Upsizing Your Retirement by Downsizing Your Living Space

What if we told you that upsizing your retirement by downsizing your living space isn’t a pipe dream? It’s possible. When we get to that “certain age,” living in a large home loses much of its appeal. The house where you raised children and entertained becomes a burden when it’s too much to handle. All too often, when we do reach that golden age, we’re exhausted from trying to keep up with all we’ve accumulated.

Ah, retirement. Have you ever heard it said that you spend much of your life accumulating things, only to spend the remaining part of your life getting rid of them? Maybe it’s all become too much. Maybe your health isn’t what it was years ago, and maintenance takes more muscle and energy than you have to spare. Whatever your reasons, downsizing your living space to an RV is one option to make retirement more attractive. Finding an RV park that meets your needs makes downsizing even sweeter.

Benefits of Downsizing

Sounds inviting. It’s a huge change, though, and it needs thought. You’ll need to consider lifestyle, costs, and opportunities. Here are a few benefits to consider:

Costs. A smaller space may have lower rent, mortgage, utility bills, and maintenance costs.
Maintenance. Cleaning, organizing, and upkeep in a smaller space may become easier and faster. Sometimes, you’ll find a home where you care for the house, and someone else takes care of the yard.
Simpler lifestyle. We all read articles about decluttering – shed that burden of belongings and realize that you really don’t need ten kitchen appliances, all those Christmas decorations, sports equipment from your children’s school days, three sets of china, and three lawnmowers. This simplification and decluttering can bring a deep sense of fulfillment and contentment to your retirement.
Financial freedom. When you sell and free up the equity in your home, you’ll improve your financial security or will be able to invest in other opportunities.
Reduced stress. Smaller space, fewer possessions, less “stuff” – downsizing can lessen the mental burden. Smaller space, fewer possessions, and lower maintenance allow you to take the time you need for your physical and mental health.

First Things First – Downsizing Your Living Space

Start by asking yourself:

How many rooms are in your home? How many of them do you use daily or even weekly? Which bathrooms do you visit once a month to flush the toilet or clean in case someone stops by?
Are you paying to heat and cool rooms you don’t need anymore?
Go to your kitchen and open the cabinets. Could you open a restaurant and feed all the neighbors? How many appliances sit unused in upper or lower cabinets you never open?
Go to your closets and take a hard look. What do you wear? Really? What about those clothes you bought for a special occasion? Or the ones that no longer fit. The 20-year-old winter coats? When was the last time you wore those clothes? You don’t need them. But someone else does. Donate them.
Have you had “that conversation” with your family about what they really want from your home? When our parents passed, we children had homes. We didn’t need more furniture, dishes, TVs, or decorations. Upsizing your retirement by downsizing your living space means eliminating excess, not adding to what you already have. Think of it this way: if you add your folks’ items to your household, yours must go.
What’s in the garage? The storage shed? What’s in that private storage place you rent? How long has it been since you’ve used those things?

Eliminating the Extra Burden of Extras

Why do we store things? Are we afraid we’ll run out of weed eaters? When you keep things you don’t need, you’re not storing up memories; you’re storing burdens. You’re paying to store things you never use, things that many others live without. You’re experiencing the burden of wealth. Shed that burden and free yourself from the emotional weight of excess possessions!

For many of us, downsizing creates a more sustainable, manageable, and fulfilling way of living. But many of us face a difficult housing market. Homes of 2000-3000 square feet are in demand with younger families, and they’d love to move up to your place. Prices are prohibitive when you look for that smaller home, whether a single house or a condominium.

Upsizing Your Retirement with the Benefits of Living in an RV

Have you considered living in a recreational vehicle? Here are a few advantages.

Mobility. Your children may now live hundreds of miles away – and let’s not even talk about seeing grandchildren! At the same time, maybe you’re tired of cold winters – or tropical hurricanes – and want to move around as the weather and family needs dictate. If you’re not tied to a property, you can live and travel wherever you want, embracing the freedom and adventure that RV living offers.
Experiences. With less space and “stuff” to manage, you may have more time and resources to focus on experiences, travel, hobbies, friends, and family.

This is the opportunity to start small and grow your home as you need and can afford – or maybe the opposite: start with a larger RV and downsize again as your needs change. This adaptability and control over your living situation is a key advantage of RV living, making you feel empowered in your retirement decisions.

There’s so much to think about when retirement knocks on the door. Instead of wondering, “Is this all there is?” start asking yourself, “If I could do anything or be anywhere for the rest of my life, what would it be?” Who would I visit? Where did I always want to travel to but never had the time? How does a cozy, crackling fire with roasted marshmallows sound at the end of the day?

Living the Dream by Changing the Dream

You might be surprised to find your dream home is not one filled with things you dust and a garage full of boxes you never open. No, you can’t take a two-story colonial with you on the road, but what if you could take your home wherever you go and visit the grandkids in the process? Upsizing your retirement begins with downsizing your living space.

You might find that opening yourself up to life in an RV can open up a whole new world for you. An RV park close enough to town to access supplies, health care, and conveniences, one with Wi-Fi and a dog park for Fido. Think about it: there’s retirement, and then there’s retirement as it’s meant to be. Envision retirement your way. Think RV.