Whether you are looking to cut down on your monthly rent, relocate to a new area, or you’re moving in with a significant other, at one point or another in our lives we inevitably find ourselves needing to downsize. This can be a stressful process for some and it isn’t always easy deciding what to get rid of and what you need to hang on to.
Some people decide to opt for smaller accommodation because they prefer the area to where they are now; others are looking for particular local amenities and other facilities. Whatever your reason for looking to downsize, you will probably want all the help you can get in deciding what to cull from your collection of stuff.
Take Stock
Before you do anything else, establish exactly what it is you have and begin by separating out what are the important items. Be honest with yourself here and make sure that you only include the most essential items. This will give you a sense of how much extra stuff you have and how much of it you can live without.
Ask yourself, out of all the stuff you have, if it was all lost in a fire, which stuff would you look to replace first. This will help you to prioritise and identify things that you could easily go without. Remember, you can always replace things later, as and when you need them.
Some people find it helpful to make lists. You could make different lists for things you need, things you want, and things that could be replaced and don’t need to come with you. Once you have these lists, you might find that simply by getting rid of the stuff you’ve already identified as not needing, you’ll have downsized sufficiently. If not, then continue to go through your list and look for the stuff from the list of things you want but don’t need for more stuff you can live without.
Disposing of Unwanted Items
If there are things you need to get rid of and can’t find a new home for them, you may have to simply throw them away. However, make sure that you do this in the right way. You don’t want to throw your stuff away in a manner that’s going to end with it in a landfill causing pollution. The best way of making absolutely sure that your stuff is disposed of in the greenest way possible is to hire a reputable waste removal company.
Selling Unwanted Stuff
While you’re downsizing, you might as well make a bit of cash. You can sell your unwanted stuff easily. There are a variety of online platforms which make selling easy. Gumtree is a popular choice. Facebook now also supports selling to other users near you and allows you to post an advertisement for your unwanted items for free.
You can also donate items that you no longer need. Local schools and libraries may take any books you plan to get rid of. You can advertise on Freecycle any items which you are happy to give away without needing any payment in return.
Friends and family won’t complain if you want to give them some of your unwanted items; there’s no sense in simply throwing things away after all, not if another use can be found for them.
Many people find that by selling their stuff, it is easier to choose what to get rid of. After all, some items are valuable and are simply gathering dust right now. If that money could go towards improving the next place you move to then maybe it will be worth parting with valuable items.
Downsizing can be a daunting process, but the occasional cull of our possessions is a good thing. Take it as an opportunity to streamline your life.
