7 Reasons To Love Downsizing

Lasehrman
by Lasehrman

Moving to a much smaller home has been a rewarding experience that has resulted in a more peaceful life. It really is a journey or a process to begin downsizing. For me, it took time, even with careful planning.


We now live in a home that is almost half of the size as our previous homes. Now that two of our children are adults, we only have one college-aged child living with us. We feel like empty-nesters, because this child is pretty much independent.


Living in a smaller home means that a great percentage of our furniture wasn’t needed. Much of the extra furniture was offered to our children. Whatever furniture they didn’t need was donated to someone else who could use it. This made our moving to a new state so much easier.


Downsizing is a sure way to lower your utility bills, too. With less rooms to heat and cool the electric and gas bills are lower. We downsized our wardrobes, and that makes less clothes to store. I like the way the closet isn’t so crammed, and I don’t keep clothes that I will not wear. Donating the extra clothes gives someone else the chance to use.


Having less clutter in the cabinets and drawers makes me feel more peaceful. Cabinets crammed with items that I might use once or twice is wasteful and frustrating. It makes me unhappy to need to unstack and move everything to get an item from the back corner. Again, we donated unwanted items.


I’m less likely to buy more stuff, when there is no place to put it. That not only keeps clutter away, but saves the bank account. Being retired, there isn’t an ever-growing bank account. It has been much easier to get and stay organized when I have less stuff.

Downsizing has helped me to be more creative. As I decided what furnishings to keep, I re-examined my personal style. Selecting furnishings that made me truly comfortable and cozy has created a look that I love.


Downsizing and simplifying our home has made me feel like my mind is more clear. When I look around, there is less of a mess. I’ve only kept things that are beautiful to me. Quickly putting excess paper into the recycling box means that it’s out of sight.


Time is so valuable, and downsizing means less time spent on things I don’t love. I don’t like to do housework (who does?) and now there is less house to clean. There is less flooring to vacuum or mop. There is less furniture to dust. You get the picture. There’s also less grass to mow. (we’re renting temporarily, so there’s no grass to mow).


Have you downsized or are you thinking about downsizing? In 2019, many baby boomers are choosing not to downsize. There are pros and cons to everything, but I am very happy with the choice we’ve made. The benefits have been perfect for me and my family.

Lasehrman
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 3 comments
  • Gina Garrison Gina Garrison on Feb 25, 2023

    My husband and I live in a two story, five bedroom house, where we have lived for 33 years. My husband has mobility issues, so he very rarely goes upstairs. We contemplated downsizing a few times in the past 10 years, but something always stopped us. Now, my husband is turning 80, and will need to move to assisted living in a few more years. There seems no point in downsizing now. Anyone one else in this situation?

    • Gloria Combs Gloria Combs on Mar 11, 2023

      I am 74, been in this house since 1978. We did lots of work when we first bought it and it’s now s finished upstairs with 3 bedrooms up and guest room downstairs. Raised 2 children here and loved it. My husband was diagnosed in 2008 at age 62 with oral cancer from flying helicopters in Vietnam. He received extensive treatment at Mayo Clinic and he recovered fairly well. We both retired, bought an RV and traveled for 10 years when it unexpectedly returned. After trips to Mayo and MD Anderson, nothing more could be done. He was here on Hospice and died a month later at 73.

      i can’t tell you how hard and difficult it is to have to downsize now with him gone. Do not wait. Downside asap while you are together. Being widowed is hard enough without the extra burden of “downsizing” alone. I sure wish we had……this House is too large and I’ve run into health issues that make it even more challenging….. I’m using an Acorn stairlift! I repeat….. do not wait! Good luck

  • Lori Lori on Mar 30, 2023

    I am most definitely looking forward to living in a tiny house in my future. I’ve been thinking about downsizing for years, but it has become especially important as I see my kids in their lives and the fact that they’re not going to want much of any of my stuff and so I’m actually looking forward to downsizing as well as getting into a tiny house which requires a lot less cleaning and organizing. And I definitely want a tiny house with a loft for my granddaughters when they come to visit whether it be sleepovers or just hanging out. The only tiny houses I would be interested in have the main bedroom on the main floor no ladders for grandma.

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