When I moved to Bermuda my package included having a big create (about 4 cubic metres), of my personal possessions shipped to the island.  A decade ago, that amounted to about a grand.

When I left last year, I figured I'd sell almost everything as it was duty paid in Bermuda and likely worth more there than the price of replacing it.  Since I was moving to Australia, most of my electronics wouldn't be compatible with the power anyway. 

I decided to keep only my personal things:  photos, art, mementos, some sports stuff and some of my wardrobe.  I had a massive yard sale and got rid of everything else.  I arranged with a local shipping company to send my things to Australia and I was blown away by the cost.  It ended up costing me over $3,400 USD for under two cubic metres of cargo.  The real insult was paying $500 to have them build a shipping box for me.  And, no I wasn't allowed to build one myself for the $100 in materials, it had to be done by an authorized agent who could stamp the wood as free of bugs.

Now, I know moving around the world isn't going to be cheap, but if I'd known the real cost, I would have cut down to just excess baggage and called it a day.

Space Bags work well for that.  You throw a bunch of stuffed animals in and suck the air out.  Flattens them to almost nothing.  Works well for clothes and blankets too.  Worth considering if you are shipping by size (sea) vs weight (air).

Mysticman uses them all the time...........................

"Space Bags work well for that.  You throw a bunch of stuffed animals in and suck the air out.  Flattens them to almost nothing.  Works well for clothes and blankets too."

How'z about politicians?

When coming to the island, the only take what you can carry rule applies as well.

When I returned from University for good, I (stupidly) shipped home two trunks of the stuff I had accumulated.  They killed me on duty.  Since some of the items were goodbye gifts from friends, I didn't have receipts but the customs dude didn't care, I still had to pay duty based on whatever arbitrary price he assigned.  I'll never forget the argument we had over the value of my four-year old Dirt Devil hand vac (which was obviously used).  I paid CDN$30 for it in Walmart, but he felt it was worth US$60 and what he said was what counted (of course, the vacuum died a week later!).  I now tell everyone who returns from school to just bring back a suitcase with clothes and some books and tell your friends to give you cards instead of actual presents.  It just isn't worth the hassle.

I know I have mentioned it before, but for those newbies, the harpy at customs charged me duty on COAT HANGERS as well as the children's used toys.  It is all arbitrary though, we had 2 shipments when we returned to this..... place, the first shipment we had a male customs officer, I couldn't find the key to the trunk, he asked me what was in it and was happy with what I could remember was in there and we paid a small amount of duty on my husband's music equipment, then the second shipment arrived and we had a woman, she took everything out, examined everything placed a value on everything and then gave us a bigger bill than the first one .  May she one day find herself in a small room with 20 lizards and no way out(for those who don't know a lot of Bdians are scared of lizards).

Almost 12 years ago I brought in about 15 boxes of goods for about 400.  I have to say that so much CRAP has multiplied in my small home.  I take trash bags of goods out and I turn around and I swear that they had babies!  It is funny when my hoarding husband leaves I get so much glory in disposing items he will just not let go of.  I don't think he even misses things that I dump either.
When and if I leave here it will be the clothes on my back and money in my pockets!

Haha.  I'm glad you took that zing so well, Wassup...

It is so easy to get caught up in the materialism pushed by the marketing companies.  Being in the US or Canada exposes one to the full Madison Avenue consumerism onslaught.  And, when you go to the mall and see the prices for things you know would be many times more expensive in Bermuda, it's hard to resist that buying urge.

We all end up with a lot of stuff.  Selling everything off last year was great for me.  Being rid of all those possessions gave me a freedom that really feels sweet. 

On the flip side, it sure is nice to have my treasures here with me in my new home now.  Having those few things that are real souvenirs make me feel comfortable; I guess it is the fond memories they represent.