The secret to downsizing (55, state, years, husband)

[no kudzu]

We just moved into a brand new 55+ neighborhood with 2,900 sq ft from a 5,000 sq ft house. Most of the houses here are @ 2,300 sq ft. Recently, at a social gathering, the ladies were discussing how difficult it is to downsize, especially if we have raised kids in the same house for more than 20 years. After a glass or two of wine, we started disclosing out secrets. We talked about estate sales, garage sales, charity donations, recycle sites, curb give-aways, and

Spoiler

rental storage units

One woman told us she had 2 and her husband had 1. And most of the folks who admitted to this secret were folks who sold their large homes sooner than expected and were overwhelmed with decisions. I know it is kind of cheating but we all expect to dispose of them after we get really settled in our new homes.

[oldgardener]

Not sure if you're asking a question here, but I have to say that paying money to store something you intend to dispose of later is pretty silly, not to mention wasteful.

Money is money, put it to good use, not toward soon-to-be-garbage.

[WellShoneMoon]

If you have to pay money to store your stuff, you have too much stuff.

[dothetwist]

You can't take it with you. Better to acknowledge this soon rather than later.

[charlygal]

Originally Posted by oldgardener

Not sure if you're asking a question here, but I have to say that paying money to store something you intend to dispose of later is pretty silly, not to mention wasteful.

Money is money, put it to good use, not toward soon-to-be-garbage.

Yep, paying to store garbage.

[galaxyhi]

Gee 5000 to ONLY 2900?

Our house is 750sf with an additional bonus room of 140 sft.

Try down sizing from that.

We actually downsized to this house. We threw out 2 roll offs and probably should have had 3. It was mostly junk that nobody would have wanted.

I say throw it and be rid of it. If its of any value you'll keep it anyway.

Like the previous poster , I don't think spending on a rental garage is a good idea.

Simply tell you kids to get what they want, get a roll off for a company that recycles the roll off like we did.

Simplify.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by no kudzu

Spoiler

rental storage units

Prolonging the task of getting rid of needless stuff. No sense keeping it just to have it.

Give it to Goodwill/Salvation Army/a deserving college kid.

[rburnett]

http://triblive.com/lifestyles/homeg...h-cleaning-now

[Mr5150]

I wouldn’t consider 2900sf as downsizing

[Serious Conversation]

Someone putting thousands of sq. ft of possessions into storage units will probably run up a tab of hundreds per month.