Downsizing Is Easy. Staying Downsized? That’s the Hard Part

There are plenty of videos about how to downsize before retirement, a big move, or life abroad. What’s missing is the conversation about what happens after the move—once you’re settled, living your life, and slowly realizing how easy it is to start accumulating stuff again.

Jeremy and I have lived in multiple countries, and while we’re not strict minimalists, we are intentional about what we own. In this video, I share 7 things that have helped us stay downsized while moving abroad, setting up new homes, and navigating our Third Act without creating to much "stuff."

This isn’t about deprivation or aesthetic minimalism. It’s about:

making realistic decisions after a move

budgeting for the inevitable purchases

avoiding sunk-cost traps

staying flexible as your plans evolve

and building a life that supports freedom instead of stuff

If you’re considering retirement, reinvention, or moving abroad—or if you’ve already done it and found that staying downsized is harder than expected—this video is for you.

🐾 And yes, the cats make an appearance. They’ve mastered this whole thing.

Chapters

00:00 - Welcome back to the channel
00:12 - Downsizing
00:56 - About Maureen
01:23 - Our "stuff" story
08:38 - Cost of setting up a new home
09:48 - Expect upfront costs
11:04 - Utilize short term rentals
15:08 - Postpone buying
20:28 - Don't fall for the "sunk cost" concept
22:50 - Have a Plan B
25:57 - Adopt an intentional mindset
29:16 - Remind yourself of your "why"
29:40 - Summary
31:36 - Please comment, subscribe and like


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