Hi Robin, I think this video is very valuable advice and information. My Husband and I have lived in a very modest home for our entire married life. Basically we never left our starter home. As a young adult I wanted to move and have a big home that looked more like what our friends and other family had but it never happened. Now looking back I think who was I trying to impress. We have been happy here and raised our two Sons here. It took me a lifetime to just be grateful for what I have and not worry about what others have that I don’t. ❤️
I'm right there with you Lisa! With age comes wisdom and I wish I could have realized many of life's lessons much earlier as well. God bless you and your sweet family! 🌸😊💜
We are empty nesters in a pretty big house. I would downsize, but our house is paid off and we love our neighborhood, and neighbors. Our home is the gathering place for our children and their spouses, and we always host family holiday gatherings. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else!
I think most of your followers will see the wisdom in your thoughts. I know I certainly do. I used to believe “bigger was better” and spent a lot of my life wanting and wishing! Finally I got my big house….AND…all the work involved with keeping that big house in order!!! Boy, did I learn my lesson! The house really has nothing to do with my inner self…I’ve learned it really doesn’t matter where I live….the value comes in HOW I live! Am so happy I now embrace a life filled with what’s important! Thank you for this video
When we bought this home, I went for a smaller house and more land. I knew the kids would grow up and move away. This house is plenty big for two people with room for family visits. So I have lots of outdoor space to plant, have gardens and a chicken coop! You made a great point of not having so much house to clean too! Also, because we never wanted to compete with the Jones’s, our home is paid for, utilities are low and we have financial freedom. You made some great points!
This is a great story, thank you for sharing. I truly believe that less is more and excess stuff can cause unnecessary stress. And yes, the cleaning! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the reminder, Robin! Sometimes I fret about not having a larger home for our growing family, but I’m reminded that larger doesn’t always mean better. There are so many beautiful things that I love about our old, smaller home. It means that I get to walk my kiddos to school every day, that we know our neighbors well because we are so close, and we get to live in a beautiful historic neighborhood close to parks and museums. Thank you for the encouragement today!
I thought a larger home would be great when our kids were younger. Sure it was nice but with them out of the house and out on their own, there is TOO much space!
We lived in a very small house for 20 years and also did a lot of traveling in an RV for our ministry. We did that for about 10 years and then traveled living out of hotel rooms for 5 years. We decided to get out of a two-story house and get into a ranch with an attached garage since we were entering our sixties. We actually upsized. Not what people normally do in their 60s but we had lived in such tiny spaces we just wanted more elbow room and room for guests. Our main level is 1450 which is perfect for the two of us it has two bedrooms and one bath. But our lower level is also 1450 and has two guest rooms and a bathroom and a family room and storage. And we love it because now we are able to host people and even host people for lengthy stays. It's wonderful. And yet our main living space is not too big not too small. And someday we could have someone living full-time in our basement if we added a kitchen. It's a walkout basement very nice for full-time living. That would give us additional income in our retirement years. So this is what works for us. Everyone has to do what works for them.
A smaller home also keeps you from having to relocate when death occurs. Yes, there are some that hold to the big homes and acreage until the last minute instead of downsizing long before this happens. Thank you for all the advice.
As I get older living in a small space has been perfect for me!!!! less to clean, saving money on utilities and more time for family and friends!!!! I can enjoy my weekends because I not spending so many hours cleaning!!!
I completely agree Robin we just downsized as well and I love it! Having less to maintain makes life much more simple. When we were living in 3000sf with so much extra space it really made me think, 40 years ago the average home was about 1000sf now it's more than double that and growing, It really makes me wonder. Sometimes it seems like people don't want to be in close proximity to the rest of the family, also compared to the rest of the world we are going overboard with our consumption and bigger is not always better! Thanks for the great video! 👍
Amen! When our two kids went off to college, we downsized from 3500 sq to 1600 sq ft. Then after retirement, we left Alaska (45 years!) and are renovating (my husband is a builder) an unattached garage, 700 sq ft. at our kids home in Utah! I LOVE it! Gives us lots of time with our grandkids (4 years and 5 months)! Priorities change when you get older for sure! Still counting our blessings with less! P.S. we have two large, organized totes of family heirlooms/photos to pass on. We found our kids didn't want our "stuff" at all as we sold our years of accumulation!
