Downsizing Compared to Upscaling in Retirement Living

We drove to Long Branch Lakes yesterday to check on the construction progress of the condo we are buying. Things are moving along rapidly. The unit is completely shelled in and framed, with rough plumbing and electrical completed. The garage is finished and our horse’s shoe was embedded in the garage floor surface as we asked. Read more

DIY Home Design for the Downsizing Baby Boomer

As they empty the nest and approach retirement, many baby boomers are thinking about what to do with their present home. Should they remodel to sell and downsize? Should they finally implement those upgrades for a carefree retirement lifestyle? What about new living spaces – what should be done with those? Read more

A Decluttering Strategy for Downsizing

“Simplify” is a word and concept that becomes more significant to me as I age. I’m having success applying it to my work (a 100% paperless legal practice) but it’s harder at home. I struggle with the realization of how much stuff there is to get rid of when we downsize. The household clutter is a constant reminder of what needs to be done. Thus, I was intrigued by the “stock theory” of decluttering that I read about today. Read more

Life Downsizing and Simplifying the Boomer Way

I’m making tangible progress on my attempts to simplify and downsize my life. This is happening at home and at the office. Check out what I’m doing. Maybe it will inspire you? Read more

Downsizing and the Sunk Cost Fallacy

Two of the major obstacles to successful downsizing are the practical and emotional costs of getting rid of “stuff.” We baby boomers have spent years acquiring our stuff and we are reluctant to part with it. I have less of that problem now than I used to. Yet I still struggle with discarding things that to me should have monetary value. If I give my stuff away (or even throw it away), I am losing that value. Thus enters the “sunk cost fallacy.” Read more

Boomer and Retiree Downsizing on the Extended First Time Homebuyer Credit

Congress has extended and expanded the first-time home buyer credit in several important respects. The new law will provide financial assistance to baby boomers and retirees who want to downsize to a different home. Let’s discuss a few of the aspects of the credit that will aid in the downsizing process. Read more

The Emotional Side of Home Downsizing

I write regularly here on the topic of downsizing your home because it’s something we think about often. We spend most of our time in a house that is much larger than we need. We also have a lot of equity tied up in that house. That equity could likely be put to much better use.

The question of whether (and when) to downsize a home also has emotional aspects. Read more

Baby Boomer Downsizing – Tell Your Story

If you are a baby boomer and haven’t thought about downsizing your life, you are likely in the minority. Unless you are abundantly wealthy or are already living the simpler lifestyle of an empty nester, downsizing should be on your retirement planning agenda. It’s certainly on ours.  Read more

How to Downsize a Home – Your Stuff

Although our likely downsize move from our present home is at least a couple of years away, I am already spending time thinking about it. This includes appreciating the many financial benefits of downsizing. Read more

Downsizing to a Prefab Home

How does a baby boomer downsize to a nice living space and save money? One of the latest retirement housing trends is a prefab or modular home. I’m not referring here to the tradition “mobile home” or trailer park environment. (Nor am I being critical of that type of manufactured housing.) Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »