One thing to do is declutter extensively, as if you are downsizing. For those who’ve been in our homes for decades, the belongings keep coming in. By doing this, you’ll make life less stressful should something unexpected happen that causes the need to downsize quickly. I live alone, and that’s been a concern for me because I’ve seen it happen to several people I know.
There are several best things about my retirement. Not on someone else's schedule, eat when I want what I want, time to spend with my best friend, my little Yorkie, got rid of my insignificant other, that was the best downsize! Moved to an apartment with a balcony so I can have flowers and not be overwhelmed, and I don't have to play well with others or deal with their bs.
If home is paid for, moving costs, real estate commission, points, taxes, hassle, and paying same or more for a matchbox house, plus monthly huge HOA bills, we are staying and paying for lawn care and garbage, joining country club at 1500 a year is far cheaper and easier than downsizing. Most we know regret it. Next time we downsize will be either in a nursing home or a casket
I finally have a house in my 70's. Just try to get me out. I can go to a retirement home for $1000's a month or I can spend a few bucks on a cleaner and someone to do my lawns. Makes a big difference in my life. No way I'm going back to an apartment.
My husband and I live in a 3000 square foot bungalow. There is no way we could live in a rental for even double what we are currently paying, mortgage free. We built our house 10 years ago with our ‘golden years’ in mind. Wider doors , one level living, grab bars in one bath. Etc. We can pay for cleaners and lawn if we ever need to.
I bought my one level 1580 square foot 3 bed, 2 bath home 10 years ago. I am retiring end of the year and will be here hopefully for the next 30 years ☺️ working from home mostly the last 3 years I have done a lot of declutter, paint, yard work and new countertops. In a way I’m glad to have had this time, and to really appreciate how much I love my house.
Turns out we bought our retirement house first 35 years ago. 1700+ ranch style one step to enter. All the major stores within a few miles and not needing to drive on a freeway to get there. Excellent doctors and hospitals close by. Parks and trails across the street that connect to trails all around the Twin Cities. Yes it gets cold and snowy half the year then I have taken up Cross Country Skiing with groomed trails. What about Pickleball in the winter, our YMCA/Community Centers have indoor pickleball which is free with Silver Sneakers. So yes moving south sounds like it would be fun, but when we really thought this over we chose to stay put.
Some of us don’t have partners. I’m divorced just last year and it was not my choice. It was a terrible blow. I want to retire next year and my house is paid off. Thanks for your tips. I’m staying!
I retired early a few months ago to take better care of my health. I decided to take a look at other living options and found that there really isn't anything better out there than what I already have. Thanks for the tips!
If you live your neighborhood and have hood neighbors make what you have work for you. I am still sorry I moved away from the place I loved where my friends lived and I had all my network of stores, medical etc.
I"m retired but my husband is not and we will not downsize. When our grands come to visit they love to explore all the nooks and crannies and it makes us happy. My inlaws are 91 and 94 and they still live in the same house since the early 70's. We need space! Great video!
Great comment. Downsizing is not for everyone. I have fond memories of going to visit my grandfather who lived in his old creepy house until the end. My brother and I spent hours exploring his basement, attic, and garage that were all filled with nooks and cranny’s.
We recently did a refresh to our dining room, kitchen, foyer and master bedroom . New paint, new carpet, new window treatments, (what a difference those made) a deep clean and declutter. Looks like a new home! The one thing I discovered is every surface does not require something on it. Less really is more!
My wife and I sold our big home and built a small energy efficient 2 unit duplex. We live in one half that is larger with a garage and an attached greenhouse. We also spend time at our remote off-road cabin in the summer and travel down south in the winter. We have a nice mountain view on over 4 acres. We get a $258,000 property tax exemption being seniors on our primary residence. We love the small easy to maintain home with a small lawn and a big garden.
Just found your channel and it's very informative. I am 79, hubbie 82 and we are still in our 3bed, 1 bath house for 44 years. Boys are grown, married with kids. We are staying as our mortgage is paid off. Last spring I hired a dumpster and cleaned out the garage. What a difference. More still needs to go but onto other things. I will be tackling my closet and donating. Lots of projects but taking one step at a time. Thanks for all your suggestions.
I can see your point. All of this requires effort which takes energy. We put home improvement projects off, but when we finally get to them we feel great.
When our youngest graduated h.s. we moved an hour away but she stayed in our house with 2 girl friends. We did not charge rent but they paid the utilities and the taxes. If anything around the house broke they paid to have it fixed. They got by real cheap and were happy.
