Christina Ouillette

Downsizing

Downsizing involves reducing the size of your living space and the amount of belongings you have. This can be a good option for people who are looking to simplify their lives, reduce their expenses, or move to a smaller home. However, downsizing can also be a challenging process, as it requires making tough decisions about what to keep and what to let go.

There are a few key steps that can help to make the downsizing process easier:

Make a plan: Before you start downsizing, it’s important to have a clear plan in place. Determine your goals for downsizing and make a list of the items you need to keep, the items you can sell or donate, and the items you can throw away.

Sort through your belongings: Start by going through your belongings room by room and sorting them into piles based on your plan. Be ruthless and consider whether you really need or use each item.

Get rid of unnecessary items: Once you have sorted through your belongings, it’s time to get rid of the items you no longer need. Consider selling items of value, donating items to charity, or throwing away items that are no longer usable.

Create a storage plan: Downsizing doesn’t necessarily mean getting rid of all your belongings. Instead, it’s about finding ways to store your items in a more efficient way. Consider investing in storage solutions, such as shelving, baskets, and bins, to help you make the most of your available space.

Rental storage units abound and can be an economical way to store some things you cannot bear to part with. Or… get willing family members help if they have the space. Each of my sons had a spare bedroom so when I downsized from a 4-bedroom home to a small condo on the beach I stored a lot of my things with them. Years later one of my sons still has some of my stuff in his place 🙂

Make a budget: Downsizing can be a good way to save money, but it can also involve upfront costs, such as moving expenses and storage solutions. Make a budget and plan for any expenses that may arise during the downsizing process.

Overall, downsizing a household can be a challenging but rewarding process. By making a plan and being strategic about what you keep and get rid of, you can simplify your life and reduce your expenses while still maintaining the things that are most important to you.

Exit mobile version