Have you been considering downsizing your home? Well, then you’ve come to the right place because we’ve crunched the numbers, filled in the formulas, and sorted through all the necessary equations to show you how to downsize your home (and save money) like a pro!
As you probably already know, your utilities, rent, rates and maintenance bills make up a rather large part of your family’s monthly home-related costs. And while all these debit orders are essential, there are ways to cut back when you need it most.
So, if you are considering downsizing this year, you might want to bookmark this blog because we’ve perfected this skill and we’re ready to share our knowledge with you. Oh, and there are many benefits to our way of downsizing, so stay tuned!
Read also: Is it Better to Rent or Buy a House? 5 Reasons Why Buying is Better
What is Downsizing?
Downsizing your home means that you are transitioning from a larger home to a smaller one. This means that you are now responsible for paying lower rent, taxes, water and electricity rates.
Essentially, a smaller house = more money saved.
So yes, there are many financial benefits to downsizing but that doesn’t mean that it’s not going to require quite a bit of work. So, to save you from walking into your new kitchen with a random pot lid, three forks and a spoon, we thought we’d share our top downsizing tips.
Still looking for the perfect home to downsize to? Check out our blog on the 10 things to look for when house hunting.
Just keep in mind that the aim is to get rid of some of your bigger or less used belongings, so you’ll need to adjust your mindset into ‘declutter mode’, but it’ll be worth it in the end so don’t panic! You’re in good hands. You are a few simple tips away from creating a new, spruced up space for you and your family.
So, let’s get started!
Our Tips for Downsizing Your Home
Do away with the big furniture pieces
We know that the idea of getting rid of your favourite dresser or flea market furniture bargain seems like a big ask, but hear us out. Downsizing means that you’ll have less space in your new place, so you’ll most likely not have enough room for them anyway. Never mind the hidden costs involved with moving these big furniture items.
Instead, get out your measuring tape and do a little walk-through of your new home. See which of your bigger furniture pieces (like your couch, family dining table and that cabinet that you love so much) will all fit into your new place. And then do away with the excess pieces.
Our advice? See if you can sell the items to close family and friends. At least those items will still be in the family, right? Alternatively create Keep, Donate, Sell, and Trash piles!
Keep the small stuff
We know that you’re probably happy to hear that we aren’t expecting you to get rid of EVERYTHING, but listen closely: you should probably get rid of most of it anyway! Here’s the thing; downsizing your home is the perfect way to get rid of unnecessary stuff – you know, all those knick-knacks that just collect dust. Just don’t get rid of regularly used items that you enjoy! And don’t forget about your sentimental items too, even if you aren’t using them regularly. Basically, don’t do away with the kids’ paintings and clay items because they’re important too! In fact, those are the items that help transform your house into a home.
Discover: How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget: 5 Tips
Get your storage plan sorted
Alright, this part isn’t the most fun, but it is absolutely crucial. This will save you from the notorious ‘downsizing headache’. The reality is that you are going to need to be able to make sense of the moving chaos and the best way to do that is by planning your storage.
The first thing that you’re going to need to do is to figure out how you are going to tackle organising things into boxes. This means thinking about how and where certain items are going to go. Are you placing laundry and bathroom items together, etc?
Now, this does take a little time, but you will be grateful that you did it. So, grab a pen and paper and plan out your storage and packing logistics. This will ensure that the entire process is seamless!
Opt-in for home contents insurance
This is a big one so pay close attention. In fact, if we could keep this entire paragraph in bold text we would!
Home contents insurance assures that all your movable contents in your home are covered should anything happen to them. This includes your household goods and personal belongings. Essentially everything in your home.
We cannot stress this enough, but home insurance is an absolute MUST! To put it simply, we always explain home contents like this: Imagine you had to turn your house upside down, everything that falls out would be your household contents.
Underinsuring your home is a reality and it’s one that we don’t want you to experience. And with all the moving plans on your plate, we want to help take care of this one! Worrying about insuring your home (or even avoiding underinsuring your new humble abode) shouldn’t be headache-inducing. Insurance is designed to help you and that’s what we plan to do.
With Oneplan Car and Household Insurance, our team of insurers guarantee that insuring your new home can be done via the easiest process (EVER!). Just say how much you want to cover and the amount that you can afford, and our team will get back to you with a personalised quote. What’s better is that you can change your cover (or the amount payable every month) with a simple glide of our Sliding Scale via the Oneplan App! Yes, our cover is really that flexible because it’s YOURS.
Your Insurance Family,
Oneplan