So clean and renovate your home? What was the reason for wanting to downsize? I thought downsizing was due to not needing as big of a home and hopefully reducing the cost and work to maintain it.
Some people don’t feel the urge or need to downsize so we have this as an option. Stay where you are but give it a refreshed feel for this third stage of life.
I appreciate your video and valuable tips. Something important to remember...at this time in life not everyone's a couple for various reasons. I'm a widow looking to retire very soon. I'll be staying in my home because it IS my home. Familiar and filled with memories I'm just not ready to let go of. Most importantly its mortgage payment is affordable to me. With my mortgage payment at 890.00 (1200.00 w/taxes) and rent in my city at 1500-1900+ a month for a 2-bedroom apartment I just can't afford that. I'm repairing and updating what I can afford now so when I do retire it's done. I'm sure at some point I'll be forced to sell, but not yet.
I know right.... The "55 plus" condos in my area are selling for absurd money, new or used... 500K plus!! My house is cheaper, even if you include the cost of maintenance, and even if I paid someone to mow and/or snow plow!
Plus you can stay put in your beloved familiar home and have live-in aides if ever necessary for less than half the price of Assisted Living; a third the price of nursing home!
Yep. I've been dreaming of downsizing and moving into a community that has a pool, and someone else maintains the outside and the grounds. But, you're right. It would cost us more do downsize than to stay right where we're at.
Most people want to downsize to avoid any house maintenance, open/close the pool, not dealing with snow removal, cut grass, fix flowers, definitely not upgrading anything. Your suggestion has nothing to do with someone wanting to have more time to travel and enjoy life in retirement.
I’m never downsizing!! so far everyone I know is keeping their homes or they have multiple homes and they want a big House for grandkids etc. Plus at 2245 sq ft, our home is actually as big as some condos! So it’s not gigantic.
During our last significant remodel, we removed a 6" raised platform at the homes entry. That required lowering the front door and a closet door. But, the home is now wheel chair friendly, and it eliminated a trip hazard. To get ideas, we looked at model homes (we were stunned how many $1M+ homes have lousy kitchens) and higher end used homes for sale. Our garage freezer door didn't close and we lost $500 worth of food. I found a YoLink temp sensor that alerts my phone. That evolved into wetness sensors under the sinks and toilets, even a door sensor in the mailbox (mail theft in our area) and on the fence gates. Even added several of their smoke detectors. Several hundred dollars and it gives us peace of mind
I have a house and an investment apartment. I sat down and did the calculations and worked out that living in the apartment, will cost me 3000 more than living in the house. I had a lot of lawn, re landscaped and reduced the lawn by half, removed some of the large messy trees and climbers and planted low maintenance plants and pebbles.
Remodeled one of the kitchens, bought a new mattress and bed, changed one of the rooms to workout, we have storage in one room and extra also couch converts to bed. Also extra room for when son stays. Son spruced the outdoor space. Need to get a Gardner. Need to paint inside the house, We remodeled the bathrooms. Would be nice to get a new countertop for the kitchen downstairs and paint the cabinets. We have painted exterior and roofed the house. Bought Starlink internet. Bought a new tv. So I go the other widescreen to hook up to computer so I can workout online. I also video myself on Zoom for routines . New flooring downstairs would be nice. Refinished red oak flooring it is so nice. New furniture would be nice.
My daughter got her bed sponsor to give her a king size mattress for me, then bought me a new headboard and support, new duvet and cover, new bed linens, throw pillows, drapes, lights and redecorated half my bedroom for me. So nice. Love my room. Love her. Makes a huge difference when I crawl into bed at night.😢
In our 60s, we both want to move out of state to live near our daughter. Problem: I want to buy a house the same size as our current home, which is 1800 sq ft. However, husband is insisting we downsize to a 900 sq ft home. Nope, not doing it. Total stand-off here.
This can be a difficult process for many couples. All we can say is try and find time to discuss in a quiet place and time and just work on listening to each other. Keep at it and hopefully over time you can find common ground.
I used to rearrange my living room or my family room at least once a year. It always made me feel like I moved into a new home. Most large rooms can be rearranged two or three ways, just by a moving everything to a new location.
Thank you for this comment @TwoDoves79. My mom used to do that when I was a young boy. I distinctly remember in the spring and fall my mom would rearrange our living room. We went to bed it was one way and in the morning another. Always felt fresh. I’m gonna try that here!
Great points. This is the news I need to hear. I love my place. It is a 2 bed, 2.5 bath, loft, open plan t home with a back yard. Besides, my mortgage payment is 575. It lives like a house. I want to wisely put money in and make this my forevermore home. I have been saving for home improvement.
