Simplify and Thrive: Downsizing Your Home
Downsizing your home can be a daunting prospect, but it comes with a range of benefits that make the decluttering process worthwhile. From simplifying your lifestyle to reducing financial burdens, many people look to downsizing as a way to live a more fulfilling life, freeing up time for other more important things.
Overview
Downsizing your home to save money
Downsizing your home after the kids leave or for retirement
5 tips for decluttering and downsizing your home
Where and how to get rid of stuff?
Why downsize your home?
The mental health benefits of a decluttered, manageable, clean living space that brings joy, leads to improved overall well-being. Although getting ready to downsize can be a mighty job, it is a job worth doing sooner rather than later.
A downsize is not a bad thing! You could consider spending the money that is freed up on modifications to your new home to suit you perfectly. Create a dream outdoor entertaining area or accessible garden beds, or even install a home gym in the spare bedroom or finally renovate the bathroom of your dreams!
We will cover many reasons you could consider downsizing your home as well as how to get it done.
Downsizing your home to save money
Many single people, couples and families are downsizing their living situations so that they can better manage their finances and focus on other priorities like spending time with the family or saving for travel.
For many, priorities have shifted in the years after covid-lockdowns which brought home the importance of a better work-life balance and the ability to spend time with loved ones. There has been a trend towards tiny homes, even off-grid tiny homes as the cost of living increases in Australia and property prices are increasingly out of reach for younger families.
Downsizing your home after the kids leave or for retirement
It is quite common for families to finally acquire the big family home of their dreams; the home they have worked hard to save for or renovate to suit their needs – just as their children are at the age where they leave home! Leaving the couple in a house with a square meterage that is beyond comprehension for two people.
All is not lost! You can use this asset as a way to shift gears towards a better lifestyle, less stress and less work – the kids will be happy for you!
Below are some points to consider when making the move to downsize to ensure you attain a new and beneficial sense of place in retirement:
Choosing the right size home for your lifestyle
Choose a home that aligns with your retirement goals, whether it’s a smaller house, villa, duplex or even a retirement community.
Accessibility in older age – be realistic
Consider features that accommodate your abilities, such as single-story living, wider doorways, and other accessibility features like handrails.
Community engagement – stay connected
Look for downsizing options that offer opportunities for socialising and community engagement. A location that is within walking distance of shops will be an added benefit requiring less dependence on a vehicle.
Health and wellness – live where your life is
Opt for a downsized home that supports a healthy and active lifestyle, such as in a neighbourhood by the beach. Retirement may mean you no longer need to live in the city – what a great opportunity for a sea change or tree change!
The benefits of downsizing your home
Financial freedom
Downsizing often means lower mortgage payments, property taxes, and utility bills – freeing up funds for other things such as retiring earlier, travelling or other hobbies and passions.
Reduced maintenance
A smaller home requires less time and effort for upkeep and cleaning, giving you more leisure time.
Decluttered space
Downsizing forces you to prioritise the essentials, leading to a clutter-free and organised living space.
Lower environmental impact
Smaller homes generally have a smaller carbon footprint, contributing positively to the environment.
5 tips for decluttering and downsizing your home
01. Create a Plan
Develop a systematic plan, room by room, to ensure a smooth transition to your new home.
02. Start Early
Begin the downsizing process well in advance to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Call in help from friends and family to share the load.
03. Sort and prioritise
Categorise belongings into essentials, sentimental items, and things to part with to streamline the process.
04. Embrace minimalism
Focus on keeping only what truly adds value to your life, letting go of unnecessary possessions is the essence of a minimalist home.
05. Opt for ease
Make life easier for yourself and consider ways to remove items from your property that require the least effort from you, such as hiring a skip and booking removalists – freeing up your time to focus on other aspects of the move.
Where and how to get rid of stuff?
There are tonnes of waste management options out there, here are a few below:
01. Donate items to op shops – they will be grateful to receive items that can have a second life.
02. Hold a garage sale – great for old records, vintage furniture – and even clothes!
03. Gift to friends or family – any items you know someone quietly cherished all those years?
04. Put items in household waste bins if they cannot have a second life.
05. Hire a skip bin for rubbish and waste.
Decluttering your home to downsize?
There is often a surprising amount of waste items to come out of a home that has been lived in for a while, the garden shed and the garage are places we tend to pile belongings that we promise ourselves we’ll ‘sort out later’, these two locations can be a big task!
Get in touch with Just Skips and we’ll help you choose the right size skip for your needs, taking a big job off your shoulders – simply fill the skip and we’ll take care of the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best age to downsize your home?
When you reach your early 60’s, this is believed to be the ideal period to downsize as people encounter difficulty maintaining their properties and gardens. This is also an age when people reassess their lives and plan their retirement.
What to do first when downsizing?
First things first—declutter your home before you downsize. Living in a smaller space means you’ll need to purge some items and make sure you go through your belongings before moving it all into a smaller home.
Why is it so hard to downsize?
Because it can be daunting. Decluttering to downsize and deciding what to keep and what to declutter is a big job. Inevitably not all the furniture and possessions will fit into a smaller space and this can feel overwhelming.
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