Decluttering Stuff: We Got Rid of 90% of Everything We Owned 12 Years Ago… Did We Stick With It?

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Күн бұрын

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@laurawood4476 6 ай бұрын

How interesting to hear the journey of minimalism from a couple over 50 .How refreshing to know that there are people who take the time to reflect on their journey . Enjoyed this very much .

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for your kind words @laurawood4476!

@littlebluefish6606 6 ай бұрын

We went from 3000 sq ft to 950 sq ft. We love it! As far as the sentimental stuff, we kept a few items. But not ALL of it. I only kept 1 or 2 of things from my grandmothers. For our photos, it took me quite a while but I scanned all of them. They are stored on an external hard drive and all of my kids each have a copy of them too. My most favorite that I like to look at are in cloud storage so I can access them from anywhere. The physical photos were given to my children and other family members. I also uploaded historical family photos onto Ancestry so others can also access them. We have just spent the past 8 months traveling all over this country. But now we have settled into the 950 sq ft near our elderly parents in order to provide care for them. It’s what works for us.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @littlebluefish6606 and it sounds like you have found a perfect solution for you and your family!

@MirandaHorger 6 ай бұрын

We haven't become minimalists, but our mindset definitely shifted when we spent a month traveling in Europe with just our carry-ons. It's amazing how little you actually need to feel comfortable. I'd love to hear more about your experiences with short-term rentals.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @MirandaHorger! It’s amazing how little you can get by with. We plan to do a video on our short-term rental experience later this year!

@MariE-go7ol 3 ай бұрын

Wow. I feel like I’m right behind you guys making the same decisions! I live in the Bay Area and started decluttering and selling things a year ago. I’m not even sure where or when I’ll make a permanent move but I am starting by my first visit to Portugal in October. Second, I’ve been starting to look at remote positions in my career but what is concerning is I have yet to find anything even remotely close to the wage I make in a hospital as a RN case manager. I am not sure it’s the right time to sell my home either. So I will continue to declutter until something happens like first a remote position that I can take abroad. I also have two pets so this just makes things a bit more challenging and haven’t figured this out yet. Thanks for sharing your story. I’d be very happy in a small place like a condo. I’m sick of taking care of a house and a lot of yard too. I also have a lot of sentimental things from my mother and not sure what I’ll do with it. I’m tired of having so much stuff that’s for sure.

@TheUnretirees 3 ай бұрын

You've got lots of adventure ahead @MariE-go7ol! One thing to consider is wage vs the cost of living. If you look at a source like Numbeo, you can compare the cost of living in the San Francisco area to another area (like Lisbon, for example) and then get an idea of what you wage would need to be to have the same or higher quality of life. You'll find your dollars go further (and in some cases a lot further) in some cities. As for pets, we brought our dog and it wasn't a problem -- a little paperwork and a little stress, but he's now got his own EU pet passport! Best of luck to you!

@tamjg 6 ай бұрын

The way you both keep looking at each other is a joy to watch!

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @tamjg. There’s no one I’d rather be on this adventure with!

@goofygirl1311 6 ай бұрын

As a soon to be empty nester, I can totally relate to your journey. We've been decluttering for over a year now, doing several passes through each room as we go. We aren't exactly minimalists but we do want to get rid of excess clutter which has been a surprisingly large amount of our things. Using your house as a warehouse to store stuff "just in case" you might need it doesn't make any sense. It's so much better to get rid of it and get yourself "right sized" now rather than holding onto it and continuing to accumulate even more stuff that our kids will one day have to sort through and get rid of for us. To me, decluttering and downsizing is a form of self care.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Self-care indeed! Fully agree!

@mcbrineart 6 ай бұрын

We did this, during the pandemic, downsized from 2 big houses, a family home and a vacation home, in order to move to Europe. Living in a 2 bedroom very small 500 square foot apartment on the seafront. Very difficult process, but freeing. In awe that you were able to get it done in 12 weeks! Did you keep any things like photos in storage before your move to NYC? I must say, after having to let go of so many things I loved, it does get easier and really think twice about getting new things.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @mcbrineart and good for you! A lot of photos we could get rid of but others we digitized or kept. We’re so glad to have made the move!

@GrunonFeliz 6 ай бұрын

We recently moved to Chile and let go of a tremendous amount of stuff. There are definitely a few things that I regret letting go of, but all of them are practical rather than sentimental. I gave a cousin a lot of the old family memorabilia so I was happy it went to someone who would cherish and preserve it, but we didn’t realize that the quality of furnishings in our new home country would be radically lower, so we miss things like our kitchen island cart from Costco that we used to use all the time, the really nice shelving unit from Big Lots and a few kitchen items like a large high quality stock pot and Le Creuset Dutch oven that we had sold before leaving. For the most part, though, like for you guys, it was surprisingly easy to let go of our stuff.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @GrunonFeliz! Good for you! It’s overwhelming but what a feeling on the other side!