Great video! My husband and I moved into a 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 1700 square foot condo with a patio and deck with green space and a pond and couldn't be happier. We are debt free. I retired a couple years ago and loving life. I really don't like cleaning very much so this size is perfect. I do get cleaning inspiration from you Robin. I'm continuing to purge things weekly because I don't want my daughter to go through what I went through when my parents passed. Decades of stuff they never got rid of 🙂Keep the great content coming. I really enjoy your videos!
We find it so freeing to have downsized from 3500 sqft to 1100sqft. You understand what you really need and have time, energy and $$ to pursue things you love to do like spending more time with grandchildren, helping in church and fun activities. Best thing we've done in a while.
Very well stated, Robin! We downsized a couple of years ago, from 3800 sf to a little over 2300 -- almost similar to yours -- and I'm so thankful! Still a work in progress (still some boxes in the laundry room and garage), but so much better than before. When I pass by a huge house or mansion, I am filled with gratitude that I don't have to deal with their upkeep!
We tried downsizing a couple of years ago when we had to make a move, but I guess we downsized too much! We stayed there just shy of two years. We don't regret it, we learned a lot and it's what led us to our current home that we love.
I enjoy your calm, pleasant videos. You remind me of my late aunt, who I thought was the prettiest lady in all the world. I think of you that way too. I am old enough to be your grandma, but that makes no difference. I love your home, your decorating, your cooking. I just admire you. Thanks for your time. Arlene
I could not agree more, Robin! I follow a lady on RUclips to get decorating ideas (she has wonderful, tasteful ideas) but the AMOUNT of decor she has in her house is way over the top. I'm much more like you. I'm not necessarily a minimalist but I'd like to have SOME decor. Even though the house I'm living in is our first home, I thought about the future when buying it. It's not a large home but enough for the 4 of us and still a nice size once we become empty nesters. Another great, insightful video, Robin. Thank you. ❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing this video. I really enjoyed hearing your insights on downsizing, or living in a smaller home. My husband and I were blessed to have a 1700 sqft ranch home built. I am enjoying finding creative ways to organize things throughout the home. I feel in a small home you can make very systematic organization systems to help keep upkeep to a minimum. Thanks for the encouragement to stop the comparison game and see the blessings of living small.
I love my downsized home. Went from 6000sf to 800sf temporarily! I could plug in the vacuum by the front door and vacuum the LR, DR, Kitchen, hallway, BR, bathroom, Mstrbed and closet without unplugging!!! And the whole place was deep cleaned in about 45 minutes! I finally moved into my 2400sf home and its my “Goldilocks” home….its just right! Glad to see you back this week. Have a blessed week ahead!
I agree 💯 percent. I live in a small home, and I love that I don't have to feel like I'm a slave to maintaining it. Quality over quantity. That goes for the 10 item wardrobe too. Will you be doing a video for your fall 10 item wardrobe?
Amen Eva! 👍😄 It absolutely applies to the Ten Item Wardrobe. I'm not yet sure if I will do a dedicated fall wardrobe video, but I'm sure I will be sharing a little of what I'm putting together for the upcoming season. Have a blessed week ahead! 🌸😊💜
Ever since beginning my Minimalism journey almost 5 years ago now, I have felt so free. I don't have to keep things just because it's what I've always done or keep things because it was a gift or something. I don't have to stay behind to clean when my family goes on adventures and I can have people over without notice. It's been a game changer here. Less definitely is more!
Robin, I loved hearing your perspective on living in a smaller space. You really convey contentment in every video. That is a beautiful attitude! I certainly need to practice that more! Blessings to you and your family.💙
This video came at just the right moment. We are downsizing and move on 1 September. You’ve helped reinforce the idea that we are doing the right thing, and allayed some of my concerns. Luckily I’ve been decluttering for the last 3 years so I think we’re going to fit!
We relocated to be closer to family because my mother in love had a massive heart attack. Im a bit of a minimalst, so going from a 1400 square foot parsonage to a 750 square foot apt was an adjustment. We are a family of 4 my children being young adults 1 still at home. I def agree with all of these tips. However the cost of living in NH is very high so housing is ridiculous. But the Lord is always good and He has surely provided every need along with some extra blessings. The move was necessary so it is what it is.