Im glad this resonated with you and love that you have saved for this and have a plan to make this your forever home. The changes you make will feel wonderful. Mark and Jody
RU-vid algorithm sugested your video and it has been such a joyful watch. My parents could benefit from it, but even though I have still a long way to go until a standard retirement at 65 ( here in Europe) I admire your passionate, fun and honest advise about the downsizing topic. Im now subscribed to your channel and this is my new source of inspiration to live minimally yet cosy and comfortably. Thank you for your great videos.
Great, practical ideas. They don’t have to be done all at once, and especially in the early days of retirement, these kinds of projects give one focus and lots of opportunities for movement! I’m impressed by the quality of your videos - the sound, the lighting, your natural vocal delivery, your friendly faces, as well as the practical content. Kudos! So glad I found your channel.
Plus you can stay put in your beloved familiar home and have live-in aides if ever necessary for less than half the price of Assisted Living; a third the price of nursing home!
I don’t want a huge home to clean and keep up, BUT I want space for my kids and grandkids to visit. I’m wondering if we could have a smallish home with small cottages for family visits and for Airbnb stays when they aren’t visiting……
Be carful with the amount of people coming In to the US. If they rent you might pay dearly to get them out. People aren't veted like you think they are now a days.
I've been in the process of painting my cabinets, walls and ceilings for a few years now. Also new light fixtures (or spray paint old ones). We also painted and epoxied out bathroom counters and sinks. Just have trouble getting my husband to get rid of stuff.
Thanks! Great info! My husband and I are both retired, home paid off, not looking to sell for a few years BUT we have tons of stuff after being in our home for 25 years. I will follow you. Best wishes.
We're empty nesters with a 4 bedroom house. That seems like a lot for 2 people but my husband has an office\music room in one bedroom. I have an office\ sewing room in one bedroom and we have a designated guest room. It's perfect for us.
Their suggestions are fantastic, but everything cost. Retirement reduce your income, you have to be careful, or fugal. Throwing ideas like that costing money
Thank you. I am thinking seriously in what you both said. I did get new beds, new appliances, etc, and that makes me feel great. I didn't think I was making a dent in our house. Goodwill will be blessed again. I am 70, and my husband is 79. Talk about small appliances they are never used. They will be boxed on Sunday. That will give me back what was a small bedroom. I had it for a library and other ideas. I now just want it painted and leave it with a chair and a rug. I have another room that was a bedroom. It became a freezer and storage room room. It is L- Shape and rarely uses that room. I will give the deep freezer away since my new ref/ frez is plenty for us two. Floor space. You know that feels great. I have a table, file cabinet, and odds and ends to give to Goodwill. I really do thank you. I can see new shades and my repainting the floor as a patchwork quilt. We are retired. It feels great to take action and have it hauled out. Hopefully, in a week. I need pull out wire racks in the lower kitchen cabinets. I love the new doorknobs suggestion. We love cardinals. I will be looking. Have a beautiful life. Love your spirit. 🌹
@Retirement Transformed Thank you. Skin doctors with my husband care are regular. I am still working on our house. I will either buy a new deep freezer to replace one we had for years. I scheduled with my daughter to go shopping to fill the deep freezer. 🌹
I agree with all your points We have updated the kitchen and baths and are slowly replacing flooring decking and patio to make things easy care and more beautiful. We focused on the spaces inside and out that we use most often. The result is that we live better and with more joy. Yes our home is roomy but not overly so. But it’s manageable and we have room to comfortably accommodate guests. Leaving our walkable friendly neighborhood’s mix of young families and empty nesters would not work for us. I don’t want to be around only retirees. And I don’t want to move to a city where we have no connection. We instead take a short 2-7 day getaway about 6 times a year. Win win.
I'm 50 and have been living in a 2 bedroom condo (townhouse style) for close to 20 years. It's paid off. Against the trend, in retirement I would like to upsize around retirement and move to a 3 or 4 bedroom ranch with an area to grow vegetables. I want a little more space but all on one level so as we age we can stay there. My condo is 1,100 sq ft. It's just me and my husband but my mom (now in her mid-70s) may need to move in at some point and our current place wouldn't work.
Hello Jody and Mark! I've just found your videos and you make so much sense and have confirmed to me that I am on the right track by preparing my home as if I'm going to sell it and then if I do decide to downsize it will be ready. I changed the doorknobs on my kitchen cabinets about 15 years ago! I never thought to do it regularly 🤣 I love that idea! I have subscribed and look forward to watching many more of your videos. Thank you from Sydney, Australia 🌷
Ruth here, some times ya just declutter a little, but start way before retirement just don't buy much, l started way way back when l was 25 years old, simply especially outside,
Very funny. That’s what my parents did. It wasn’t funny at the time. Took us a week to empty their house. Jody and I committed to leave very little for them to get rid of. Or at least that’s our goal
I couldn’t begin to rent or buy something smaller for the price it cost me to stay in these financial times! I’m going to rent a room out next year and make money.
