Downsizing... Part ?

Downsizing

So as we continue on our quest, our dream, our goal, we are downsizing – and it’s an absolute need!… I think there may be many-a-post about this!

So the basic question is: “How do you downsize a 3 bedroom house with 3 kids?” and downsize to what?

Do you just pick it all up and lob it out the window? Sell it on Ebay? Set the house on fire? Give to charity? What?

We searched online and found loads of information which some was helpful, and some not so helpful… we picked and mixed and sat down.

Almost ALL the sites and blogs started with “making a list” and “do this, then this” like it was some clear cut thing. (And I am sure there are some that find it easy!) But we still felt flustered about it.

Finally, we realised that one thing was not being spoken about much at all.

Mindset

Without getting too philosophical, we realised that if we didn't make a serious decision, even without plans, to change our life -  it never would change. It’s too easy to fall back into old habits. It has to be a really powerful heart-pulling-force-of-a-decision to say: “we don’t just WANT to change, we are GOING to change” and from there start the process.

When we first got excited about the opportunity to do something different with our lives, we jumped up and down, and started looking at maps and drooling over the IDEA of travelling and doing some a amazing things.

After 2 days we were right back where we started, with the same habits and old way of doing things – but with the fantasy of doing more.

Finally after a night of real soul searching and little sleep, I got up early, prayed, washed my face, and walked through our still dark house. I looked around at our stuff. Our routine.

I decided that I would take the lead in the push needed to get us on the road. I knew if we didn’t really push ourselves, 5-10 years from now we would still be stuck in the mud we are today.
So we got to it. Little buy little. But as they say: "even a journey of a 1000 miles starts with one step"...

So our steps to date:

STEP 1:

So our step one was a family sit down, and discussion. We decided our plan was to “Go travel for a long duration” no concise plan, no real hard knowledge, just: WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS. Whatever your situation, have that time to really decide, and then say it out loud.

STEP 2:

We live in a 3 bed house. What if we made it a 2 bed? We started clearing the 3rd bedroom (a work in progress!) and only leave up there the stuff in an organised fashion that is to sell – so we re-adjust our furniture and room layouts and spread the furniture around the rest of the house... or get rid of it!

Broken stuff that you never fixed, or kept “just in case” get it to a charity shop or on freecycle, or even on one of the many local Facebook groups to buy and sell. I had 2 PCs that I promised I would fix and use – since 2009 – and they have moved house each time and nothing happened. So they went. £5 for scrap each. A radio controlled car I have had since I was 15 that I took apart and couldn’t put back together? £8 on Preloved! :)

If it was broken and not useable – local rubbish dump. We recycled all that we could.

STEP 3: 

Keep keeping going. It is not an easy to get rid of stuff accumulated over years. We have more than 10 years’ worth of stuff, including stuff we had prior to our relationship. Some stuff has had sentimental value. Other stuff I finally said: When did I last use this? 3 years ago? So do I REALLY need it? Naaaa… *into a bag it goes!

So that's where we are to date... now to continue! :)

Later we will discuss CLOTHES…. Most people’s (especially mummy’s) NEMISIS!