Blog #slow downsizing

Putting things in storage and living in temporary housing provides an experimental condition for us to consider what we miss and what we don't. I make some suggestions for how to create something similar and judge the results.

Paper ephemera took up a lot of real estate in my house. I review what I did with the different kinds of ephemera I sorted through this past year and offer some suggestions on how to proceed with your ephemera collections, whether paper or not..

With a new year at hand, consider how you might schedule your downsizing time to match external cues. I offer month-by-month suggestions.

As a downsizer, I have many things, people, and organizations for which I am truly grateful. Here are a few to commemorate this season of Thanksgiving.

Seeing both the scary and benign decorations of Halloween reminds me of the range of emotions I've experienced while downsizing.

On this fifth anniversary of my blog on slow downsizing, I offer a summary of some of my best personal insights.

Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe TV critic, thumbs his nose at downsizing, and I offer some considerations to help him and other "savers" who are averse to downsizing shift their thinking.

Downsizing involves a juggling act involving the personal value of your things, the time it will take to disperse or preserve them, and their monetary value. I provide some ways of working through the equation.

If, like me, you've been a lifetime saver, you probably have items that fall into the category of "ephemera," items that were expected to have only short-term use. But someone may want these AND be willing to pay you.

Here are a few tips for finding, hiring, and getting the most from a professional organizer/downsizer to help you in your downsizing journey.

Like one in 10 Americans, I am the not-so-proud renter of an external storage unit. After 20 years, I am finally conquering that space and have advice to offer others.

When slow downsizing, it's important to have an overall sense of direction. But approach the overall project in any way that will keep you motivated.