Downsize for a Tidy Profit and a Better Life

There’s an impulse in the modern world to get more–more money, more friends, more stuff. Sometimes that’s the solution to your problems, but not always. Take that bigger house, for example. Sure, it gives you more space, but that comes with enormous heating bills, weekends wasted cleaning, and plenty of stress as you struggle to keep everything up and running. You can solve all of those problems by going in the opposite cultural direction and downsizing.

Money on Investing

Selling large and buying small means a cash windfall. So the question is: What do you do with these profits? One finance expert speaking with U.S. News and World Report says to forget your savings account as the interest rates lag far behind inflation. Instead, growth mutual funds are smarter options as they make you more money in the long run. That’ll lead to a more financially secure and comfortable future.

Freedom From Debt

Americans collectively owe nearly $1.5 billion in student loans. Are you among them? If so, downsizing provides the opportunity to pay off some or all of that debt. That will lower your debt-to-income ratio to make financing more available in the future while reducing the amount of money that you fork out in interest. Plus, it’s one less thing to worry about when balancing your budget.



Lower Utility Bills 

Another thing you shell out a lot for is electricity, with the average household spending $2,200 per year on utilities. While remembering to turn off the faucet and light switch saves you a few pennies, you can slash the money you owe dramatically by living in a smaller home. That’ll allow you to put aside cash for that vacation to Paris you’ve always dreamed of taking.

Much Less Cleaning

There’s less space to cover with the broom, mop, and vacuum, and you’ll save even more time by learning a few commando tactics employed by the professionals. Speaking to Good Housekeeping, one cleaner recommends dividing the house into a grid and attacking each section from top to bottom, and that should be easy with the reduced amount of ground to cover.

Relief From Stress

If you’re like most people, you’ve got enough worries juggling work with family, so the added pressure of running a large household can send you over the edge. That won’t be a problem any more, and there’s also less to think about financially with the lower utility bills and debt payments. This will lead to better health as reducing stress cuts your risk of high blood pressure, digestive problems and insomnia.



More Free Time

You can do the things you’ve always wanted, like study a language or learn the guitar. Hobbies such as these improve your life in ways you never imagined. For example, they’re a source of “eustress,” a positive form of stress that accompanies new challenges, providing motivation and keeping you engaged in everyday life.

No Clutter

How would there be less if you’re moving your stuff to a smaller space? Well, you’re not. Moving provides the opportunity to purge a bunch of useless items. Then you can adopt a new system of organization that puts everything in its place, meaning even less stress by removing all the clutter. That allows you to live a more intentional life while enjoying a greater sense of well-being overall.

A New You in a New Location

Where is your new house going to be? By the beach? In the big city? Near the mountains? Moving to a new location is a chance to change your identity and be the person you’ve always wanted to be. There are all the new activities you’ll be able to try, whether it’s swimming in the sea or spending your evenings hobnobbing in art galleries.

Once you've started looking around, you may decide to go in a different direction: an apartment. If you've decided that you'd rather move into an apartment than purchase another house, there are websites that can help you find the best locations in and around the area you're interested in living. Additionally, websites like Rent.com help you find a place based on your needs (one-bedroom, two-bedroom, etc.)

It may be hard at first to get used to a smaller space, but it’ll get easier with all the positive changes. So now make the best of your new life. You’ve earned it.

Images via Pixabay, Adobe Stock, and Shutterstock.