If you’ve ever considered downsizing your home, you may be familiar with the pros/cons list-making process. For the past few years, I’ve had an empty nest, with my son living in Los Angeles, and my daughter living in Oregon and then China. Our lovely brick home has been empty but for me and the dog, and though I loved the house with the bustling mess of two busy children, it’s a bit big and overwhelming to upkeep. So this past year I’ve been doing a trial separation, renting out the home to a delightful French family in St. Louis to work at WashU, and renting a smaller apartment close by.
The process of downsizing was at first daunting–furniture, clothing, and art had to be sorted and categorized and pared down–but I was quickly swept up in the cleansing process of spring cleaning. It’s also a good way to figure out which items you are truly attached to, and which you simply collected to fill in space. And–added bonus–you can figure out ways to eliminate unnecessary ‘necessities’ and hone in on a better budget.
If you’re considering downsizing, check out this article, so even if you’re not ready to physically downsize, you can start transitioning to a less-is-more mindset, and have a little extra spending money along with it.
Real Estate Reality 