Hi Robin! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences about downsizing! You have taken a deeper look at what it means to have a smaller home, and it was well thought out. Since 2014, my husband and I have been living in a 2-bedroom condo apartment that we chose thinking about retirement. All of the advantages you mentioned we found to be true. But what struck me the most was that we indeed feel more love and gratitude about the apartment we own than for any other dwellings we previously lived in. Also, it truly expands creativity, and encourages minimalism, or at least owning less! But as you said also, quality over quantity! 👍 I would love to hear more about this topic as you gradually discover more advantages of living in a smaller home. I’m glad for you about the fact that you experienced more togetherness and closeness as a family. That is so important! 💗💗Have a blessed week! 💙💚💛
Excellent video Robin! I like to think that we “right sized” when we moved 3 years ago. Slightly smaller home and yard and since we are empty nesters we reminded ourselves that MOST of the time it’s just my husband and I! No regrets!!!
Hi Robin! I agree 💯 percent! It is so gratifying to downsize and go through your stuff and donate or giveaway the things you don’t need. It saves time, money, space and just frees up your home and mi d for other things that are more important. You are getting soooo close to 100K subscribers!!!! What an accomplishment that will be for you!! Keep well and “see” you next Sunday!
Thank you Jennifer - you and I are on the same page for sure! I appreciate your encouragement and support very much. God willing, I am looking forward to reaching 100K with you all soon. I couldn't do it without you! God bless!🌸😊💜
Hi Robin! I missed seeing Austin. I look forward to taking a peek at him! Also whenever i tell my husband about your videos, i refer to you as “my friend Robin was saying such & such or my friend Robin was showing how to….”. So now when i mention you, he knows who i am talking about!
Thank you Christine! I will try to get some "Austin Antics" into a video very soon - maybe he'll make an appearance in a "short" so that you can get a peek. 😉 I think of you as a friend as well and I am so honored that you would invite me into your home each week. God bless!🌸😊💜
I honestly considered showing this one to my husband, Robin, as I am SO READY to downsize and he is not 🙄. In my case, I am simply tired of cleaning (or being nagged by the things that must be cleaned that I don't always get to each week. In my 60's, it is a constant struggle...4 bathrooms; 2 that are rarely used...yep I can totally relate to that part!). In his case, he has a professional recording studio out in our garage that he uses for the video production work he does to support charities, fundraisers, etc. on a volunteer basis. Clearly, he's still having too much fun😊. I certainly can't fault him for that! Of course, I can't really say I'm ready to downsize if I still have rooms to declutter. It's a work in progress. As always, you inspire me! Thanks for sharing the surprising benefits. Have a wonderful week!
Thank you Joan! I think you are not alone. Many things must be factored into this choice and I will pray that when the timing is right, you will be able to realize your dream. It sounds like your husband has a wonderful calling, and what a blessing to have the space for him to accomplish such important work. Maybe an even better recording studio space is out there to be found in God's timing. God bless! 🌸😊💜
Hi Robin! I really loved your video, because in youtube we see over and over again houses bigger every time, and it seems to me like the owners "work" for their home, but they don't enjoy them. So, I find really important and real that you share with us your experience. And also, beauty and cozy don't belong to bigger houses. (And as always, I apologize for my bad english haha)
Boy it is tricky here in Northern California. We would love to move out of our 3000 square-foot home, after raising our five children here. However, new homes are costing almost as much. And then figuring in window treatments, landscaping, etc.-- really put us in quandary.
We moved and downsized 14 years ago. Such a great decision and we’ve never regretted it! Great video and so close to 100,000 subscribers! How awesome!!
So we’ll said. I have never lived in a large home so I don’t have perspective on that. But I think your new home is great and know from your sweet spirit you are making it the most wonderful place to be.
Such an excellent and thoughtful video, Robin! I think that I mentioned this in a previous comment but I think that the challenge of organizing smaller spaces and making them functional is fun and can be very rewarding. Standing in front of a much smaller cabinet or closet and thinking through how to make it functional is like solving a puzzle! It's very evident that you are enjoying your new home and lifestyle so much. Thank you for sharing what you're learning with us. It's very motivational and inspiring!
This was a great video that I needed to hear. We are in the process of downsizing our home, and I'll admit, it's hard to part with some things, especially furniture we've had for many years. One of the main reasons we are choosing to move is due to reducing property taxes and less square footage to maintain. Thank you for sharing your tips as they were very helpful to me. It helped me gain a better perspective on this transition in life. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family.
I'm so glad that you found this helpful! I pray that your move goes well and that you are content with your decision. I hope that you discover all the benefits mentioned and more. God bless!🌸😊💜
Good points! All of them. I live in a smaller home, less housework, less yard work, less stress. 👍🏻🙂 Thanks for sharing and have a blessed and wonderful week! 🌸
I have a 2500 square foot house on almost 2 acres that I have owned for 27 years. In all the years I have owned this house, I have never really been able to enjoy it because there always seemed to be something that needed painted, power washed, stained, weeded, grass cut, trees trimmed, branches picked up and the list goes on and on. That’s just the stuff on the outside. I live in the Northeast so during the winter I am doing all the maintenance inside and then during the warmer months it’s outside maintenance, and so the cycle repeats. I’m tired and ready to downsize. I have been decluttering for the last 3 years.
We are in the process of moving from two bedroom one washroom to a two bedroom two washrooms and this video helped me to appreciate that less is more. We used to struggle at times as we are a family of seven. Plus we are now on the ground floor instead of on the second floor.
Welcome back, Robin. I missed you last week. My husband and I left our acreage in the country and moved to a duplex/condo in town several years ago, but while downsizing the property was great, we downsized too much in terms of housing space. So we built our dream home and now live in a 4200 sq. ft. home the largest we've ever owned and as empty nesters! . It would be very difficult to maintain, but my husband helps. We know we will eventually have to leave this place for something smaller but for now we love our home.
I couldnt agree more, Robin! We LOVE our smaller home! Its so lovley; and so homey. Its my sanctuary; and I wouldnt trade it for the world. This is our place. ♥️ What a great video, my friend! We have so much in common! See you in the next one; have a great week! ~ Audrey 🤍🏡🌤
I absolutely love that Audrey! The love you have for your home is expressed so well and it warms my heart that you are completely content! God bless you and your family! 🌸😊💜
@@FaithandFlour Awe; thank you so much Robin! I certainly do love having less “house”, but more “home.” ♥️ Thank you for doing this video, and for the sweet comment!
I agree with you 100%! We would love to move out of our large home and downsize, but although we would get a decent price for a big house we’d overspend on a smaller one in the area we live in. So we’re just trying to wait it out until the housing market evens out a little bit.
I am very pleased that you are very comfortable in your new home. I think with all your renovations, etc you have also encouraged all of us in our own renovations.. Thank you so much for your encouragement! You have reminded us again of what is important!
I totally agree! We downsized to a much smaller house and I love it!! I don’t miss our big house a bit, and that surprised me at first, but this house is so much easier to clean. We have saved so much money on utilities,…all the reasons you gave are spot on!!
All smart info….all we are daily on top of as well. We have just moved to the state our kids grew u0 in and have 4/6 grands!!! People over things…..exactly…..we are working on plans for a new house and have purchased a piece of land in the same town as one of my sons…..just keeping costs down in planning this new stage is going to be the challenge. Thanks for the tips
I think it depends on the beginning size of the house. For us, we went from 1500 to 2400sqft and it was a complete blessing. Being a prepper, I needed space for an extended pantry and freezer. 3 cats with litter boxes was always a challenge in my smaller home. More due to the layout of the house instead of the size. For me, the bigger house is much easier to keep clean because everything has a home now and things are jammed into shared spaces. We went from a smaller house with a huge yard to a larger house and smaller yard which we love. Yard work was a major time thief. Our house is now large enough to host more family being able to visit. I regularly go through different areas to clear out things not used and things no longer needed. We didn't buy new furniture to fill those extra rooms. Facebook marketplace and thrift stores were a great resource for those items. It just took patience. Eventually something we needed always showed up. That includes home decor as well. I think it all depends on each person's needs as to whether downsizing is a plus or minus. Do you think your family would have downsized had it not been for the need to relocate?
