We usually think of seniors when we think of downsizing. Many retired people or empty nesters prefer smaller spaces when others move out. I would be the same way. In fact, I still think my home now is too big – it’s just me and my husband and our four cats. We got this house because it’s not too far from my mother and brother, or my in-laws. It’s located near my nieces’ school, too, which comes in handy when I am needed for pick-ups and drop-offs. Still, we hardly get visitors to warrant this larger space worth it.
Our first impression was that our nieces would be at our home, spending the night often. We imagined being close to family meant hosting more dinners. Long story short, most get-togethers happen at my mother’s house, and my nieces just want to hang with her – their grandmother. So here we are, in a three-bedroom, 2-bath house with just four cats and us two adults. Who am I cleaning for?
My Downsizing Experience
Let’s rewind to ten years ago when I moved out of my larger, two-story, five bedroom home. Back then it made sense to have a large home. I had a dog who needed the backyard since she had zoomies every second. I frequently had company over for work events and holidays. Many people spent the night often. And each room had a theme that fit my every need: hobbies, gym, guest bedroom, my dressing room, etc. There was plenty of space for my life back then.
Still, I had an itch for a change. I took a job in another country where a small furnished cottage was available for me, as well as a vehicle. Talk about a downsize! I sold my car. My dog was adopted by my parents (who were obsessed with her – I didn’t want to put her through the quarantine process nor “ship” her), and I donated all my furniture and sold my home. Even though I knew I’d be back in two years, I figured I’d start fresh.
I arrived at my new home with two suitcases. One filled with clothes and toiletries; the other filled with my favorite belongings and books. That’s all I needed in my life during that time, though I missed my dog dearly – I knew she was cared for and loved.
After two years, I returned to living with my parents temporarily in their spare bedroom. I came back with what I originally left with. Just the two suitcases.
And you know what? For a decade I learned to live in small spaces. Then my father passed away, and I needed to move back near my mother. This is the first time in ten years I have lived in a larger home and for a while there I began to fill it up with things I don’t need. Yes, I literally had furniture I never used, like a bedroom set in a guest room that was used once in the past three years.
So, I donated the furniture and left the rooms empty. Soon my lease will be up, and I can either buy this house or not. I might not. It’s still too large and I’m not planning on having children. So why bother with the extra spaces to clean?
Should You Downsize?
I think it’s good for everyone to experience this once. Many of us think larger homes mean we’ve done well in life, or have lots of money, for some reason. I don’t think the size of your home is any reflection of your financial status.
If you are in a place where you’re storing more than you need or have spaces you never use, it’s time to consider downsizing. Life is more enjoyable when it’s simple. There’s no need to create extra work for yourself. And if someone does decide to spend the night at your home, offer up your bedroom and sleep on the couch. Or you can do what I do and get some cots or an air mattress to set up for company.
It’s not necessary to pay money on extra spaces you’ll only need once in a while.
I’m trying to get back to the “two suitcases” lifestyle. Sure, we can have a little more than that, but it’s a good philosophy to have if you think about it. Keep what you need. Donate or sell the rest. If you ever need to free up some time, money, and reduce overwhelm, downsizing is the way to go.
How to Downsize Where You Are Now
What I advise you to do is to walk through every room you have, including the backyard and garage.
- Go through every furniture and decoration and place a colored label on it. Have each color represent “donate” or “sell”
- Grab boxes to store your donations
- Post somewhere what you are selling, like Facebook Marketplace or Offer Up
- Get to work to move these out of your home
That’s how you clear space. Be sure to look in cabinets. You’d be surprised how much we keep hidden in there for rainy days that never come.
If after you clear your spaces to have only what you need, you find that your space is still too big, then consider moving.
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