Ask a trusted Realtor to give your house an honest view to get feedback on where your house stands in the market and what features or upgrades sell well Knowing you're not moving removes pressure plus an impartial 3rd party opinion might save you from spending in an area that you may regret later.
I just found your channel and I'm a fan. I'm not fully retired yet but I'm finding all your videos really helpful. I was feeling lost. I've discovered the financial aspect is actually the easy part, it's the thinking creatively on how I want my life to look after that last day of work, that brings up the tough questions. Will my husband drive me crazy all day? Will I get bored? There is so much great advice on your channel. Thank you for creating this wonderful content.
We are happy you are enjoying our videos T. Payne. This is a glorious time of our lives and Jody and I are so enjoying sharing all that we learn. And experimenting a lot on new ways to live this phase of life.
we had both a house we lived in and a condo for retirement but rented. When it came to retirement we sold the condo . made an apartment in lower level in our house (downsized in place). Now we have yard and an extra income , the condo was not the answer for us.
Thanks-Interesting, I am newly retired, Diffusers- specially I like Eucalyptus fragrance , recently I purchased Room mist-Lemmon Verbena- Excellent 👌 Keep it up 👍 NT
Toni- thanks for your note … I work hard at bathing Max, keeping the house fresh with flowers, definitely burning a few candles and using my eucalyptus scent machine. I think it does a pretty good job covering up the dog smell. However having a dog definitely comes with smells!
This advice was of no use to someone with physical/mobility ailments. There are infirm persons of retirement age that can't do yard work, empty closets, rearrange furniture, clean, paint and so on. Also, cognitive problems from strokes or neurological disease. You should have introduced your advice saying this isn't for someone with those issues. A disabled senior should have the means to pay to have it done or have family help. To some income disadvantage persons, sell the unwanted items instead of donating. Candles can be hazardous for fires with pets or forgetfulness.
Thank you for saying this @Marina Abad. You are so right. My mom had dementia and we had to do all of these things for her. We will be more sensitive to this in future videos.
How about staying where you are and putting a bench by the sidewalk where you can sit and invite passersby to listen to you describe all of your aches and pains and relay the intricate details of your latest surgery.
Yes. For married couples that’s the terms. But do many of our subscribers are not married but have a strong primary relationship. Thus the term partner.
My husband and I live in an 8700 sq ft house - 7 beds/8 baths, gated 16 home community. Funny thing is most of our neighbors are empty nesters. Our house is very modern and up to date. I’m a serial decorator and spend a ton of money on it all the time. We will probably have to downsize because it’s 3 levels and super big. I can’t imagine living in a house that size at 80.
I have three kids. 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. I can’t imagine living in your big house now. It must cost a fortune for upkeep, taxes and heat or cooling systems.
The interesting thing is that we have done all of the suggestions, in our 40s, we live in a big mediterranean house we absolutely love we have tons of windows, 54 to be exact, we sit on a property that’s like a park were almost empty nesters…when we look at condo options and think that we would be reduced to wall with limited views of the outdoors. its kind of scary. But if we sell, we would buy a smaller home cash and live debt free…travel more and do more….what to do?
This is what I have decided to do; sell and pay cash for a more manageable home with no mortgage. Only paying for utilities! I think it's the best way to go!
Does anyone have advice on scents of essential oils or room fresheners…that do not offend the senses. There’s a lot on the market but, some don’t smell how I’d like my home to smell like!
Oops, too late - I have sacrificed too many musical instruments of mine. Got to go mobile more now preparing my self in 2 years will be 65 (Beatles' song plus 1 (",))
Jody burns a lot of candles, some with scent, but not perfume scent. And then we have aromatherapy oil diffusers in a few rooms that is where we really get a nice smelling home. The ,ink below is to our amazon store and you will see it in there. www.amazon.com/shop/retirementtransformed
Hi Jill. We are happy you are here. Don’t forget to join our Facebook community in you are on Facebook. Link should be below video. And look for our 7 day challenge learn.retirementtransformed.com/7-day-challenge
I don’t want a huge home to clean and keep up, BUT I want space for my kids and grandkids to visit. I’m wondering if we could have a smallish home with small cottages for family visits and for Airbnb stays when they aren’t visiting……