Good points! This is our story, but there are many factors and choices that each family needs to carefully consider that are unique to each family and situation. We have always planned to downsize, but we were patiently waiting for the right set of circumstances. 🌸😊💜
I downsized 2 years ago when I became a widow. At first it was hard and the place never seemed to be tidy I realised this was because although I had downsized my possessions I had not do enough. Over the two years I have used up some of the things I had stock piled and also some of the stuff I had kept but didn’t really use or need. I have now got more storage in place and less possessions to find homes for and my life is much better. I totally agree with all the benefits you talked about in the video. I can do my cleaning in a quarter of the time, the monthly outgoings have halved, the property upkeep is less expensive and also takes less time. To sum it up it has become a win win situation.
Your other home was beautiful, but your current home is so much more practical. You can be free to enjoy reading, etc. So happy for you. I am in the process of getting rid of extra things. Lorraine
Robin I agree. In fact, my husband and I have realized we could downsize even more! It indeed make your life less complicated and frees you to do more with less.
We're raising our 7 children in a 1,400 sq ft home. We homeschool and are on a very limited ministry budget. It always surprises me how much Americans feel they "need". We're debt free and haven't killed each other. Lol. It's really not that hard. Having been out on the mission field and seen how others live, I am so thankful for the home they would consider a mansion.
Yes totally agree with your advice, I have always longed for a garden however I’ve been blessed with living in an excellent area with lovely neighbours. I’m getting older so a smaller home suits me down to the ground Robin. Blessings to you and your family from Ireland 🇮🇪💜🙏
There is a farmer close to my house that rents for the summer small plots of land for gardening. It’s all fenced in and the farmer prepares the soil each year. It’s great for people who live in condos or townhomes but still want to have a garden. It’s also great because a bunch of people rent plots so everyone ends up sharing vegetables, flowers etc. Great way to meet people and also learn a lot.
We live in a 1000 sq ft home! Yours is large compared to ours. The only thing I want is a room large enough for our extended to eat. Our dining area is 8x8. We have Sunday dinners as a family twice a month and thankfully our grandson’s home has the room for four generations!
I think that's great Gloria! I'm glad you have a solution for your family gatherings and that your home suits your needs otherwise. I think we could actually go even smaller. We lived in our RV while doing renovations and it was about 250 sqft. It had everything we needed - although family gatherings would be an issue for us too. 🌸😊💜
Great Robin! I downsized to a smaller home about 7 1/2 yrs ago and it was really hard for a long time to realize I didn't have the wall or room space to bring new things in - but I finally am learning to quit buying everything that looks cute and start letting go of things! Have a blessed week ahead!
I’ve lived in a 25,000 sq. foot home most of my adult life. I’ve always thought I’d like a bigger house. When I discovered your channel, in your former home, I experienced vicarious pleasure in watching you keep your large home so beautiful. I’ll sheepishly admit now that I was disappointed when you decided to downsize. But in watching you transition into your new home, I learned two things. One, that a smaller home can be just as charming and beautiful as a large home. And two, that it’s what YOU bring to that home, no matter it’s size, that makes all the difference. Thank you for helping me see that my small home is exactly the right home for me.
Hi Robin…I agree with you on all points…but cleaning is cleaning right! Always gotta clean and you are right you don’t clean as much and that’s the best part. I went to a smaller home of 2900 square feet and it’s plenty for me and hubby! I’m glad that you are finding so much comfort in your home. Have a great week, God bless and thanks for the motivation!
So true Revita! If I discover a way around cleaning I will definitely let you know! In the meantime, we'll get through the cleaning together - and in less time in our smaller homes! God bless! 🌸😊💜
Is a European, it sometimes surprise me how big the average house is in America. Not in a bad way, but it seems to be almost twice the size of the average house in Europe. :) I do like the feeling of lots of space. But as a single person (living so small that I have only 'upsized' to 55 square meters, about 592 square feet), I actually like this size. My main living space is a large room, about half of the apartment space, and very multi functional (bedroom, dining room, living room and occasional workout room). There are less rooms to clean, it takes barely any time at all. I was starting to feel a bit like I was lacking storage, but then I did a huge declutter. And what I found was, when you have the space, you keep a ton of things you never really use or value. A smaller space helps you limit that, so decluttering is less overwhelming, because there is a limit to how much can build up.
We live in a small home, around 1600 sq ft. What you said about more love is so true. In a small home, there are not as many places to hide away from your family. You have to learn to get along with everyone, and I believe it’s teaching my kids how to better get along with each other.
