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Retirement Living: Five Tips on Downsizing

on the Tuesday, July 21, 2015

For many of us, the thought of moving out of the family home is a daunting prospect – having to sort through a lifetime of memories and treasures can be difficult.

However, with the right approach, downsizing for retirement can be a liberating experience – a new and exciting phase where you free yourself of excess baggage and get ready for a new adventure.

To help make your new journey as stress-free as possible, follow these five useful tips – before you know it, you’ll be enjoying all the benefits that retirement living has to offer!

1. Do Your Research

When trying to decide on how you picture your next stage of life looking, it helps if you think about where and how you want to retire. Do you want tore retire near the beach? In the city? In the country? If you are clear about your priorities and what matters most to you from the very beginning, your decision making will me much easier. It can help to take a long-term point of view and factor in changing circumstances for the next 20 or 30 years.

It is also recommended that you seek out advice from professional financial planners – this way, you will have a much better understanding about what is feasible for you. Take the time to visit as many retirement villages as possible, and remember to ask as many questions as you need.

2. Start early and take small steps

Leaving everything until the last minute will end up causing you unnecessary stress – so take your time. Start planning for your retirement as early as possible and break your to-do list into small manageable items and deal with one at a time.

A great place to start can be cleaning out all unnecessary clutter you have around your home. Get rid of any items you don’t use regularly – give it away for family or friends, donate to your local op-shop or organise a garage sale if you have enough time.  

If you have items that you don’t need to take with you to your new retirement village but don’t want to get rid of forever, renting out a storage unit can be a handy alternative.

3. A little help from your friends and family

If you can, ask your friends or family to give you a hand with decluttering and relocating. There are also professional agencies that can take care of packing and unpacking for you.

4. Try to be fit and healthy

Preparing for retirement, downsizing and moving house is a big deal – and much easier when you are feeling your best. Take the time to ensure you are eating well and getting enough exercise and also make time to catch up with friends regularly.

5. Prepare for selling

If you are selling your family home as part of your retirement, begin preparations and planning at least four months beforehand. Meet with real estate agents, consider your options and get your home ready for sale.

Once the date for your move into your retirement village has been set, decide whether you want to use a professional removalist or arrange the move yourself. Don’t forget to advise your utility suppliers of your move, arrange to have your mail redirected and cancel any home and garden maintenance services you have.

On the day of you move into your retirement village, it can be a good idea to keep a box full of essential items handy so that you’ll have everything you need for your first night. Items might include medications, bathroom basics, detergent, washing powder, linen, tea towels, bathroom towels, cutler, bowls and plates and some basic food items.

Just remember, that downsizing and making the move into a retirement village gives you the opportunity to redesign your life. Take with you a wealth of treasured memories and wisdom and get ready to embark on a brand new adventure!

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