Welcome to the second half of our tips for downsizing your stuff!
The last five tips focused on the basics of decluttering. I have five more tips for you today to round out your masterclass – you’ll soon be on the path to a stress-free home environment and more time to spend with what really matters in your life!
Let’s get into it:
1. Don’t do it alone! Downsizing your home is a massive undertaking and can be stressful if you’re doing it all by yourself. So, if possible, enlist your family members and friends to help ease your burden. Chances are, they’ll be happy to step up and pitch in.
2. Digitize! Over the years, paper clutter can add up. Sort through old bills, receipts, and other documents – then recycle anything you don’t need.
Store older paper files, such as taxes from the last decade, in a plastic bin.
Scan any other records and receipts you may need in the future, so you have a digital copy, then shred and toss.
Convert home movies, music, and photos into digital files. You’ll free up a lot of valuable real estate in your living room and office without having to part with things you’d otherwise keep. In the world of endless streaming services, it’s probably not worthwhile to hang onto VHS tapes, scratched DVDs, or CDs.
3. Avoid storage units. No one rents a storage unit thinking to themselves, “I plan to keep paying this rent for the next ten years.” Yet that often happens! Storage units enable the bad habit of keeping things you don’t use or need – and paying for the privilege.
4. Make it a habit. Clutter has a funny way of sneaking up on people. To keep your new space in tip-top shape, clean, and declutter throughout the year on a schedule that works best for you. For some, four seasonal purges, like spring cleaning, work best, while others may need to give their space monthly attention.
5. Get the kids involved. Have your children, even toddlers, go through a small bin of belongings. This involves them in the process. It allows you to choose what goes in their bin but gives them some autonomy. If your child struggles with giving things away or selling them, focus on what you do have.
We hope you enjoyed this mini-series on decluttering your ‘stuff’!
If we helped you downsize even one item, we know it will have been worth it. We may not have mastered the fine art of Marie Kondo-ing, but we have mastered the art of financial planning.
Give us a call at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or click here to set up a free 15-minute session on how we can upsize your financial goals and downsize your financial stressors!