We downsized from 3000sqft to 1200sqft once all the kids permanently left the home. It is so much easier to keep clean and maintained, has decreased our electric bill because we are heating/cooling a much smaller, more compact space without all the open space our larger home had. I hadn’t realized how many unused kitchen gadgets and unworn clothes we had until we had to be thoughtful on what we actually used and wore and either gave our kids what gadgets they wanted or donated them to a transitional women’s shelter. Clothes, shoes, linens, towels were all decluttered and donated or given to our children for their first apartments/homes. We went from 5 beds/3 baths, dining room, living & family rooms and a den to a 2 bed/1bath cottage and WE. LOVE. IT! When kids and grandkids visit, air mattresses are utilized but we all just enjoy the togetherness the smaller home gives us.
Hi Robin - you certainly are getting close to 100,000 subscribers. I’m excited for you. As you know I will be downsizing sometime in the near future. Not exactly sure when because some of it will depend on what my family decides to do. The biggest thing for me is the maintaining a house that I only live in a few rooms. Of course I love my home and have raised my children here. At one time it was bursting at the seams with their friends etc. but now it’s just me and so much of the house is really not used. I built this house in 1979 so with its aging things are starting to go wrong. Kinda like me as I age. Ha ha. I have been doing so much better and able to do a lot more than I was able to do a few months ago. I’ve lost 32 pounds and my blood sugar is down to normal and my doctor has even taken me off some very expensive medicine. Thanks for this great video. Love in Christ.
Hi Donna! I'm so glad to hear about all of the progress you have made and that you are feeling much better! Praise God! 🙏 I will continue to pray for your health and for the plans surrounding your downsize. Big hugs to you my sweet sister in Christ! 🌸😊💜
Thank you so much for the inspiration. We are a mid60s couple, 22 years in an upstairs 2BR apartment on the list for a downstairs 1 bedroom due to difficulty with stairs. Even with no deadline, its difficult to know where to start clearing out. Its not necessarily going from 750 down to 625 square feet, its losing the spare hobby-music-storage room!
i agree that a ‘smaller’ home is better in so many ways than a larger one! my husband & i are DINKs & bought a 3-2-2 (1300 sq ft.) in 2020 and have a mortgage well within our means. most of our friends purchased wayyy larger homes with gigantic mortgages and some are really struggling now due to covid & the economy. i will never trade my peace of mind for a bigger house or lifestyle creep. i’m going to try painting a room here or there & repainting some furniture since everything we have is in good shape, i think i’ve just outgrown the style. but that’s the fun of it, i have the time and money to try some new things so here i go! :) kudos to you and your family for recognizing the downsizing as an opportunity for positive change! i appreciate all that you are able to share with us. i always learn a lot! have a great week! 🥰
You are the most amazing person ever. I can't remember how many years I have been following you, but the things you say and do are life changing for me too. I would love you to give a detail description of your home furnishings. Which ones are new and how did you decided on each new piece of furniture you bought. I love you decor and would really like to know where you got it from. The kitchen is much smaller than your other home, however, I truly like it better. It seems so functional. ALso, I would love you to do a vlog on your daily chores like you did in your other home. Can you tell us about the pool and how you are liking that because you didn't have one in the other house right? How is Payton adjusting to a smaller home too? Thanks Robin for all your ideas. WE sure love you.
Thank you so much Roberta! It has been very special to have you with me through these years on RUclips. I appreciate all of your kind words and encouragement more than I can say. I also love your feedback and will try to answer all of your questions in my upcoming videos. Payton is doing so well and we are very happy with how well he has adjusted to everything. God is so good! May He bless you and your family! 🌸😊💜
It's shocking how large houses are in the US. Where I grew up upper middle class, 4 family houses, were 900-1,200 sq. ft. I live in the US now in a 690 sq. ft apartment and we truly don't need more space for two people and a couple pets. When I was living by myself, 450 sq. ft was about the size for me to have everything I wanted and needed. I think and see that younger people are getting more accustomed to 300-900 sq. ft apartments and getting more in touch with how much space they actually need. With high prices and being accustomed to a smaller space, I think demand for smaller houses will increase. I'd encourage most people in the US to downsize, you'll make it work.
