Blog #downsizing

Over the course of her 14 moves, most recently to a small senior living apartment, Betsy has changed the way she evaluates her possessions and consequently her downsizing practices.

Janine and Matthew moved only a few miles away, but with a smaller space, they were forced to re-evaluate what was important to them from their many hobbies.

When you have a lot of one kind of object, whether it's papers, CDs, kitchen items, knick knacks, etc., culling provides an easier initial route to your eventual downsizing goals. I share my experience and principles.

Nancy and her husband moved from a large, beloved family home to a smaller space in a retirement community. She shares the ups and downs of her downsizing.

If you are willing to do a bit of research, you might be able to find home for some of your collections of paper items--letters and cards, work souvenirs, magazines, etc.

With each of the many moves I've made over a lifetime, I've just kept adding to my possessions, leading me to this time when the process must finally reverse itself.

Schooling is often central to who we become. Here is tackle my huge school and college archives, deciding what to scan, toss, or give away.

During this past home-bound year, I appreciate the great headway I made on my downsizing and the benefit to others of some of my efforts.

To say goodbye to 2020, I share 20 paper items I came across this year in going through the family archives.

With more time during this pandemic to focus on downsizing, I find it harder to let go of things. I share some hard-earned principles for making the task easier.

Slow downsizing has some unique challenges, including priority issues, duplication of efforts, obsessiveness, regrets, and fatigue. I offer some solutions to my challenges.

Three tools are essential to the serious downsizer--a camera, a scanner, and a shredder--the former two to help preserve memories, the latter to safely reduce paper.