When approaching retirement, many people look at downsizing to a smaller, more manageable property. This often means you need to also downsize your belongings so your new space isn’t overwhelmed by a lifetime’s worth of possessions.
Embracing minimalism can be challenging but it may not be as hard as you think. Here are some strategies to help you shed what’s unnecessary and keep the essentials so you can enter retirement clutter-free.
Get Rid of Duplicates
Who among us hasn’t ended up with more than one of the same item? From kitchen utensils to linens to furniture, we often collect extras over time. However, most of us have our “favorites” that we always go back to and the extras end up unused or in storage.
Getting rid of duplicates is a great way to start your journey towards minimalism. Resist the urge to think, “Oh, I might need it someday!” If you haven’t used it thus far, you probably won’t use it in the future. Unless it’s a hard-to-find item, you can also typically find a replacement later if you truly do need another.
Let Go of Gifts
It can be hard to get rid of things we’ve been given as gifts even if we don’t need them—or even like them! If you’re struggling to part with gift items, you’re not alone.
Try these strategies to overcome “gift guilt” when you’re ready to downsize:
- Pass along items to someone who could use or would enjoy them
- Donate gifts to a charity or nonprofit that benefits others
- Reach out to the gift giver and ask them if it’s ok to pass it on or if they’d like it back
- Take a picture of the gift so you keep a memory but not the physical item
Getting rid of unwanted gifts is a necessary part of downsizing. It’s ok to get rid of things and enter retirement as a minimalist rather than holding on to everything you’ve ever been given.
Be Honest About “Someday” Projects
Many of us have projects and pursuits that we plan to get to “someday.” It can be tempting to think that retirement will be that “someday,” but it takes planning and conscious effort to actually do those things that we’ve held on to but never started.
Whether it’s a craft, hobby, or side hustle, it’s important to take a good, hard look at any materials you’ve collected but never used. Will you truly start that project or pursue that hobby when you enter retirement, or will those supplies just stay in boxes and gather dust?
One of the best tests in this situation is to get a few things out and actually start the work before you downsize. If you’re excited about it and enjoy it, take all the materials with you! If you can’t even get started or have no plan for when, where, or how you’ll finally work on your collection of model boats or family scrapbooks, maybe it’s time to part with those supplies.
You can often sell or donate craft and hobby supplies so they don’t go to waste. And again, if you do find that you want to start something later on, you can usually get new supplies whenever you’re ready.
Downsizing as you head into retirement can be hard, but it lets you start your new chapter unencumbered. You can set up your new, smaller space without excess clutter and can enjoy what you have rather than being overwhelmed by things you don’t need.
If you live in the Burlington area and are ready to move into a new space for retirement, call the team at Chase Moving and Storage for all your moving and relocation needs. We’re a local, family-owned company with over 100 years of experience and we’re here to make your move as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Chase Moving and Storage—The Most Trusted Movers Since 1908.