@heidigrew6308 27 күн бұрын

To this comment, it would be great to have a question answered. What’s worth shipping over? I understand it’s hard/slow to purchase certain things there that are durable goods or things that you know and have trusted the use of, as example a certain kitchen cart. Knowing that you’ll need a kitchen, what’s worth sending over in a container or some sort of shipping situation? Would you have to pay taxes on your old but durable and useful kitchen equipment? obviously anything electrical should not be shipped since that’s not practical but seriously, what’s the thought on shipping over a small container or such?

@jdxx59 6 ай бұрын

This sounds ok for someone who doesn’t have hobbies. My husband would not like to give up all his tools and workshed that he loves to potter about in. Decluttering down by 90% would never be achievable or even something we would choose to do. But I am definitely choosing to declutter alot of knicknacks and all the stuff we collected as memories of our kids growing up - passing that onto them!

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

I get that @jdxx59. If you’ve got a hobby that is important to you and has a lot of equipment, it would be difficult / impossible to do.

@mylittleocchio 4 ай бұрын

I went from 3700 square feet to 1700. I occasionally miss a thing, but realistically understand it doesn't fit my current life. I've gotten rid of even more in our current home and am very reluctant to add much of anything. Enjoyed hearing your journey.

@TheUnretirees 4 ай бұрын

Thanks @mylittleocchio and it really does change your perspective on the importance - or lack of importance - of most material things!

@gwenellison5386 6 ай бұрын

I am 54 and about to be an empty nester. I have spent three years decluttering and managed to let go of about 80% of my belongings. Once my eldest son moves out in another 1-2 months I will be able to get where I have been wanting to be. I've already got a plan to re-declutter and deep clean my entire apartment. I am in a 2 bedroom, and while I don't really need the second bedroom, I've lived here for so long that moving out into a one bedroom would be several hundred dollars more a month than if I stayed where I am. Thank you for the great video. I enjoyed hearing your story. =)

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks @gwenellison5386. Well done and best of luck going forward!

@Cr8tivegal33 6 ай бұрын

What a great story - glad it popped up. I also downsized after empty nest into a Tiny House I built. Got rid of 80%, keeping tools & memorabilia in storage. Lived Tiny for a few years. Traded stuff for experiences. I loved living Tiny, but gave it up to live in a more extreme winter climate. Now in a small 2B home, I love the space! Trying to furnish it without going back to maximalist ways. Goal is to never have to drastically downsize again. So I enjoyed hearing your CT story & second accumulation / declutter effort. Would like to hear more about that, as there’s at least one more move in my future - probably to a fixer-upper. 8 years into this journey, I’m so glad I simplified my life.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @cr8tivegal33 It is so funny how when we have more space we fill it. The 2nd time was easier - because we had been through it before and had already gotten rid of so many things the first time. But even now it’s a constant thing to work on. Best of luck to you on finding your right balance!

@virginiadebva4311 6 ай бұрын

I think this is an interesting topic as I will be retiring soon and hoping to take a similar journey. I think it would be helpful to have more video /photos of your new places to show what your new life looks like and how you benefited from letting go of all your stuff.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @virginiadebva4311 ! We may do a home tour video in the future, but the biggest benefit is that we were able to move without dragging stuff across the world!

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

@ros8986 Never too early to get rid of stuff you don't need or use!

@nikij.6058 6 ай бұрын

I’ve often thought of moving abroad but something holds me back. It’s my beautiful 5 acre property with a 50s brick home. It’s a perfect 1560 square feet and I’ve lived here for over 26 years. It’s with the city but with land at the very end of the road. It has several majestic old oak trees. I’m across the river from a National Wildlife Refuge. Birds of all species, deer and wild animals are everywhere. There is no need to travel to go camping in the wild as I experience this in my own yard and as I look out the 25 well placed windows in the home. So, here I will probably die as it’s home to me and my family. My son has never known any other place at age 26. I will continue to watch videos and will keep traveling even more once I retire, but for now this is my place. 🙂

@jdxx59 6 ай бұрын

If it’s perfect for you, then no need to change it. It sounds like paradise.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

I’m so glad you’ve found your perfect place @nikij.6058! It sounds beautiful!

@susannehakanlind2942 6 ай бұрын

Love your courage to drastically change your life. 👏❤️❤️ I am now a fan of you guys 😍

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for watching! Yeah, doing this wasn’t for the faint of heart but glad that so much of the hard stuff is behind us!

@rosalynm.6208 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing! Your story is an encouragement to us as we consider downsizing and moving abroad.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @rosalynm.6208! It’s been one of the best things we’ve done!

