Among Friends

[Sooner]

It isn't just about bigger or smaller, but what do you need?  My husband and I retired about 5 years ago and looked for a house about the size of ours but newer (fewer things to replace hopefully) and with an office, a bigger closet and laundry room.  

We found that and it has made life so much easier and more enjoyable.  The office is such a wonderful thing because we have a lot of work we do for a couple of elderly people as well as for us (Medicare???!!!) and the paper work involved was running us out of house.  Plus we can now find the paperwork we need.  And house computer, printer, etc. out of the way. 

The laundry room makes the ongoing laundry task a better one too.  So for us, it has added quality of life.  Bills are about the same, but those two extra rooms have solved a lot of clutter issues for us, and the closet a little breathing room.

[LindaSal]

@geezerette I wish you all the best.   It is a daunting task but if you are able to take your time it helps.  I have to admit I was afraid to end up in your position.  I have grown children but they are so busy with their own lives that I would not want to burden them with having to help me.  They helped us out when we needed them and for that I am thankful, but again I try not to ask.   My husband was not a happy camper at first but has settled in nicely and I believe he knows now it was the right thing to do.

[ID2]

We made the move to downsize and I hate how small our home is now! Be careful what you wish for. I'd love to have more room. I absolutely love where we live, on a lake in upper lower peninsula of beautiful Michigan! When we built our cottage it was supposed to me a summer residence NOT a full time home. Oh well we're making it work. Love it anyway! 

[ALRATIBA]

I downsized from CA house to NYC apartment in the early 90s.

Best move I ever made.  I just call the maintenance dept. if I need something fixed.  

[CANDLEQUEEN]

My friend and her hsuband recently downsized about 6 or 7 months ago, and she said they went too small. They went from a home that was about 2300 square feet to a Townhome that is about 1250 square feet.

She wishes now that they would have waited and not acted so quickly. The one thing she does love is that it is all on one floor. So really take your time and think about it... 

[Othereeeen]

Even if you're not ready TODAY to downsize, start now getting rid of STUFF. You don;t to pay to drag all that stuff someplace else,worse yet, to store it,when you know darn well you will probably never use it any more than you do now!!!!

Every week I go to Aldi, and grab two or three sturdy boxes and then box stuff up for Goodwill. 

Goodwill store is on the way to Aldi!!! ( How convenient is that????)

So the following week, I take the newly filled boxes to Goodwill, to Aldi, rinse and repeat.

Yes it's a little hard getting rid of things, if they have "sentimental" value ( How much value can an unused quilt ot throw in the back of the linen closet have, you haven't and will never use, because Mom who passed 8 years ago at 95 made it when she was 40?!?!?) 

And needless to say.....don't bring ANYTHING back IN. 

In my house, there's a rule. NOTHING is allowed down those basement steps now that that's all cleaned out. I can hold a dance down there now. The ONLY thing allowed is the laundry to be washed..washer is in the basement...which I count as execrise .

Now I"m starting on closets. GET RID OF IT is my mantra. I'm not throwing it out....someone else will get use out of it.

The most revealing thing is how much MONEY we throw out on impulse shopping. If I kept all the throws and towels and pillows, I'd have to live to 1000 to use them all.

And...I will NEVER buy another plate, dish, bowl, tureen, or platter or utensil.

I have TWO china cabinets full of that stuff...I'll use it , if it breaks, o well....there's more where that came from!!  Funny thing is...I DON'T break stuff cause I'm careful, and the china seems to last forever.

Maybe it's not as delicate as people think it is!!! ( I hand wash it all...I live alone)....and honestly...the ancient plates seem to LIKE to be used at last!! They want to be useful....!!!!

I know how they feel....no one likes to be put on a shelf and forgotten!!!

[AnikaBrodie]

@katie1859 

You would be wise to start looking now even if you are not ready to move.  Something will turn up when you least expect it.  Don't wait until you are/could be forced to move.

DH and I downsized in 2018 from a 2400 sq. ft. home with a lot of steps and a large finished basement to a 1400 sq. ft. one story home in a cul-de-sac.  Best decision ever!!!  We have two bedrooms, two baths, living room, kitchen, dining area, laundry room, and sunroom (our favorite room).   We have storage in our one car garage.  There is no basement which I never want ever again.  Our lawn mowing, snow removal, maintenance as needed, etc., is completely covered and well worth the cost to us. 

Be careful about considering a condo.  We looked at several and all of them had one of the bedrooms on second floor and a full basement.  Beautiful condos but not an option for DH.  Because of his health status we needed one story and were fortunate to find it at the time.

I wish you the best as you consider your options. 

[granddi]

@CANDLEQUEEN Agree: Our friends expressed the same thoughts about downsizing too much.

We have too much house! But we can afford the house and the upkeep. However, we did explore a senior living community. We would be going from a 4 BR home to a 2 BR apartment. 

I asked hubby, "are you ready to give up all that stuff in the garage? How about all that stuff in those closets? How about your office?" I asked myself, "am I ready to give up most of my holiday decorations, craft stuff, kitchen?"

Are you ready to give up gardening, setting on your patio,driving into your garage?

It's a life changing decision. 

[Sooner]

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@Jo1313 wrote:

This is our 3rd house..We upsized!..Always wanted a house with lots of closets and a big kitchen I loved to cook..DH wanted to live in the country..

So I got my big kitchen and he got his country acres..in the middle of no where.We were much younger and I was plain stupid.

I was tired of being here after a yr...18 yrs. ago...Country people hate city people! After they ask a million questions they ignore you!..Not seeing me outside for a long time a couple had the nerve to "stop by" to ask my kid if I died.!

Needless to say my kid cursed them out..rightly so.

10 yrs. ago he developed heart issues.After he was feeling better..I got sick and spent months in the hospital and many surgeries.They told my kids to make funeral arrangements a few times..over a few years.I fooled them..I'm still here but broken down.

Now this place is my nightmare..As I've said before..when my kids have to empty this place there will be dumpsters lining the 400 ft. driveway.

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@Jo1313 So sorry you are in this situation.  A suggestion:  How about when the kids come to visit have some cookies or snack of some sort and all sit down and go through one area even if just for an hour or so.

It might be fun, some laughs like "Where did you get this?"  "How come you still have this?"  "Is that ME?" and enjoy the memories, the fun, the work, and make memories along the way!  You might be surprised what you can accomplish--and how thankful you will be for help!  

[AuntG]

@AnikaBrodie you have found what would work for me, probably many others too. Having it all on one floor is great. I still go down stairs to the laundry area. Sunrooms are the best! Ours is just a three season room, so in winter, I use it as a cooler to store the holiday cookies and candies I make.