I think you'll find the epulator the way to go in the long run without draining your pocketbook.
Shaving gets old quick and the more you epulate, they less you have to do it.
I too have to go thru my wife's things as she just purged a lot of stuff to go to a religious resale shop.
All she knows I take her things there, not that I keep what I want.
I do not have the support you have unfortunately...then again maybe I do but she doesn't want to know.
I suppose it is "a process", as you suggest.