Downsizing to a smaller apartment will save you money on rent and utilities, but it can be a stressful experience. Chances are, you won’t be able to fit all the stuff you’ve accumulated into a tighter space, and it's hard to know what to get rid of and what to keep. If you’re planning on [...]
We downsized after I spent six days at my friend's 500-square-foot apartment in Manhattan. I didn't go to my friend's to practice living smaller; it just popped in as a wonderful new choice. We had many discussions about moving, and the living small just turned talks into action. I returned to Los Angeles feeling invigorated [...]
Let's face it: the word downsizing often conjures up images of loss or failure. Remember George Clooney as a downsizing professional, flying around the country, firing people in the movie "Up in the Air"? But what if the definition of downsizing in retirement really means a step up: freedom from hassles and overhead with the [...]
Just this week I trimmed down my living space by at least 1,000 square feet. I went from a suburban home with tons of storage to a downtown city loft with practically none. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and my life has become not only so much simpler, but also [...]
It seems like only yesterday you were having your first child and setting up a home for a growing family. Fast forward to today, when your youngest calls to say she's found the perfect apartment and that the chair from the family room would really fit into her new living room. Your downsizing journey has [...]
Whittling down a lifetime’s worth of belongings for a move into a smaller home can be a difficult and emotional task. How can you decide what to keep and what to toss? Here are some things you can do to make the process easier: Get an early start If you wait until you’ve signed a [...]
1. Family heirlooms. "Sterling silver candlesticks from your great, great grandmother should make the cut," says Professional Organizer, Barbara Reich. "Evaluate these and again, which ones are truly meaningful to you and your family currently?" advises Watson. "Which ones do you truly love and value? These are the ones to keep and take with you [...]
Make the most of your small space with careful planning and smart design strategies. Downsizing a home can lead to lots of stress and anxiety for anyone who loves their belongings but hates living in clutter. Seniors, empty nesters or people moving from a suburban home to a city apartment all face the challenge of [...]
A few years ago I sold my large four-bedroom home and moved into a cute but significantly smaller cottage by the sea. Downsizing had to be done, and within the two-month closing date. Yikes! Needless to say, going through the mounds of stuff that I had accumulated over the 24 years of living there was [...]
After toiling in the workplace for decades, it seems natural to expect financial security in your golden years. But not everyone can look forward to a cushy retirement. Relative to previous generations, many of you are working more years only to grow further from financial freedom. Last year, 23-percent of workers expected to retire at [...]