Rita, the downsizing designer, continues to inspire communities around downsizing, decluttering, and minimalist lifestyles.
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 [...]
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 [...]
Home prices in urban areas have not fallen by as much the last few years as they have in the suburbs. And prices in urban areas are recovering much faster too, according to John McLain of the Urban Land Institute. Why? Some say it’s because of new moving patterns among the baby-boomer generation. An increasing [...]
The last thing any third-party property management company wants to see inside a unit is a Hangovermovie sequel produced by irresponsible renters. People who don’t own their homes don’t always treat a rental property like they would want to be treated. The Downsizing of America charge led by baby boomers perhaps opens opportunities for landlords [...]
For a number of years I have been longing for a simpler lifestyle that would allow more time for things that really mattered. In January of this year I made the decision to sell my 5,000 square foot home in rural Chester County and downsize to a 1,000 square foot apartment in center city [...]
When it comes to retirement planning, there are a lot of opinions on how much you need to save; eight times your salary and the 4% rule are just a couple rules of thumb out there. Equally important to a comfortable retirement is not just the money you have, but also the expenses you're tallying [...]
Downsizing can help make life more manageable in retirement, but it can also be quite the chore, requiring a lot of research, planning and preparation. We’ve taken a look at eight simple things you can do to help navigate this complicated process and downsize in retirement without the stress. 1. Take inventory How can you [...]
Baby boomers are altering the American Dream. After having the home in the suburbs, the kids, the two cars, and maybe even the picket fence, a growing number now want to ride elevators to rental apartments and walk out the door to restaurants. When the kids are grown, an increasing number of empty nesters [...]