This has been an evolution for us, over the past 4 years. Before we relocated, we donated and sold a lot. We were living in very small corporate housing for just about a year.. and were told to prepare for a secondary relocation to either Hawaii or overseas. So, I just continued scaling back. Around that time, I started having medical issues, so orders were actually changed from Hawaii and they ended up placing husband here.
We moved into another home, however, we were on the cusp of this whole simplifying, downsizing, frame of mind.. and I wanted to test out renting closer to where we have property to see if it was feasible to move onto family homestead. I found something very inexpensive that was actually, half the square footage. And clearly, we had scaled back our stuff enough that the transition was perfectly fine. Everything had a place, even in 1000 sqft, I still had empty cabinets (and my husband's uniforms and having two children - well, that all does take up quite a bit of space).
Unfortunately, moving outside of our immediate area did not work out. We moved back closer to work and found the best value $ cost wise, which has larger square footage. The rent is cheap. I am blown away at how many cabinets are empty, we even have an entire dresser that really can be donated, because there's nothing in it anymore. And both children could share their one dresser. We have nice 'stuff'.. good quality things (mostly bought secondhand or things that we've had for years). We just don't have a lot of it.
We have a one bedroom cabin that is about 450 square feet, on the family property. If I were to take those contents out and replace with the contents (not actually all furniture, though).. my family of four could fit all of our kitchen stuff, clothing, toys, most decor in that 450 sqft house.
I'll have to post in a separate thread some of the best changes that we've made.
Some may sound ridiculous, because I have been critiqued by relatives that have major stuffitis. However, they don't live in my house nor do they clean it. They are also not in a position where they could be moved with little notice.. and in our case, when husband retires from this job, we still have to be flexible to be moved anywhere in the U.S. or overseas (provided my health improves), because he's in aviation and we're game to live overseas! So with that in mind, it's been important for us - less stress, less money spent, less things to 'manage'.. and most of all, just gives us some comfort that if we had to pack up, I know (and have) done it myself with the two children, if needed with only needing a moving company for the furniture. There's many other ladies that I know have had near heartattacks over the thought of having to pack up their household on short notice. I can actually do it in one day and have frames on the walls, beds made, and dishes in the kitchen by the next evening.
Anyhow, love the idea of 100 things, for those that are starting out with scaling back their stuff!
And yes..definitely check into Craigslist 'free' postings, donating to your Goodwill/Salvation Army, etc. or Habitat for Humanity reStore (which will take home construction type stuff)
:)
