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How to downsize without leaving your home

There are plenty of people who’re perfectly happy where they are, but who’re worried they eventually won’t be able to manage their home.

If you’re one of those people, we’ve got some good news – you don’t necessarily have to move home to downsize. We’ve put together some handy tips for reorganising your space and tweaking your set up so you can make the most of your home as you age.

Prune your possessions

If you were moving to a smaller home, you’d be forced to look through all of your possessions and decide which were important enough to come with you. This is such a valuable process that it’s worth doing – even if you’re not planning on going anywhere.

Dedicate a couple of weeks to going through each of your rooms one by one and working out which of your things you love and need and which you’ve simply picked up over the years. Sell your unwanted items on eBay, donate to charity shops or share with your friends and family. Be stern with yourself and you’re sure to find you end up with a lot more space than you realised.

Think about room utility 

As you work through your rooms considering your possessions, start thinking about whether each space is being used to its best advantage. You may have your home set up a certain way to accommodate children who no longer live with you or to suit lifelong habits that are starting to change.

Perhaps it would be a good time to invest in a downstairs bathroom or moving a bedroom from the top of the house to the lower level. You might want to think about turning a spare room into a hobby space or, if you have rooms that will only be used occasionally, think about consider shutting the door and turning off the heating on a day-to-day basis.

Confront potential barriers

To stay in your home long term, you might want to start thinking seriously about issues that could arise – especially if you have a large home and garden that will need a lot of tending. You may be able to save money by cutting your outgoings around the home, but how long will that last if you have to consider adapting your home or hiring a gardener?

One potential solution is renting out your assets. There are a lot of young people who are trying to get on the property ladder and who need affordable accommodation to help them save a deposit, could you invite a lodger into your spare room? Or, does your home come with a parking or driveway space you don’t use? If you live in a busy neighbourhood, you might be able to rent it out for a nice profit.

Would you rather downsize where you are or find a new home?

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Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor

Hello there! I’m Rachel and I’m the Assistant Editor for Silversurfers. I work behind the scenes to bring interesting, informative and entertaining subject matter to the Silversurfers community. I hope you enjoy the features we have shared with you. Please feel free to comment below and share your thoughts with us, we love to hear from you!

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