Consumerism and capitalism had us thinking that ‘Bigger is Better’.
But, is it really like that?
You might want to reevaluate this notion. Depending on your personal needs, this might be a false equivalency.
Especially when you talk about the size of a home: sometimes smaller may be better.
But, again, it all boils down to your own individual requirements and the phase of life you’re in right now, etc.
This post highlights the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of downsizing.
Read this till the end and see if downsizing is something you should be considering right now.
The Benefits of Downsizing
More Cash Flow and Less Expenses
Think about the monthly mortgage you have to pay for a big house.
Selling it off and using the proceeds to buy a smaller one all the while ridding yourself of this monthly financial obligation!
Sometimes, that alone is a reason good enough for many to downsize.
LESS STUFF = MORE TIME
Even something as tiny as a pen requires your attention.
Just the act of moving it from one place to another takes up at least some amount of your time. Now apply that to everything else in your house.
Most of us don’t look at it that way. But, once you start to realize just how much time and energy it takes to organize/handle all the stuff you have, you realize how it all adds up.
Some people love the sense of freedom it comes with getting rid of the unnecessary stuff. That’s part of the reason why more and more people are embracing the ideas of minimalism/minimalist-living.
LESS UPKEEP/MAINTENANCE REQUIRED
Cleaning, organizing, maintaining – it’s a lifelong commitment and a cycle that never ends.
If you are not big on regular cleaning and upkeep, it goes without saying how a smaller home and lesser stuff just makes the most sense in the world.
SIMPLER LIFE
Never underestimate the power of simplicity.
The fact that you have fewer things weighing you down can be quite liberating. And, not just space-wise.
It can feel as though a burden has been lifted off of you. We’re looking at less mental clutter.
You might be surprised how having less to worry about opens you to other more creative and fun endeavors in life.
When to Downsize (and When Not To)
THINK OF YOUR FAMILY NEEDS
A five or six-bedroom house when really there are only 2-3 individuals living in it?Think about all the extra space that’s practically useless. If anything it’s only keeping you occupied with all that unnecessary upkeep. You still have to clean it, right? …even when no one actually using the room or lives there.
If your family needs dictate only 2 or 3 bedrooms and you see all this extra space, that’s a good indicator that downsizing may be a wise move.
CONSIDER THE TIMING
There comes a point in life when you’re not surrounded by very many family members all the time.
Perhaps your kids have moved out or you just got divorced and now you are living all by yourself…
Living in a big house won’t make much sense.
If you don’t plan on getting married or having kids (at least not anytime soon), it might be worth it (practically and financially) to move from a big house to a smaller one.
CONSIDER THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN YOUR HOME
Again, this is just logic and an extension of the previous two points.
If you have a big family that makes it mandatory to have enough space, obviously downsizing isn’t for you in that case.
It’s also not for those who are already living in a small space (you can’t really downsize much if you are living in a mobile home).
How to Prepare for Downsizing
THINK ABOUT THE STUFF YOU HAVE
It’s good to evaluate the amount of stuff you have and the kind of storage it will require before you commit to downsizing or start investing in a smaller house.
PLAN AHEAD
Think about the possibilities in the near future. Do you see yourself living with a girlfriend or having kids?
If yes, plan the storage space accordingly.
It’s all about planning and being intuitive about the foreseeable future. Depending on your plans for a couple of years down the road, you might want to leave some functional space for growing family needs (just as provisional).
TALK TO AN EXPERT
Sometimes, an expert can offer profound insight on the functionalities of tiny living that we can’t think on our own.
To that end, working with a housing expert might just be worth the cost.
A Smaller House Costs Less
That’s just logic. If you do it right, you end up having less stuff.
Less stuff translates to less living/storage space (and more time for yourself).
When all is said and done, just the financial aspect of it all should appeal to many. Who doesn’t love living free of financial obligations?
Imagine having to work less because you have less to worry about.
Tiny living means less work and more living. If you think about it, it all makes sense and should motivate you to think long and hard about the benefits of downsizing.
Conclusions
In conclusion, you have to factor in some major aspects before moving to a smaller house.
Your lifestyle requirements, size of the family, age, future plans…
Take everything into consideration before downsizing.
When in doubt, reach out to an expert and ask for help.