@MindfulMidLifeTravel 6 ай бұрын

Nice informative video! Why NYC? Are you glad you lived in NYC for the time you were there? Always thought a year in the city is a great experience! Looking forward to more on your home on the Silver Coast. Is yard care easy in Portugal, gardner/care taker so you can travel? We have a pet, which is a bit challenging for our travels.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks again for watching @mindfulmildlifetravel and we had always wanted to live in NYC so when our youngest went off to college we made it happen. We loved living there most of the time, but during the pandemic it was a tougher place to live while paying very high rents. It was a great experience though. In terms of care for a pet when we travel, there is a company called Trusted Housesitters who match people who need pet sitters with people who want to be pet sitters. There is a fee to join this service, but between the pet sitters and the pet owners, there is no cost. We've used it several times and usually the pet sitters are "travelers" and this works out great because it's free housing in exchange for pet care. For our yard / garden, if we were going to be gone for 4 weeks or longer, we'd have someone come in and mow the lawn and check the plants. But we have automatic sprinklers and drip irrigation (by the previous owner) and so if we're gone couple of weeks it cares for itself.

@letuswalkinthelightofthelo5350 6 ай бұрын

You guys must have a fantastic marriage and friendship! To make a huge decision to get rid of your stuff, your big house, your possessions that you procured, into moving into a small house in comparison. Not many people could do that in such joy and peace. God bless you both!

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and no doubt this sort of thing can put a strain on a marriage or relationship. Fortunately, we like each other 👍🏼. Appreciate the kind words!

@asavannah7439 6 ай бұрын

First video from you that I have ever watched. I liked it and subscribed immediately 🎉

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @savannah7439 ! Whoo-hoo!

@vibrantly50 5 ай бұрын

We got rid of 95% before moving to Portugal. Arrived with 6 suitcases! Getting ready to downsize once again into a 73 sq. meter apartment.

@TheUnretirees 5 ай бұрын

Isn’t it liberating @vibrantly50 ? We’re so happy to have gotten rid of so much!!

@MarinaLaroche 6 ай бұрын

New subscriber here. What I've seen so far a lot are people that after living with a large house many go tiny or bigger but small like in your case. After a few years many move into a larger place needing to breathe and needing other conveniences like a backyard for exemple but they'll still be carrying their new mindset of living with less stuff. The ones I've seen that remain in their tiny or small are much older. Different paths.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @Marinaroche! Sounds familiar!

@Debbiesdilemmas 6 ай бұрын

My husband retired recently and we would love to be able to travel more without the worries of our home. We have already bought a home to downsize into although it’s not that much smaller than our current home. What it does offer is less garden work and no driveway shoveling in the winter. My husband being a perfectionist spends much of his time in the garden and skimming our pool. We won’t have any of that to deal with.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Our son recently got married so we are hoping he and our daughter in law will be able to get a home near our new one. The problem is my husband doesn’t want to move until the kids have their own place. I think there’s enough room at the new home but he doesn’t. It’s very frustrating as I’m ready to move. I’ve been decluttering as much as physically possible as I have an autoimmune disease and I have little energy and suffer with pain daily. The point is I appreciate watching videos like yours that encourage me to keep going knowing. I know one day I will have less anxiety living in my new home and travelling much more. Continue enjoying your beautiful life.❤️🙏

@goofygirl1311 6 ай бұрын

We're going through something similar. We've got a big house with a big yard and it seems like we spend all of our free time cleaning the house and doing yard work. I'm over it and would downsize today if I could. But we've still got one in college so we're sort of in a holding pattern until the youngest graduates and secures a job and saves up enough money to move out. It might be a couple of years before we are really ready to make a big move. In the meantime, we've been undergoing a major decluttering. It helps to be working towards a goal.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! Wishing you well in health and in your future of travel! It really is great!

@nata3467 6 ай бұрын

I will be downsizing from 1200 to 500 sq feet when I retire. Soooo ready for it.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @nata3467 and it’s a great thing to have done!!! Best of luck!

@emmr2739 6 ай бұрын

Sweet couple

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@MythsScamsLies 6 ай бұрын

I have lived for the past 18 years in a 600 ft² condo. I am single, so that has made it easier. For the past 4 years, I haven't had a vehicle and prior to that, for about 12 years, I drove a 4-cylinder vehicle that got excellent mileage. People are horrified when they hear about how I live but the honest truth is that it is dramatically better. Less stuff, fewer payments = dramatically less angst.

@MythsScamsLies 6 ай бұрын

Just a quick addendum to add some context. During my time in my small condo, I was dating a widow who was living in a 2700 ft² condo. She was convinced that she couldn't downsize one square foot. She needed it all. Undoubtedly a big piece of that was the stuff which was jammed into her 2700 ft².

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Nice @DavoZed! It’s so freeing!

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Well, decluttering isn’t everyone’s thing, is it? I’m glad it has been ours!

