs to per cubic foot to ship things, and do the math of how much it costs to ship something versus how much it would cost to replace it in Spain.”

Answers

“It’s hard to get rid of books. I’ve been purging books for a while. I mostly only read digital books and I never reread books but I’m still attached to many of them. I’m going to ship one box of ‘can’t live without’ cookbooks and I’m storing a few more boxes of special books but I think I can get rid of the rest.

Travel mementos are also difficult. I think those will come eventually. We don’t plan to buy for a while so I don’t want to purge everything until we do.”

“Doing the same here, it’s especially hard getting rid of my mom’s nativity collection. I’m giving away a lot of things to my brother & niece. Just had to get rid of the oak table of my childhood where I had so many beautiful meals with my family. It’s hard!”

Moving to Spain: What Should You Bring and What Should You Let Go?

“I am doing the same right now. Who would have thought I would be so attached to my plants and bedroom set lol. It’s a lot of emotions at once right now. Closing on our house in the US in a couple of weeks and leaving the home we had for 9 years.

Last time I made this big of a move was from Argentina to US in the 1970’s. This seems harder but fresh starts are always good. Wish you the best!”

“The plants, my bed and my cast iron pan.”

“I used to have a jungle house. I grew my plants from starters to ceiling high. I lived in that house for 14 years. My plants were my pride and joy. We put so much detail into every corner of that house. It took only three days to dismantle it. It crushed my heart every time they emptied a room. I never thought I’ll be leaving that house.”

“Don’t bring beds over: they’re typically much better and cheaper here. Wood is VERY expensive, so if you have quality pieces store them for now. Most places are smaller in Spain than the USA but not always. Create three piles: Trash, Charity, Keep. If you’re in any way attached to something, hold onto it.

You can always ‘release it’ when you’re ready. From experience, if I get rid of things too soon before I’m ready, I feel a sense of loss. Whereas, if I’m in the right mindset, it feels freeing. Good luck.”

“I brought too many clothes. I wish I had left most of them behind. I am happy I brought my artwork and sentimental things. They are the only things that are irreplaceable, all of the practical household items are easily purchased here. I left behind some sentimental things that I really regret letting go.”

“We sold everything and moved in 7 suitcases. 3 sentimental items per person, no electronics aside from cell phones and laptops, and only clothes. 1 year in and no regrets.

We digitized pictures and gave all of the other sentimental items to nieces and nephews that would eventually get them anyway. Clean slate, new life, and priorities change. It’s not a 3rd world country.

You can find anything you need here and help support your new neighbors and economy by doing so. Make the jump, take the leap, let the past go and take only what you can’t live without (and then get rid of 1/3 of that because you’re overestimating).”

“Favorite clothes, the odd must-have kitchen item and start fresh, honestly, don’t worry, part of the experience is the newness and discovery. Fresh starts are fantastic.”

“I think our shipper said if we move stuff before we move there or (I think) some time after, we’d be taxed on it. So check on that to be sure.”

“There is a cool minimalism approach to this where you pack everything now as if you were going to move soon. Clearly label each box with the contents. List it out with detail! You take things out of the boxes that you have packed only when you absolutely need them for a year. You then keep those items out of the box.

After a year you will have some boxes still packed and ready to donate or sell! Then you can rest assured that everything existing outside of those boxes are more or less necessary. Hope this helps!”

“This is great but I’m moving in 2 months. We did move a little over a year ago to a small house and I’ve moved a lot in my life so I feel like I can do this, but this move feels different. Lugging 30 year old photo albums from house to house doesn’t seem realistic in a suitcase and a couple of boxes.”

“I have been working almost nonstop to get rid of 95% of the stuff. It is so much work. Some (most) stuff goes to thrift shops, a bit of stuff goes to the consignment shop, other stuff goes to a specific church in town that sets up households for those who need it.

I have only had a little luck selling anything on fb or panning off on unsuspecting relatives. It is so time consuming. I did find a missing stock certificate today. Yay! Doesn’t help when you are still storing stuff for adult children.

They live in the EU so a lot of their stuff is just going bye bye. Now getting my husband on the clean out bandwagon is a whole other story.”

“We had six checked luggage and 2 carry-ons along with our flight; before that, we lived in a 4,000 square foot house LOL.”

