Downsizing...can you really???

[4WD]

Raised our kids with 2000 SF and made up the difference with outdoor stuff - large patio - separate outdoor kitchen - deep pool with spring board - trampolines - elevated club houses - fire pits- many a wet butt print left on the picnic tables having hot dogs here while swimming - oh, and a large kennel with a 100’ run - connected to backyard …
(best swimmers were the Chocolate Labs)

 

[K.Aoi]

That's the thing...perspective. You are in New York. Even 700 square feet will set you back $$$$$.

I'm Upstate, not in the city, housing here is pretty much right on the national average. 700sq/ft normally would set you back around $900-$1000 around here.

 

[Zee09]

On the contrary, I don't understand why people feel like they need massive 3000sq/ft mansions. With just me I could easily get away with a 700sq/ft condo/apartment. Having storage space is nice but it would often be more cost effective to get a small storage unit for the stuff I don't need fast access to. (Tires, etc). Bigger house means more to clean and maintain, cool and heat, etc.

3000 sq. ft. Is no mansion..
My basement itself is that...lol

 

[Zee09]

As for the OP's original post...why not try to arrange your current living space to approx. 2000 sq. ft...to kind of model it and see what's it is like?

True..i would not bring anything to the new house but clothes my car and a few photo albums. The rest will be given away or sold...

 

[CharlesInCharge]

I'm wrestling with downsizing also. I am a collector and hoarder of USEFUL stuff. It's incredible challenging balancing act. I like having stuff "on hand," I like the discounts and convenience of buying in bulk, or 2nd hand which means "when it's available, buy it." I like having supplies, a pantry, a big closet full of clothes, a filled tool room, etc. I also like space. In 10 years I've downsized from 3600 s/f, to 3000, to now 2000, and soon moving to 1600. It's very difficult.

I absolutely hate not having space to store stuff, and needing to run to the store for a box of nails or a quart of oil or can of corn, etc. That's just not efficient.

First, is being space efficient. Much of it is in how the size is laid out. A smart layout can add 50% and a poor layout can subtract 50% from the useful s/f.

Next, is eliminating "projects" and stuff you just have not and will not use. Have an honest dialogue with yourself. I've moved some junk 4 times. I'm going to get rid of it. Donate all the clothes you don't use. I have to do all this imminently.

 

[PimTac]

I always lived in large houses and as a young adult I also ran a mail order business from my house as well.

Soon I plan to move and have just one vehicle and cut business way back. A few machines and not much else.

How do you know if you can live in a small 2000 sq ft. house?
And you are moving from a area where you have basements bigger than that to a no basement state like Florida.
I am not a collector or hoarder but just like space....

The way you word this is interesting. 2000sf is small??

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s we were a family of six growing up in a 900sf house. One bathroom.

You make do.

 

[doitmyself]

The way you word this is interesting. 2000sf is small??

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s we were a family of six growing up in a 900sf house. One bathroom.

You make do.

Agree, except the dates for me would be 50's through today. Being a minimalist, I don't suffer from these types of materialism stressors.

 

[atikovi]

I could live in 500sf shack if it had a 5000sf garage.

 

[Zee09]

Agree, except the dates for me would be 50's through today. Being a minimalist, I don't suffer from these types of materialism stressors.

Nothing materialistic about it.
If you grew up in the city vs a farm community the way of life and size of houses is totally different.
Can't think of too many old 900 sq. ft. farm houses..

 

[Zee09]

I'm wrestling with downsizing also. I am a collector and hoarder of USEFUL stuff. It's incredible challenging balancing act. I like having stuff "on hand," I like the discounts and convenience of buying in bulk, or 2nd hand which means "when it's available, buy it." I like having supplies, a pantry, a big closet full of clothes, a filled tool room, etc. I also like space. In 10 years I've downsized from 3600 s/f, to 3000, to now 2000, and soon moving to 1600. It's very difficult.

I absolutely hate not having space to store stuff, and needing to run to the store for a box of nails or a quart of oil or can of corn, etc. That's just not efficient.

First, is being space efficient. Much of it is in how the size is laid out. A smart layout can add 50% and a poor layout can subtract 50% from the useful s/f.

Next, is eliminating "projects" and stuff you just have not and will not use. Have an honest dialogue with yourself. I've moved some junk 4 times. I'm going to get rid of it. Donate all the clothes you don't use. I have to do all this imminently.

And if you run a home business the need for that space is a consideration. Good luck with it all.

 

[Zee09]

The way you word this is interesting. 2000sf is small??

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s we were a family of six growing up in a 900sf house. One bathroom.

You make do.

I guess because for many years I worked in houses that were 10k to 20k sq. Ft. and although not the norm it seems the norm when you are in that environment on a daily basis. From my own perspective a 2000 sq. ft home is small but that doesn't mean it is inexpensive or not a nice home.

 

[rob1715]

no basement state like Florida

We're full. House prices are through the roof. Alligators all over the place. Traffic is trrrrble. Southern Georgia is a good place to look.

 

[Zee09]

We're full. House prices are through the roof. Alligators all over the place. Traffic is trrrrble. Southern Georgia is a good place to look.

Too late I already own lots there....

 

[CharlesInCharge]

Agree, except the dates for me would be 50's through today. Being a minimalist, I don't suffer from these types of materialism stressors.

I find the concept of "minimalist" somewhat a minsomer. Even most "minimalists" still consume the same amount of stuff. Ironically they tend to do it less efficiently.

Let's assume a person consumes 100 bags of groceries in a year.

Person A: He shops at Costco, buys large packages in bulk, shopping only once per month. That's 12 trips. His fuel consumption for 12 trips, representing 12 units. The packaging used in larger quantities of items tends to be 50% more efficient and more environmental.

Person B: The "minimalist" shops a grocery store, where he has to go almost daily b/c he has no storage space. His fuel consumption is nearly daily, representing 365 units. The packaging for smaller sized items is very wasteful. He's also spending far more time shopping, far less efficient. And he's a strain on the system when there are shortages because he has nothing stocked up... so he's the guy standing in line when there's a TP shortage b/c he has none.

 

[Chris142]

The house I was raised in that I now own is 1007 sqft. 2000 would be a mansion to me.

 

[Zee09]

The house I was raised in that I now own is 1007 sqft. 2000 would be a mansion to me.

Yeah but that's Kali....gold in them hills...

 

[Chris142]

Yeah but that's Kali....gold in them hills...

Only if you live in the city. Out on a dirt road in the desert prices are much less.

 

[wander2039]

Nothing materialistic about it.
If you grew up in the city vs a farm community the way of life and size of houses is totally different.
Can't think of too many old 900 sq. ft. farm houses..

If you look at the logs in my parents house it was probably less than a 750 sq ft house Farm in mid-missouri. Now it's a probably twice. That might a extreme example. No idea how old the initial log house is, those logs are so hard it'll dull a chainsaw chain in two passes.

 

[Zee09]

If you look at the logs in my parents house it was probably less than a 750 sq ft house Farm in mid-missouri. Now it's a probably twice. That might a extreme example. No idea how old the initial log house is, those logs are so hard it'll dull a chainsaw chain in two passes.

My grandmothers farm house was about the same in Delaware but every century it doubled in size. Was part of the underground railroad...
My mother was the youngest of 12 and the place had no amenities...

 

[JeffKeryk]

Yeah but that's Kali....gold in them hills...

It's also high 60's today. If we gotta put long pants on we are hurtin for certain...