Blog: Moving, Downsizing and Organizing for Boomers, Seniors and Elders
The Up Side of Downsizing... part 4

Downsizing Tips:

1.  Take every opportunity to remove something from your home - put a "give away" box at the front door and encourage your family to toss items into the box and when it's full, cart it off to a charity.

2.  Make every purchase count - ask yourself the do I really love it, will I really get good use from it and do I have anything else that works just as well.

3.  Wait 24 hours before purchasing an item.  This removes the "I've got to have it" feeling that over takes us in the store.

4.  Encourage the "new thing in - old thing out" rule.

5.  Research charities, repurposing groups, "free" to a good home web sites and have that information handy so that you can use their services immediately upon deciding that somethings can go.

6.  Don't give up all of your collection of Elvis mugs, but choose to keep only those that have real value and meaning to you.

7.  Don't buy more than you need - if you are knitting a blue sweater, you only need blue yarn.  Even if the pink yarn is on sale, wait until you finish the blue one to buy more yarn. 

8.  Don't necessarily buy things on sale or 2 for 1 unless you are absolutely certain you will be using those products within a reasonable time.   You are not saving money on 5 gallon jar of mayo if you only use 1 gallon of it and rest ends up getting tossed a year later.  

9.  Buy only what you actually have room for.  If you are storing food items on the floor of the garage instead of in the pantry in the kitchen, you are probably buying too much.  

10.  Start NOW, don't wait for something to happen that forces you to downsize and makes you feel bad about yourself.

posted on: 1/26/2008 1:30:00 PM by Gayle Grace
category: Moving

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Moving, Downsizing and Organizing for Boomers, Seniors and Elders

by Gayle Grace

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About Gayle:

Gayle Grace is the owner of All Things Home, providing expert organizing and moving services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Gayle is a Golden Circle member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM).

Gayle is a also a trained chef and award winning food taster! When not managing a move or organizing Bay Area kitchens, Gayle can be found at one of her favorite restaurants or advising local wineries on food and wine pairings.

Gayle shares her home and the sofa with two cats, Littleone and Pumpkin Pie.

Gayle's Website:

www.allthingshome.com

Gayle's Other Blogs & Email Contact

• allthingshomeblog.blogspot.com
• [email protected]

Gayle's Book Recommendations:

• Rightsizing Your Life by C. Ware
• Scaling Down by J. Culbertson & M. Decker
• No Ordinary Move by B.Z. Perman & J. Ballard
• Moving in the Right Direction by B. Nemovitz

The Kitchen Sink

• My Life In France by Julia Child
• Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin
• More Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin
• Zuni Cafe Cookbook by Judy Rodgers
• Classic Stars Desserts by Emily Luchetti

Pumpkin Pie