Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Downsized: Why I'm really happy with only a third our belongings

I started downsizing our belongings the minute we started the process for building our new home. The house we lived in was too big for just two people and one needy dog, so we started looking at plans for less floor space. What we came up with was a home where the overall house was bigger, but we would live in less of it.

Let me explain.

Since we got married, The Guy and I have talked about getting a rental property. We have a few good friends who have properties and are really happy with them.  Had we thought about this option prior to buying a house, I think we would have chosen differently, but in our situation (our house couldn't be adapted for renting) it meant one of two things: 1) buying a second property, or 2) moving to a different location with a rental option.

Nothing we looked at really fit until earlier this year when The Guy stumbled on a plan layout for a new build that would suit our needs.  Ample living space and a full legal 2 bdrm suite in the basement.  We will go from living in 2,500 sq ft total to 1,400 sq ft.  That meant getting rid of one entire bedroom set, an entire living room set, and a lot of our unnecessary storage (read: my family's stuff!)

When we decided we would sell our house sooner rather than later, we knew we would have to live for about 6 months with bare essentials. I sorted through all our belongings and thought about what I could and could not live without.  I planned and packed accordingly.

Now we are in a little rental house that is too adorable for words. We unpacked kitchen essentials, bathroom necessities, clothing musts, and... not a lot else.  A few days into the house and I am feeling settled in a way I haven't for awhile.  I have what I need and not much more.  Yes, there are a few things I have stored I am kicking myself for not bringing with me, but I am learning I can likely make do.


Less really is more.

By the end of 6 months I might feel differently. You may find me in our new house rolling around on all our belongings like Scrooge McDuck.

8 comments:

  1. I could have written the same post, as you know. It's weird how little I miss that stuff that's in the storage locker, although in six months I too might be rolling around in my belongings, Scrooge McDuck-style. Or maybe I'lll be convinced that I really don't care about some of it, once it's out of my sight!

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    1. I'm thinking I will likely get rid of a whole bunch more once I've lived without it for awhile. Though, I really wish I knew where I packed some things I am going to need!!

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  2. I love the Scrooge McDuck reference.

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  3. I have similar thoughts whenever I stay in an "efficiency" hotel - one with a kitchen and proper bedroom. I think, "Why do I think I need all that other crap?" But permanently downsizing is difficult for me, partly because I'm such a magpie: look! Shiny! Bring it home!

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    1. I know, I'm still terrible for that. Or I buy it because "I need it! I will use it ALL THE TIME" and then I never look at it again. Sigh.

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  4. I am sure I am being a bit of a hypocrite since we are moving into a bigger house, but I totally hear you on this. Sometimes it's so nice to live with less...and we need SO much less than we think we do. Things don't make us happy (in the end...). When we put our house on the market to sell and had to de-clutter it, it felt so freeing. There was SPACE and it was fantastic.

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    1. I think it's very different for families with children. They require MORE and MORE space as they get older. We bought our first house with the intention of having children and when that didn't happen we needed to go smaller!

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