skip to content

How to Downsize After Retirement | Big Guy Storage

May 15, 2025

How to Effectively Downsize After Retirement

Retirement is a time of great joy, but also essential decisions. You need to safeguard yourself and your finances now, so one of the most cost-effective ways to enjoy the retirement you have earned is downsizing and managing your budget correctly. Downsize with self storage, the perfect solution for those lacking space. We have covered a few tips for you if you are looking for a few tips on downsizing properly after retirement. Check out our tips below. 

 

Set Goals

If you are downsizing, ask yourself what the goal of that decision is. Do you want to pare down your spending habits? Have more financial discipline? Have room to create a savings nest egg? Knowing your desired retirement outcome is essential since this isn’t the end, but the beginning of a new lifestyle. 

 

How do you envision your retirement, and most importantly, what does downsizing look like to you? Are you switching homes or moving to a smaller apartment? Will you eat out less, or cut down on subscriptions you don’t need anymore? Define how you want your retirement to look and move toward that goal. 

 

Start Early

Start downsizing early. If you are going to move, begin looking for apartments or houses on Zillow and start boxing up the things you do not need in advance. If you are considering downsizing but have cherished items to keep, consider using a storage facility to store your valuables. This way, you will not have to worry about selling off or throwing away something that could be potentially useful.

 

We recommend starting the moving process in the fall or winter, when most moving companies offer steep discounts. 

 

Measure Your New Living Space

When you find a place, you must measure its dimensions. This will help you determine what to keep and leave in a storage unit. You cannot take everything with you, so prioritizing what you can keep is essential. Get the land deed, floor plans, and whatever else you need to get the exact measurements. Additionally, ensure that you measure all doorways and hallway circumference, as you will need to factor that in when trying to fit your furniture into your new home. 

 

Rent Storage

If you want to choose a storage facility for your downsizing needs, Big Guy Storage has you covered. We pride ourselves on top-of-the-line security, 7-day-a-week access, and portable storage units for downsizing to meet your needs. Shop self storage today, and we will handle all your moving and storage needs!