December can be a great time to start making progress on your downsizing efforts. The holidays afford you the opportunity to go through items you normally wouldn’t be thinking about that you use for entertaining, decorating, and wrapping.
Sort Through Your Holiday Decorations
It’s the perfect opportunity to pack up any holiday decorations you no longer need or use and donate them. Take out your decorations early in the season and decorate indoors and outdoors with your favorite ones. Any that are leftover can be packed up and donated early in the season so they can be repurposed for someone else.
Use Up Your Wrapping Supplies
Make an effort to use up all of the gift wrap, greeting cards, ribbons and gift boxes you’ve accumulated over the years. If you have holiday supplies you haven’t reached for in many years, it’s probably time to move them to the donation or recycling pile.
Trim Down Tableware & Linens
Use your favorite items to set a holiday table or buffet and set aside the pieces you chose not to use this year or no longer need to be donated. There will probably be more than you think! Really make the effort to set aside the ones that don’t make the cut.
Take Inventory of Your Liquor
Some say that spirits don’t go bad, but if you have liquor you’ve had on hand for several years, it may be time to move it out. Low-quality or cloudy bottles should be tossed, while others should be shared or enjoyed.
Start Gifting Items of Value
If you are thinking about downsizing over the next year, now is an excellent time to start offering heirloom or sentimental items to family and friends. If you don’t get any takers, don’t be offended. Allow yourself to donate or sell those items instead.
Take advantage of this time of year to sort through those things you normally don’t think about. It will make the next phase of downsizing all the easier and provide a sense of accomplishment. The best part of downsizing is the freedom to enjoy activities and spend time with loved ones with fewer responsibilities and less stuff weighing you down.
