An A Family Storage Blog
Is Downsizing Your Home
Right for You?
Downsizing. There could be countless reasons why you have thought about downsizing. It is not uncommon for young or mature adults to go through a period of downsizing. Whether all your children have grown up and moved away, you want to be part of the van life club, tiny house club, or you need something more manageable, it could be a great decision.
Moving, in general, can be very fulfilling and, at times, a bit scary, just like anything new. Keep in mind that downsizing is not for everyone and that there are always pros and cons to moving. The best thing to do, if you’re thinking about downsizing, is to do your due diligence. Find individuals who have gone through the same process and get their advice, or read some blogs or books before taking a blind leap into downsizing.
Not sure you are ready to downsize? We are here to help. We are going to discuss some advantages, disadvantages and hopefully answer questions you have about downsizing.
First things first, ask yourself some essential questions, such as:
- Why do you want to downsize?
- What fears do you have?
- What are you most excited about downsizing?
- What are the pros/cons for me?
- Will this negatively impact my career, long-term goals, or anyone in my immediate family?
Understanding the root of your reasoning and goals will help you stick to a plan, become more confident about the process, and help you decide if this is the right path.
Advantages of Downsizing
There are many advantages of downsizing, such as the possibility of lowering your bills, easier to clean and maintain, maybe a quicker commute time to work, and potentially living closer to family and friends. Suppose you have owned your home for an extended length of time and completed renovations on your home. In that case, you may have increased the house’s value, also known as resale value, which could leave you with a big check after you’ve paid the real estate agent, and the bank, of course. You could take that money, spend it on a smaller, cheaper home and still have equity left over for whatever you want. Maybe even start that hobby crafting business; anything’s possible.
Upsizing Health When Downsizing
Do you hate cleaning? Most of us can say that this is not our favorite weekend activity; unless you have extra money to spend on a cleaning service, there is just no way out of it. Yet, having a smaller home means less time having to clean it, and more time you can spend doing other things.
Did you know that having a clean and tidy home has been proven to lower stress and anxiety? Yes, multiple studies have found a link between clutter and poor eating choices. Countless medical studies are showing that removing clutter gives us the ability to focus, process information, more productivity in the workplace, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and can even help us lose weight.
The dark side of home: Assessing possession ‘clutter’ on subjective well-being, a peer-reviewed research article, shows a “cluttered home environment negatively influences the perception of our homes, and ultimately our satisfaction of life. The study authors note the strong effect is because we define ‘home’ not just as a place to live, but as:
The broader constellation of experiences, meanings, and situations that shape and are actively shaped by a person in the creation of his or her lifeworld1.”
Downsizing for the Future
Not only could downsizing be good for your mental health, but it could also be great for your bank account. What about our environment? Without going too deep into this article, could it also play a more significant and positive impact on the environment? You would be reducing your consumption and focus on creating memories rather than accumulating possessions. Many researchers state that the earth’s biocapacity cannot meet its current demands and will continue to affect us in the future unless something changes. Just as we want a better future for our children, we should wish to better the earth for our children and their future.
Room for Adventure?
Downsizing could help free up your lifestyle for adventure. Imagine not having to spend an extra $500 or more on bills. What would you do with that extra money? Travel to new places, plan a grand jungle adventure, buy some red bottom heels, or even get yourself out of debt. I think anyone might jump at the opportunity to save money, especially with the rise of inflation. Ask yourself:
- How much would I be saving monthly and yearly?
- What could I do with the money I save?
- Make a list of trips you’ve always wanted to take or things you’ve always wanted to do.
- Could the money I save from downsizing help me retire more comfortably?
- Could downsizing help with family budgeting? Planning for college?
Downsizing Disadvantages
While downsizing may be perfect for some, it may not be for others. Think about a family of six squeezed into a one or two-bedroom; this might not go well. While this would bring some families closer together, it may lead to more stress for other families. Downsizing would also mean:
- Less room for entertaining
- Less room for storage & potential cost of storage
- You may have to adjust your lifestyle
- You may need to change your spending happens
- The general costs of moving can be high
- Could feel cramped if you have a large family
- You’ll have to adapt to a new home, neighbors and new neighborhood
- You could experience a feeling of loss of prestige
- Your work commute could change
- There may be housing or community dues in the new home
There will always be pros and cons when it comes to moving. However, it depends on where you are in life and where you want your future to go. We hope this article sparked some ideas to think about when considering downsizing. If you think we missed a crucial point in downsizing, or you’ve experienced downsizing, feel free to comment and share.
A Family Storage
Whether you are in need of some extra storage space to store your outdoor equipment, RV’s, cars, gems, souvenirs from your travels, OR just need a bit more room at home, we can help find the storage solution for you. We have over 19 locations with storage ranging from small 4x5 units to warehouses with over 5,400 sq. ft. business storage solutions. We are the largest family owned, woman led storage facility in Tucson, Arizona. We can find something that will suit your budget and space needs.
Give us a call, check out our page, or stop by. In the process of moving and need tips? Check out our other blogs and follow us online for more content.
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- Driver’s license or form of Identification
- Homeowner insurance or Bader insurance (our insurance)
- A form of payment