The kids are all grown up, making families of their own, and now all that’s left is you, spousey and a big old housey. Rather than keeping the 4 bedroom home, downsizing is increasingly becoming the popular route for empty nesters. Without having to maintain a large home, you save money, get to spend more time doing something you enjoy, lower your utility bills, and minimize your stress overall. Here are some tips to help you downsize if you are thinking about moving into a smaller home.
Let Go
Downsizing is about learning to let go. In the words of Lone Starr to Princess Vespa “Take only what you need to survive”. Your medical alert systems would fall into this category for instance. Well, you can give yourself a little more leeway than simply packing up a basic survival kit, but the point is to choose your items wisely and not hoard too much. Granted there are many things that hold deep sentimental value but you have to define what your needs are now, and look at this as an opportunity to start anew. Once you’ve sorted through your things and established what you want to keep and what you will let go of, you can have a garage sale and also give some of your things away to good will.
Buy Multifunctional Furniture
When downsizing, you need furniture that serves more than one purpose. A couch that turns into a sofa bed is perfect for when guests sleep over, eliminating the need for a rarely used guestroom. Clever cupboards and shelving systems free up tons of space and are great way to keep your things organized. A box ottoman can be used to stow extra blankets, pillows or whatever other items you may not want out on display. Investing in multifunctional furniture is one of the smartest ways to hide clutter and make your place look sharp.
Move Close to Things You Love
Whether it’s closer to friends, family, the library, coffee shops, or the golf club, look at getting a home that is close to the things you love. You may have moved into a smaller space, but with less maintaining to do around the house, you have more time to be out and about.
Your Home is Your Shelter
People used to believe that renting a home is throwing your money away, but once you’ve sold your home, you can use that money towards paying rent (which will be very manageable now that you are living somewhere smaller). A home doesn’t have to be an investment, it’s the roof over your head.
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