Unexpected Benefits of Downsizing

You may be considering downsizing before retirement or maybe you’re just trying to simplify your life. Downsizing can reduce housing costs as well as maintenance tasks. While downsizing may seem overwhelming, you can take your time, ask for help and do it in stages.

Unexpected Benefits:

• You Can Get Organized – Moving into a smaller home forces you to declutter and eliminate possessions. Retirees who stay in large homes often only end up using a few rooms. The other rooms end up collecting clutter and taking up time to maintain. Having things organized simplifies your life.
• You Can Eliminate Stress – Clutter causes stress whether we realize it or not. The constant pressure of keeping up a large home can also cause unnecessary stress when that time could be spent enjoying other activities. Pairing down and focusing on only items that bring you joy and giving them a specific, easy to find location, can be a huge relief.
• Gain More Time For Yourself – Speaking of spending time enjoying other activities! The less time you have to spend finding things, cleaning, picking up, and doing maintenance, the more time to you have to travel, enjoy a hobby, or spend with friends.
• Eliminate More Work For Your Children – It’s a hard truth but when elderly people die or move into senior living or assisted living facilities, their children are often given the difficult task of sorting through their possessions. Having to do this during times of grief can be extremely taxing and can even cause feuds between family members. Pairing down your possessions is not only good for you it is a gift to your children.
• Eliminate More Work For Your Children – It’s a hard truth but when elderly people die or move into senior living or assisted living facilities, their children are often given the difficult task of sorting through their possessions. Having to do this during times of grief can be extremely taxing and can even cause feuds between family members. Pairing down your possessions is not only good for you it is a gift to your children.
• Gain More Access – A home that suited you 20-years ago may no longer do so. Moving to a space that gives you better physical access, especially if you have mobility problems, can keep you from falls or future injury. It also allows you to operate and enjoy more fully the space of your home.