Downsizing tips posts by Rita Wilkins. Rita is a renowned expert in decluttering and minimalism, empowering individuals to simplify their lives through practical tips and resources, while also captivating audiences as a professional speaker and author.

The Emotional Cost of Clutter: How Letting Go Lifts Invisible Weights 

Hi, I’m Rita Wilkins, the Downsizing Designer. Today, I want to talk about something that often gets overlooked when we think about clutter: the emotional toll it takes on us. We don’t always realize how much energy our possessions can drain from us until we begin letting go. Decluttering isn’t just about creating physical space—it’s [...]

A 30-Day Clutter-Free Strategy That Works!

With summer coming to an end in just a few short weeks, many of us are thinking about getting back on track with our decluttering projects that we started earlier in the year. Rather than thinking of it as an overwhelming task, try taking on the mindset of accomplishing your decluttering tasks over a few [...]

Are Our Vintage Heirlooms Truly Priceless Treasures, or Could They Be Considered Timeless Traps?

This is a question that sparks debates and conversations within families of all generations. Some argue that vintage heirlooms hold a special place in our hearts and serve as a tangible connection to our ancestors and family histories. They have been passed down through generations, carrying emotional value that can’t be measured. To some, our [...]

When I Saw Grandma‘s Kitchen Table in a Thrift Store, It Made Me Cry

Note:  A real story shared with me by one of my millennial followers. "My grandma loved that table! Why didn’t I accept it when she offered it to me last year while she was still alive? ~ Zach It breaks my heart that I was too preoccupied with my own life to listen to her [...]

IT’S JUST GRANDMA’S OLD STUFF… UNTIL IT’S VINTAGE. THEN IT’S CHIC!

BY RITA WILKINS JUNE 26, 2024 LIFESTYLE A few weeks ago, I produced a YouTube video that went viral, “Mom, Thanks but No Thanks: The Rebellion Against Family Heirlooms.” Watched by tens of thousands of millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers alike, it struck a chord and became a great conversation starter between parents and their kids about what [...]

Embracing The Ups, The Downs, And the Emotions of Becoming an Empty Nester

It’s the first day your young adult child moved out of the house. You look around and the house feels so empty. You even miss the dirty socks on the floor, the loud music playing upstairs, and the dirty dishes often left in the sink. You’re lonely. You’re sad. You’re filled with so many emotions [...]

5 Minimalist Decluttering Checklists to Help You Finally Find Your Glasses

You won’t believe how these 5 decluttering checklists are revolutionizing the way people are approaching and succeeding at decluttering their homes and simplifying their lives! If you are overwhelmed by clutter and searching for ways to live a simpler life with less stuff and less stress, these 5 decluttering checklists might be the solution you [...]

5 Downsides to Downsizing

If you are considering downsizing, this blog is intended to help you weigh some pros and cons before you make such a big decision.  As the “Downsizing Designer,” I’m frequently asked if there are downsides to downsizing. The short answer is downsizing may or may not be right for you. It all depends. The truth [...]

Craving A Simpler Life with Less? Don’t Just Talk About It, Do It!

I ran into a former client recently and she said, “Deciding to live a simpler life, was the best thing I ever did for myself!” She went on to say that she had absolutely no regrets about choosing not only to declutter her stuff but to also downsize to a smaller home. She said that [...]

My Kids Are Minimalists: What Can I Give Them for Christmas?

I’ve had so many requests from those who follow me to address the subject of what to give your minimalist kids for Christmas.  You want to respect their lifestyle and their choice of living with less. As a matter of fact, you admire their choice and you don’t want to change them, but you do [...]

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