Have you thought about downsizing? If you have reached the stage in your life where you have more room than you truly need or you are looking at the current housing market and realize you have a home that is worth much more than you paid for it you may be wondering if now is the time to move down to a smaller home but you are not sure if it truly benefits you to do so. Here are some benefits to downsizing that may make the choice easier for you.
What is downsizing?
Downsizing is the act of moving to a smaller home. This is a common practice as children grow up and move out or are done by those that need to make their lives easier or save money. There are many benefits to downsizing your home. Downsizing can help make it easier to afford your home, save time, and even help your family grow closer together.
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How downsizing can save you money
Lowering bills is a major benefit of downsizing. A home that has been downsized uses fewer lights seeing you have fewer rooms that may have lights left on and forgotten. Heating and cooling cost substantially less in a smaller home, The smaller space maintains temperature much better. Instead of paying to heat rooms, you are not using you can downsize to a smaller home and enjoy the savings on your power bill.
When you downsize you move into a home that costs less. Either using your old larger home as an income property or selling it at a profit. In turn, your rent or mortgage costs go down due to the lower value of your new home. This is a great way to save money over time.
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When you have a smaller home you are less likely to spend money on things you do not need. Like adopting a minimalist lifestyle, having a smaller home is a great way to encourage you to take a step away from consumerism and not waste money on things you do not have room for in your life. Downsizing is a great way to reduce impulse spending.
Downsizing can make it easier to pay off debt. In the current housing market most people are making a large profit off of homes they are selling when they choose to downsize. This can be used to pay off your debt. The money you save on utilities and unnecessary purchases you no longer have room for can be put into paying down debt easier.
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Reducing stress by downsizing
Reducing clutter is a great benefit of downsizing. You can easily declutter your home by taking only what fits into your new home. If it is not something you really want to keep or something that doesn't bring you the joy you can easily choose to get rid of it. Hold a yard sale or list these items online to sell them off for extra cash while you are downsizing. Clutter is a proven cause of stress and anxiety.
When you move to a smaller home you find that you have a lot less cleaning to do. With less cleaning comes less stress from knowing that your to-do list is always so long. When you downsize you spend time decluttering which also allows you to save time on cleaning up items that end up running around the house.
Your clutter is not only your source of stress. When your time comes your family is set to the task of dealing with your final affairs. Downsizing and in turn decluttering means your loved one has less to deal with when your time comes. Arranging your final affairs is easier for you and put your wishes into action becomes easier for them. A small and uncluttered home is easier on your loved ones mentally than a cluttered home that takes a long time to while they are grieving to deal with.
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30-Day Declutter Printable
This 30-day step-by-step declutter printable guide takes you through the process of decluttering your home, one room at a time. Each day features a different task, such as sorting through clothes, decluttering the kitchen, or purging your bathroom cabinets. You could even have a section for donations, so you can feel good about getting rid of items you no longer need while helping others in the process. The best part about this declutter challenge printable is that it makes the daunting task of decluttering seem doable and manageable.
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Downsizing can lead to a healthier lifestyle
Downsizing gives you more time. The less time you spend cleaning, chasing clutter around the house, or shopping for things you do not need simply because you have room for everything you want the more time you have to enjoy the better things in life. What would you do with a few extra hours in your week?
Depending on how far you downsize you may find yourself in need of becoming a minimalist of sorts. When you take steps towards minimalism you free yourself from the stress and anxiety of trying to keep up with everyone else. A minimalist has no drive to keep up with the Jones' to have the latest and greatest of things. This is a whole new kind of freedom you can enjoy.
Many people find that when they move to a smaller home they are generally happier. That freedom you get from not having to keep up with everyone else and the joy of being closer to those that you live with can lead to immense happiness. You learn to get to know the people you live with again when you may have grown apart from always being in different rooms and never really having time together.
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Spending more time outside is good for your physical and mental health. Those that move into smaller homes find that they have more interest and more time to spend in the great outdoors. You may notice that many people who choose to move into a tiny home end up falling in love with the great outdoors and spending more time enjoying hobbies that take them outside. This is a great benefit to giving yourself less space to waste away your time inside.
You learn to be more organized. When you live in a smaller space you need to be more organized to keep everything clean and tidy. The better you get at organizing your home the more you will build organization skills that can be used in other parts of your life including work allowing you to be more productive. This can in turn makes your entire life easier and less stressful.
Downsizing can be a great way to simplify your life and declutter your home, but it’s not always easy. If you’re thinking of downsizing, make sure you take the time to plan ahead and prepare yourself for the emotional journey ahead. It may take some time, but eventually, you will come to love your new minimalist lifestyle. What are some of the benefits of downsizing that have worked well for you?
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