These days, more and more couples are deciding to downsize to smaller homes, especially once their kids move away for school or work or in preparation for retirement. If you are thinking about downsizing, your first question might be where to put your belongings. With families on the move, many find that storing prized possessions makes the most sense, especially items that they want to pass onto their kids. For items that are important and you want the family to hold onto, but really aren’t needed for everyday use, a self-storage unit makes the most sense. The Benefits of Downsizing According to census data, the average new single-family home is less than 3,000 square feet. Homes back in the 1950s were typically less than 1,000 square feet, indicating that, over time, we’ve moved into bigger and bigger homes with space that we may not need. Moving now may be very appealing, especially if the prospect of moving into a smaller home means that you could live in a better location. A smaller home also means less time and energy spent on upkeep, freeing up time to do other things. It might also mean that you and your loved ones spend more time together because the home has fewer rooms, televisions, etc., which can always be a good thing. There are also the financial benefits: By downsizing to a smaller home, you can likely reduce your monthly mortgage significantly and put that money towards other things, such as investments, or paying off student loans and other debts. And by reducing your mortgage each month, you could take up to 10 years off what’s left to pay off your home loan--significant years that could be spent doing other things, like using your money to travel. Many couples choose to downsize not only when their kids leave home, but also when preparing for retirement. By not needing all that space, downsizing to a condo and possibly a new area that you’ve always wanted to live in, many couples find that they can also cut down on many of the stresses that they had at their previous location, such as having to mow the lawn or shovel snow. In fact, downsizing also provides the opportunity for couples to de-clutter their lives, possibly taking advantage of bargain-priced vacation packages. US Storage Centers in Memphis At US Storage Centers, we’re here for you. Our Memphis location offers all the best amenities and customer service that you could hope for. If it’s time for you to make a change and downsize to a smaller home, storing some of your goods elsewhere. When you do, contact us today and find out more about what we can offer you. American Mini Storage 6105 Apple Tree Drive Memphis, TN 38115 (901) 206-2034