Whilst we would all like to live in large, spacious apartments and houses, life is unfortunately far from perfect. A lot of the time we have to adapt to what’s available, and live within our means.
Unfortunately, if experience has taught me anything, things can always take a turn for the worse. Whether for personal or monetary reasons, it’s not uncommon to find yourself downsizing. This can incur all manner of changes. As such, here are some tips I’ve found useful for these situations, from deciding what I needed to take, how to sell my things online for profit and adapt to a smaller space.
What to Take, What to Leave
When downsizing, the smaller size means you aren’t going to be able to take everything with you. Any sensible plan will involve cutting back and removing items. This is simple maths; more does not go into less.
As such, when you’ve got the chance to plan ahead, keep a rough idea of what you’re going to need. Cutlery and kitchen utensils are a must, for instance, whilst large furniture might be unnecessary. When dealing with smaller homes, the smaller space means you have to make necessary scarifies. Plan ahead and figure out what does and doesn’t fit.
When in doubt, determine whether or not it’s something you can live without. If you can, perhaps it’s easier to leave it behind and get another one at a later date. Don’t worry over it until moving day, having unplanned additional luggage will ruin even the best of plans.
Selling the Leftovers
Moving can be expensive, and you’ll often be in need of money wherever possible. Fortunately, a lot of the items you leave behind can be sold for a profit. In this day and age, it’s very easy to sell things online for money. This is also a good time to get rid of anything you’ve been meaning to remove. This includes the likes of technology; all those old TV’s, computers and gadgets can be sold to online companies for a fair price. The money, after all, will surely be needed.
Adapting to Less Space
Finally, it’s important to adapt to your smaller space. Part of this is simply living in it, the other is constantly being aware of the limitations of each room. Don’t start buying new items, for instance, if you over estimate your space. It’s very easy, by habit of previously living in a larger residence, to mistake spaces for something larger. This is something you’re use to, after all. If you accept smaller spaces as the norm, you’ll start to think much more practically.
This includes areas such as decoration, what you store and simply being aware of what you can and can’t do. The tiniest flat, by example, wouldn’t lend itself well to large parties or social function. Work within the context and confines of your new home, not against it.
