Whether you are downsizing from an apartment or a home, it takes a lot of work. Your residence is filled with items you have collected over the years and now it is time to move somewhere smaller, so what do you do with all those items? Downsizing can help you get into a small home without the stress of bringing along everything with you, but, downsizing in and of itself can cause a lot of stress too. Below, you will find some helpful tips to make downsizing easier for you.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Waiting until the last minute will only result in a serious headache for you. You want to start to downsize as early as possible. You should create a plan that tells you when you will start the process and when you expect to be down with the process. Always try to stick to the plan but if you are planning out with enough time, you will have some wiggle room should a day come up where you are not available as originally planned.
Know What You Need and Where You Are Going
There are many items in your home, and it is unlikely that you will use all of them. You will need to sit down and ask yourself a series of questions to find out how to best downsize.
For example, you can ask yourself:
- Do I need this?
- Is it expired?
- Will I use this?
- How can I use this?
- How often will I use this?
These questions can assist you in determining if you need to keep or toss something.
Also, you need to know where you are going to. Will the place be bigger or smaller? Are there certain things you can and cannot bring with you?
All of these things will play an important part in your downsizing.
Don’t Be Afraid to Donate
If you come across some items that you do not need or want but they are too nice, so you do not want to throw them away, consider donating them. You can donate a lot of different items to shelters and local organizations. For example, women’s shelters can always use clothes and pet shelters can always use extra sheets and towels.
Ask Someone Else
Find yourself stuck on whether to keep or toss? Ask someone else to help you out. An objective opinion is a good opinion and can help you better understand if you should keep something or get rid of it. When finding someone else to ask, avoid asking friends or family members that may just agree with you to agree with you. You want someone who will truly share their opinion with you.
Consider a Self-Storage Unit
As a final thought, you can always consider a self-storage unit to keep your items safe. Many people who downsize, especially when it is temporary will find themselves renting out a storage unit to keep their items safe. You can find really good deals on storage units, which make saving those items you may be on the fence about worth it.