Downsizing into a smaller space is a very common practice these days. People want to live more and work less! One way to do that is to have less living costs—i.e.: smaller living space. Taking this plunge can be really exciting, but a bit overwhelming.
Take Mississauga, ON, for example (my hometown). There are all sorts of living spaces for people with different “space” needs. When I chose to downsize to a smaller space last year, I transitioned from a 3-bedroom house to a studio apartment. It was a big change.
Personally, this decision mostly had to do with my finances. Spending more than 60% of my income on my house seemed silly to me. Further, I hate chores (and smaller spaces require a LOT less of that!). Moving into a studio apartment was my way to save money—and it has panned-out very well.
Shortly after I booked my moving day with ABS Movers & Storage—a local moving company based in Toronto that has handled every move of mine, flawlessly—I began researching online about how I could possibly funnel my life and my belongings into a studio apartment before the movers arrived. Here are a few tips I followed that really helped me out:
- Measure the new studio space
I needed to do this for a couple reasons. For starters, I discovered a couple pieces of my furniture were not going to fit in my new space. I’m glad I figured that out before moving day; why pay to move items you can’t keep? And, secondly, I was able to give the measurements to ABS and get their advice on how many boxes of “stuff” would likely fit in the new studio. - Assess the space
The studio I moved into has built-ins everywhere, cabinets, extra storage space, and shelves nearly to the ceiling. This helped me to know there would definitely be space for my trinkets and books. But, not all studios include as much storage space—you need to know that so you do not find yourself paying the moving company for belongings you can’t fit. - Declutter and get rid of stuff
I’m not a hoarder, but I do tend to tie sentiment to inanimate objects. So, I sympathize if this tip is a tough one for you. Here’s what I did: I created two working sections in my home which included a “to keep” pile and a “donate or toss” pile. With every item I touched, I asked myself the same question: how long since I’ve worn/used/looked at this? If I could not honestly say “as recently as within the last six months”—the item was thrown in the “donate or toss” pile. If it had been worn/used/looked at in six months or less—I kept it. Of course, if it wouldn’t fit in the new space or was a duplicate of something else, it was immediately categorized as a donation/toss, too.
In less than a month, I was ready for ABS Movers & Storage to get me into my new place. If you’re looking to move (whether you’re downsizing or not) and would plan to hire a trusted mover in Mississauga, ON, I would highly recommend their team!
ABS Movers & Storage | 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 | (416) 588-1499
