Downsizing

Parring down, downsizing, going minimalist. Call it what you like, but we're well under way with this difficult process and still have leaps and bounds to go! 

Top: dining set for sale; Bottom Left: donations; Bottom Right: amoire for sale

If you've followed the tiny house movement at all, you've probably watched Tiny House Nation and seen the variety of exercises John puts folks through to par down. While we aren't going to be on TV parring down our belongings, the drama is just as real. Eric and I are working together to figure out what we can sell, donate and simply get rid of. So far, I have two bags full of clothes to show as progress!

The process is even more difficult, considering Eric and I have both moved across the country within the last 12 months and already got rid of a lot to make the move. What we still have has already "made the cut" once, so getting rid of some of these items is emotionally challenging.

We are also selling several larger items online via FaceBook Marketplace, NextDoor and LetGo. For anyone looking to get rid of things quickly and earn a little cash, these are great sites to check out! So far, we are in the process of selling my bed frame (IKEA Brimnes), our dining room table, an amoire, an antique window and our entertainment center. 

While we have a ways to go still, I am confident we will get there. I am looking forward to a simpler lifestyle with fewer "things". As we go through this process, it's critical to focus on what having fewer things will allow us to do. We'll have more freedom and money to travel. We'll have less to clean. We'll have less to move. Considering these things helps make the process worthwhile and makes it exciting and way less scary to downsize. We're hoping to have a good two weeks once we have our tiny house so that we can continue to determine what can stay and what must go. 

Also, spoiler alert, we are planning to get a small storage unit for furniture, etc. that won't fit in the house but we would like to keep. Sorry to ruin it for you!