@MythsScamsLies 6 ай бұрын

@@TheUnretirees I grew up in a world, as most of us did, where stuff was everything. Our parents and grandparents had lived through the depression and they saw stuff and hanging on to stuff, as a survival strategy. I fortunately was never infected with that bug. I have nice things and functional things but I don't have a fleet of cars or a huge house or other expensive toys. Decluttering is extremely hard. Proof of that can be seen in the number of people who own storage units, full of stuff they will NEVER look at again. I had a magical thing happen to me, called a divorce. The only thing I wanted from my marriage was the relationship and when it was clearly gone, I just walked away from all of the other stuff.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

@@MythsScamsLies Sorry for the circumstances but I like the instant decluttering!

@goofygirl1311 6 ай бұрын

Anyone else realize that some of the things that you purchased and used back in your 40's, 30's and even 20's are no longer to your tastes? I have a drawer filled with Thank You notes and holiday cards that I bought decades ago and they aren't something that I would send out now. Ditto the art work and decor that I had stuffed away in closets but wouldn't use today - I get rid of all of that. Just because you have it doesn't mean that it has any value for you. And if you wouldn't/aren't using it, why would your kids want it?

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @goodygirl1311. Stuff just adds up, doesn’t it?

@emmr2739 6 ай бұрын

Ignore the rude people

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks @emmr2739!

@xdrive300011 6 ай бұрын

Dear un retiree, the house in Connecticut sounds like taking a lot of your energy from u, is it? Do you enjoy renovating it? Some people enjoy renovating a house as a handyman. For me, I hate it. I don’t want to spend any energy in fixing a house, anymore! Last year I wanted to buy a extra house rental investment, husband reminded me, we are in our 50s, we already have two rental properties, we shouldn’t spend money by another one, because rental property took too much energy and it’s worrisome too. Husband is not on the same page with me in terms of minimalism. Therefore, I just minimize my own possession, I don’t touch his.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @xdrive300011 the Connecticut house doesn’t require much from us now that it’s done… but the doing of the renovation seemed like it would never get done. But on the other side of it, it doesn’t take much :)

@amessyclassroom 4 ай бұрын

Nice video. But I feel like calling a 3-bedroom house simple and minimal is a bit out of touch given the current market.

@TheUnretirees 4 ай бұрын

Everything is relative, and everyone has their own story. This is a video about our personal story over the last 12 years; it’s not a social commentary on the current state of the economy. Thanks for watching.

@mariastathopoulos744 6 ай бұрын

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and yard isn't a minimalist abode. It's more than a standard floorplan in Europe. Extra storage spaces such as a basement, garage, storage unit are extras which is opposite to minimalism. You admit to extra possessions that aren't physically with you.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! I think you may have missed something, but no we don’t live like monks.

@chrisfry436 6 ай бұрын

Tell me you have lots of money without telling me you have lots of money! lol lol, but no matter what your income downsizing from a large house into an apt is stressful for anyone.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @chrisfry436. Big house has big costs, repairs and risks, so that’s where the money goes. Small place, small repairs, small risks. Getting from one to the other is a thing though.

@tammyhengst8773 5 ай бұрын

We would LOVE to see your homes`!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Pretty Please.

@TheUnretirees 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @tammyhengst8773 and we do show a lot of our home in Connecticut on this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJC6fX9tp9iih9Usi=c-viCVxWSHTkWE27. We’ll do one on our Nazaré home soon!

@rebeccarendle3706 6 ай бұрын

A 3 bed, 2 bath is a normal family home in Europe! Many houses don't have basements and garages etc.. you are living like a "normal non-American ie. like normal Europeans." Sad you got rid of sentimental stuff that was important to you... psychologists will tell you you need this later when older zo trigger long term memory. You can be minimalist and keep some sentimental items you love. Not sure why you put yourself under pressure to do it in 12 weeks.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching Rebecca!

@Jean-ni6of 6 ай бұрын

You sound like money is no object.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

LOL @Jean-ni6of but that is so not the case. Having less stuff has many benefits and one is that it just saves money. You can live in a smaller space and you just buy fewer things, both of which cost less and keeps more $ in your pocket. Thanks for watching!

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

@philparisi9175 6 ай бұрын

Very stupid to get rid of family photos why would you do that?

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching @philparisi9175 but maybe count to ten before hitting that keyboard. Best of luck to you.

@sharonshyne2642 6 ай бұрын

Did you throw out your family photos or pass on to your kids? Especially photos of those who had passed or your ancestors.

@Tigertame4 6 ай бұрын

I kept all my photos at my moms since we were military. We finally moved back, still left them at my moms, then she died and her house caught fire and burned down. I have NO photos of me or my family. I am fine. I miss them occasionally but have memories.

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

@@sharonshyne2642 We cared for our photos just fine. Thanks for watching!

@TheUnretirees 6 ай бұрын

@@Tigertame4 So sorry to hear that! Glad you're fine!