“Teach me, oh Jedi Master…. I need this discipline.”

“First, move to a 800 sqft 1-br apt, get rid of 90% of belongings; stay there for 1 yr, learn simple living; then get rid of 90% of belongings once again, before the final move. Basically take 1% to Spain LOL.”

“We spent a year curating our household goods and personal effects down to a small fully equipped 2 bedroom 2 bath house. We had 5 boxes plus 4 large suitcases and carry-ons that we shipped to our temporary address to use until we found a long term lease. Our furniture and such arrives in a month.”

“We sold everything over weeks. The friends that did estate auctions were done in 3 days. I wish I had.”

“We are splitting our time between Spain and the US for now. We bought a furnished house. So my wife and I came with 2 suitcases each. They got packed and repacked multiple times. But essentially we each had one bag full of clothes and my second bag had tools and stuff for our hobbies. Her second bag had sentimental stuff and kitchen stuff.”

“Good suitcases so you can enjoy traveling Europe when you get there!”

“I have sold, given away to friends, donated, everything I can. I keep reminding myself it costs $200 a bin to transport it. Do I really, really need it? Can I give the sentimental stuff to family to keep? How many clothes/dishes/linens do I need for myself?”

“Laptop, clothing, documents, sentimental things that are really important to you. And personal hygiene items if you are partial to brands you can’t find in Spain. That’s it. Sizes of everything in Spain are different, voltages too.”

“Watch out for emotional packing, you will end up with an apartment full of things that no longer serve you. Being pragmatic and minimalistic is the smart way to go, you are moving to a country where storage is not a priority, living spaces are small, and moving houses or apartments can be an ordeal since the u-haul / self storage concept is not the same or as easy as the US. It is much easier to just pack the basics and rebuild.”

“Make piles, definitely take, maybe take, store, give/sell. Once everything is sorted redo the two take piles and see where you are at. Then take a nap.”

Conclusion

When moving to Spain, the decision of what to bring can be emotionally complex and logistically challenging. Spainguru community members shared a wide range of strategies—from shipping a few sentimental boxes to selling everything and starting fresh

Many emphasized the importance of prioritizing irreplaceable items like family memorabilia, artwork, or unique kitchen tools, while others advocated for a minimalist approach, cautioning against overpacking due to Spain’s smaller living spaces and different infrastructure for storage and moving.

Some found comfort in taking time to downsize over a year, while others made the move with just a few suitcases. The consensus is clear: bring only what you can’t live without, and be mentally prepared to let go of what no longer serves you.

Key Takeaways

  1. Prioritize Sentimental and Irreplaceable Items
    Most members recommend bringing only the things you truly can’t replace—family mementos, special artwork, or unique kitchen items—and leaving behind the rest.
  2. Minimize for Spain’s Smaller Living Spaces
    Homes in Spain are generally smaller, and storage options are limited. A minimalist approach helps avoid clutter and better suits the Spanish lifestyle.
  3. Downsizing Is Both Emotional and Practical
    Letting go of belongings can be difficult, especially those with emotional value. Giving yourself time, creating categorized piles, or even doing it in phases makes the process more manageable.

Join the Community!

Welcome to Spainguru’s Community Hub!

Connect with thousands of expats, aspiring residents, and digital nomads in Spain. Our vibrant community is here to support you every step of your journey, offering invaluable advice, shared experiences, and real-time answers to your questions. Find your tribe and make your move to Spain smoother and more enjoyable!

Stay informed!

Don’t miss out on important updates, guides, and community events. Follow us on our various platforms!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main purpose of these communities?

Our communities are designed to provide a supportive environment for individuals interested in or currently living in Spain. You can ask questions, share experiences, get advice on visas, residency, daily life, and connect with like-minded people.

Are these groups moderated?

Yes, all our communities are actively moderated by the Spainguru team and dedicated volunteers to ensure a respectful, helpful, and spam-free environment.

Can I ask legal or official advice in these groups?

While you can get general advice and personal experiences, please remember that information shared in these groups is not official legal or immigration advice. For specific, personalized guidance, we recommend consulting with a qualified professional.

How can I contribute to the community?

You can contribute by sharing your experiences, answering questions, offering tips, and welcoming new members. Positive and constructive engagement is always encouraged!

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR