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The LaPoint’s → Full Time RVers: April 26, 2020Hello! New to RVillage and this group. We are a family working towards full time living. As such, we are needing to downsize. Any tips on the most efficient way to do so? Many thanks!
TravelinasApril 26, 2020Start getting rid of stuff now...donating to thrift stores, selling on ebay, craigslist, whatever. If you're sentimental about something but can't take it with you take a photo of it or give it to someone you know who likes it and then you can always go v... moreStart getting rid of stuff now...donating to thrift stores, selling on ebay, craigslist, whatever. If you're sentimental about something but can't take it with you take a photo of it or give it to someone you know who likes it and then you can always go visit your item. We had our adult kids walk through the house and take whatever they wanted (except big ticket items we wanted to sell).
Speaking of photos, if you have big collections of prints try to get them all digitized and backed up. Get rid of any paper records (digitize, etc.) if you have any as soon as possible. That was really time consuming for us because we had 3 filing cabinets of financial crap to go through and destroy.
Not sure how a yard sale would work in today's new life of physical distancing, but frankly that was a complete waste of time for us and we'll never do a yard sale again. People barging up to you and offering ten cents for something you paid $100 for, then rudely storming off when you tell them you'll sell it to them for $5.
Again, just start the process as soon as possible because it can be time consuming. And, for us who are fortunately not hoarders and don't consider ourselves materialistic, it was actually very freeing to get rid of our stuff. We don't miss any of it. Although we do wish we still had our own washer and dryer. Laundromats can be really frustrating.
Have fun! less
The LaPoint’sApril 26, 2020These are some fantastic tips! We started listing a few things on my husband's Facebook and it is going well thus far. I agree that it feels freeing to let it go and have some success at it. So much so that I have been running around the... moreThese are some fantastic tips! We started listing a few things on my husband's Facebook and it is going well thus far. I agree that it feels freeing to let it go and have some success at it. So much so that I have been running around the house this morning saying "List this, List that, We don't need this!" lol! I will put into action the rest of your tips, too. Do you have any recommendations for a portable scanner? I have a huge one, but would like a more compact version for the road. Last, I find your tip on the sentimental items quite valuable Thanks! less
TravelinasApril 26, 2020I still work, and needed a printer when we first went fulltime (2014), so I bought a Canon printer that doubled as a photo scanner that was pretty compact, but it started having problems within three years after we went on the road and I ended up getting ... moreI still work, and needed a printer when we first went fulltime (2014), so I bought a Canon printer that doubled as a photo scanner that was pretty compact, but it started having problems within three years after we went on the road and I ended up getting rid of it and not replacing it. For a scanner, I now use apps on my cell phone (probably not good for photos) and if I need something printed out, which is rare, I take a flash drive to Office Max or something. You can probably do some Google searches on best smaller printer/scanners out there. less
The LaPoint’sApril 26, 2020
Thank you for the continued help. I had searched for handheld scanners, but I couldn’t find one with great reviews and a decent price point. I, too, will have to continue to work, but try not to print (I save everything electronically).
Robbie & Alice April 26, 202014 years ago we started our fulltime adventure, we had finally sold everything we owned except what went into our RV. This project took 18 months....and at the very end, what was left went to the goodwill store. Downsizing is the hardest part ... more14 years ago we started our fulltime adventure, we had finally sold everything we owned except what went into our RV. This project took 18 months....and at the very end, what was left went to the goodwill store. Downsizing is the hardest part of this (your) journey, but it was well worth the effort. Don't take the bait of having a storage unit...it's an expensive trap, and you'll still own stuff you don't need anymore, or can use....and you still pay the expensive storage. We took the attitude while discarding stuff that while on the road and if there was anything we thought we really needed, we would just rebuy it. This has worked well, and in many cases the new product(s) were an upgrade. If you have the ability to stock the RV from home stuff, do it....and get rid of the rest...that makes it pretty simple on what to keep. Best of luck, it's the toughest time. less
Dennis & Lorece Hogeweide April 26, 2020We think not putting things in storage is a good idea. Things in storage are still getting older as you are on the road and at what they charge you for the storage unit over very little time will replace that old whatever with new stuff. This is are plan... moreWe think not putting things in storage is a good idea. Things in storage are still getting older as you are on the road and at what they charge you for the storage unit over very little time will replace that old whatever with new stuff. This is are plan when we finally sell our home . Ps
Anyone what a 3600 square foot house with a indoor pool. LoL. less
The LaPoint’sApril 26, 202014 years - wow!!! Hoping to join you by next year! I appreciate the tips and the candor on the difficulty and emotional piece to downsizing. We are trying to view it as "what we lose in stuff, we are going to more than make up for in LIF... more14 years - wow!!! Hoping to join you by next year! I appreciate the tips and the candor on the difficulty and emotional piece to downsizing. We are trying to view it as "what we lose in stuff, we are going to more than make up for in LIFE". Making the thought of parting with some things more palatable. Thank you for the time and thought put into your post! less
The LaPoint’sApril 26, 2020Dennis & Lorece and Robbie & Alice - Yay, for sure. We are really opposed to storage, too. Like the thought of some items going to a good home to visit, especially pieces for our adult children. The thought of storage is terrible - when ... moreDennis & Lorece and Robbie & Alice - Yay, for sure. We are really opposed to storage, too. Like the thought of some items going to a good home to visit, especially pieces for our adult children. The thought of storage is terrible - when would we get back here for it? Do we really need it if we are away from it for months to years at a time? The money expended on it to get rid of it in the long run! and my own P.S. - got a house that size myself that needs to go - lol - serious inquiries absolutely entertained!!! less
BLSMSS (Brenda &Marc) April 26, 2020Yep,exactly what Travelinas stated. Thats about what we did, kids picked what they wanted, sold things and then donated it. The more you travel, you will get rid of more and buy other things. We found out hobbies and tastes changed a bit. Your kids will g... moreYep,exactly what Travelinas stated. Thats about what we did, kids picked what they wanted, sold things and then donated it. The more you travel, you will get rid of more and buy other things. We found out hobbies and tastes changed a bit. Your kids will grow up and change what they like to do also. Take one day at a time. Now some of us still have items in storage too. The biggest stuff is hardest to get rid of, well for us. Good luck less
BeechbabyApril 26, 2020We actually sold our home in one day... and were completely unprepared! We notified the kids and they came and picked up the things they wanted. We put the things we planned to take with us. We hired an estate sale company for everything that was left. Wh... moreWe actually sold our home in one day... and were completely unprepared! We notified the kids and they came and picked up the things they wanted. We put the things we planned to take with us. We hired an estate sale company for everything that was left. What they didn't sell, he donated for us.
We lost money selling that way but got caught short if time with how quickly the house sold. My best and first advice would be sort your things first. Check the time frame for selling your home in your area so you don't get caught short of time. Make sure you have some sort of time frame in mind and plan accordingly!
Good luck!! less
The LaPoint’sApril 26, 2020Thank you for the tips and well wishes. We are starting with some of the obvious items we can part with and will move up to the more emotional pieces. We are in talks with one of our kids about our house and selling or renting it furnished.&nb... moreThank you for the tips and well wishes. We are starting with some of the obvious items we can part with and will move up to the more emotional pieces. We are in talks with one of our kids about our house and selling or renting it furnished. Still debating on that, though. Almost would prefer a clean break I think It is feeling good to purge a little bit! less
The LaPoint’sApril 26, 2020Sound advice and thank you, Beechbaby! I just remarked to my husband this morning that I wish we could open the house and have folks come get things for sale. Not practical, however, would be efficient! I have a feeling in the area we ar... moreSound advice and thank you, Beechbaby! I just remarked to my husband this morning that I wish we could open the house and have folks come get things for sale. Not practical, however, would be efficient! I have a feeling in the area we are in and the current market, we may not sell quickly, but we are moving forward to item offloading in the meantime. Thanks again for the tips! less
Robbie & Alice April 26, 2020Have to admit that we had a 5x10 storage unit in the beginning (pictures and grandmas silverware). After nine months, we got out a piece of paper and tried to write down what else we had stored. It was easy to see we couldn't remember what was... moreHave to admit that we had a 5x10 storage unit in the beginning (pictures and grandmas silverware). After nine months, we got out a piece of paper and tried to write down what else we had stored. It was easy to see we couldn't remember what was there, and that exercise made it easy to get rid of the rest and save ourselves from the storage costs. BTW, we use grandmas best silverware every day..... less
Melody Twigg April 26, 2020I think Robbie & Alice that you using grandma's silverware is wonderful. Saving "stuff" for someday is, imho, sad. Because sometimes someday never comes. I am sure that when you use grandma's silver you think of her and maybe even told some tales while us... moreI think Robbie & Alice that you using grandma's silverware is wonderful. Saving "stuff" for someday is, imho, sad. Because sometimes someday never comes. I am sure that when you use grandma's silver you think of her and maybe even told some tales while using her silver less
Jack "Orange" McAlpineApril 26, 2020
Hire an auctioneer to come in and get rid of everything. I did this years ago and they did everything and just handed me a check at the end of the day.
BellabooApril 26, 2020I've spent the last 2 years trying to sell or give away most everything that I've accumulated in the last 30 years in our house. We ca me home March 1 with the plan to put our house finally on the market but the virus hit. Now hopefully this week we will... moreI've spent the last 2 years trying to sell or give away most everything that I've accumulated in the last 30 years in our house. We ca me home March 1 with the plan to put our house finally on the market but the virus hit. Now hopefully this week we will secure a realtor. Good luck with downsizing. It's definitely not easy. less
ArizonaKids April 27, 2020We just did that. We hired someone who did an Estate sale & then just made daily trips to Goodwill. We had read Marie Cando’s book on tidying up. We really looked at each article of clothing, or object & tried to decide if it really brought us joy or as... moreWe just did that. We hired someone who did an Estate sale & then just made daily trips to Goodwill. We had read Marie Cando’s book on tidying up. We really looked at each article of clothing, or object & tried to decide if it really brought us joy or asked can we really use this or have we used in the past year. We also looked at how much something weighed. We got rid of all our glassware except 6 nice glasses. Well, they sit unused and broke in our journey from Tucson to Livingston, TX. Waiting till things open up to get rid of more. I hope this helps. Also we used clutters last stand. less
Morgan B. April 27, 2020
Start minimizing as soon as possible! Much easier if time is on your side.
We moved into our RV before we HAD to be out of the house. It made the adjustment process a lot easier. We also discovered how much we had and what things we did need.
The LaPoint’sApril 27, 2020
We just started, but I think it is going to take awhile! Hoping to be on the road in the next year. Love the thought of transitioning over time - thanks for the suggestion!
❛Trailers & Cigarettes❜ ❥Watch on YouTubeApril 27, 2020It’s not easy. We purged 6 or more times before we were comfortable.
- Start by putting all of the things people in the family use on a daily bases into the RV.
- Pass on heirlooms to friends you’ll see from time to time. ... moreIt’s not easy. We purged 6 or more times before we were comfortable.
- Start by putting all of the things people in the family use on a daily bases into the RV.
- Pass on heirlooms to friends you’ll see from time to time.
- Divide; personal effects, like best 5 shirts, 3 favourite pants, etc. Items that will fit into the RV.
- (optional) Rent a storage unit for the rest of things people want to keep. after a year, ask everyone what they remember putting into storage? If they haven’t asked for the item during the year, donate! At this point, you might have space in the RV for some more “I want” items.
- Donate everything else. Or, make a few pennies at a estate sale prior to full timing.
Now, downsize the RV! (just joking...)
Good luck and happy trails. less
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Hide 1 ReplyWe moved into our RV before we HAD to be out of the house. It made the adjustment process a lot easier. We also discovered how much we had and what things we did need.
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