Downsizing After 23 Years: Our Journey to a Simpler Life Before Moving Abroad.
🏡 After 23 years in our home, we had to downsize—here’s how we did it. As we prepare for our move to Spain, we’ve faced the challenges of decluttering, deciding what to keep, donate, or store, and navigating the emotional side of letting go. Downsizing isn’t just about getting rid of things—it’s about making space for a new chapter. In this episode, we’re sharing what we learned along the way. 📌 What We Cover in This Video:
✅ How we decided what to keep, donate, or store
✅ Where we donated & how it made the process easier
✅ Overcoming the emotional challenge of letting go
✅ Packing & organization tips for a smoother move
✅ What we learned from this experience & what we’d do differently
💡 Are you downsizing or preparing for a big move? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your experience!
Downsizing Checklist: A step-by-step guide to decluttering and preparing for your next big move!
🛠 Getting Started
✅ Set a realistic downsizing timeline and goals
✅ Make a list of non-negotiable items to keep
✅ Gather necessary supplies: boxes, labels, donation bags, storage bins 📦 Sorting & Decluttering
✅ Sort items into 5 categories: Keep, Donate, Sell, Store, Discard
✅ Digitize important documents & old photos to reduce paper clutter
✅ Set a limit on sentimental items—only keep what truly matters
✅ Use the "one-year rule"—if you haven’t used it in a year, reconsider keeping it
💙 Donating & Selling
✅ Research where to donate locally (charities, shelters, Facebook Buy Nothing groups)
✅ List high-value items for sale on Facebook Marketplace, eBay (don't love eBay, but you do you), Craigslist
✅ Hold a garage sale or estate sale for extra cash
✅ Responsibly dispose of unusable or broken items 📦 Packing & Organizing ✅ Label all boxes clearly by category & destination
✅ Pack fragile items securely with padding or bubble wrap
✅ Create an inventory list for stored items
✅ Use space-saving techniques like vacuum-sealed bags for clothing and linens 🏠 Storage Decisions
✅ Decide what truly needs to be stored long-term
✅ Choose the best storage solution (climate-controlled unit, family storage, or self-storage)
✅ Set a reminder to reevaluate stored items in 6-12 months
Final Steps
✅ Do a final walkthrough to ensure nothing important is left behind
✅ Deep clean and prepare your home for its next chapter
✅ Celebrate the milestone! Downsizing is a huge step toward your new adventure 🎉 ✨
Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & hit the 🔔 for notifications! We’re sharing our journey every step of the way as we move abroad and start our next adventure in Spain! #Downsizing #Decluttering #Minimalism #MovingAbroad #SpainRelocation #ExpatsInSpain #LivingAbroad #MovingTips #CloserToHappy