The hubs and I are in the season of life of taking care of my mom in her home. The house is 1700sqft with 4bd/2ba. We have a guest room for the guests we never receive and a dining/living room combo that no one ever goes into - such a waste of space. When my husband and I think of our dream home, it's a 2bd/2ba home. Location: TBD 😜 But I am done (and I'm only 47) maintaining such a big place for nothing. Honestly, I don't even really bother cleaning those areas, but just knowing they're there unused, and worse storing crap we don't use (in the guest closet, in cabinet end tables, and in the china cabinet) just leaves me so unsettled. OH, and our dream home will have an industrial strength hood vent over the stove! I'm so happy for you and your family, Robin. Your new home is coming along so beautifully 💚
We live in the East Bay area, and live in a home that is 1900 square feet. If I look our home up on Zillow, it is worth an outrageous 1.8 million. But we have poured our heart and souls into this home we have lived in since 1999. Everything is small (4 bedroom, 2 bath), but we have remodeled every square inch and it is perfect for us. The outside is perfect. We live on a half acre, and we have remodeled our back and front yards so they look perfect to us. We love our bay area cottage. It is perfect, and I have to think twice before buying clutter that I may desire. Instead I just buy something if I love it. I have to have self control, and we live in a very beautiful, likeminded to us place. We are blessed.
Paul McCartney chose to live in a smaller house with his family to enjoy that family togetherness. I find that same familial joy in our small house. I also find myself more attached to my small dwelling, wanting to care for it and make it cozy compared to a larger more austere home.
We downsized last year from a 2400 sq ft home to a 1100 sq ft home. I absolutely love it. I naturally have a very minimalist style, and it is plenty of room for our family. Our children share bedrooms, which I think is good for them. And I like that I do not have a big house to manage.
Hi, Robin, and welcome back. I hope you and your family had quality R&R together! ~ My question is, have you become acclimated to your new kitchen yet? I think it's the most difficult room to get adjusted to when you move or remodel. ~ You have a great week as well.
Thank you Linda! I really love our new kitchen. It helped tremendously that I could design the space to suit our needs. It was challenging in the beginning to sort out the organization, but it's working great. Have a wonderful week and God bless!🌸😊💜
Really enjoyed this one. We are in England and looking to do the same as our girls are starting to move out. We are mortgage free, but it’s so expensive to buy here that it will free up some money towards a good down payment for them each in future. Would love to some videos on your garden plans and enjoy your meal planning/budgeting videos too 😊.
Hi Robin, How refreshing to hear this message on social media! Was this your idea, your husbands or brought about by joint conversations? We have not left our 1000 Sq ft new raised ranch and have created space for 7 children, home education and the children’s businesses they start after graduation. We cannot imagine the monthly bills in a larger home and must continue to think “where will this fit” before buying anything. Thanks for sharing! Julie 🌷
Hi Robin 👋🏻 I really enjoyed your insights on downsizing. Thanks for sharing! You’re so close to 100K subs! Congrats!! God keeps ‘expanding your territory’ and blessing your YT ministry. You’re an awesome and classy lady. Blessings 🌿
I have been looking for ways to simplify our life. I am finding it a challenge though. I raised a family in a 4000 sq ft home with a large yard. It was a lot of work caring for 3 children and the house and yard. In my 50s I got divorced and moved into 1649 sq ft rambler with a simple yard. It was such a relief to have a smaller house. When I got remarried we wanted a view home. We shopped for 2 years to and were not able to find a modest size home but we did find a fabulous 3700 sq ft home with an amazing view in a wonderful location at an incredible price. We are now in our 60s and still have the smaller home as a rental and it is now time to do a renovation of our primary residence. On top of those 2 homes for the past 28 years I have owned and operated a vacation rental 3 hours from our residence. We love our vacation home and spend a significant amount of time there. We love our primary residence. It is really a challenge to see our way to simplifying. We will be selling our long term rental but that still leaves us with 2 good size homes and 2 yards to maintain. Having the larger house allows us to host larger church groups and entertain easily. It is a lot to keep up with though. Travel is also a priority for us as well and that would be easier with less responsibilities.
Probably the laundry room as well, but eventually we plan to renovate the one here, so it will be fun to design that. Thank you Lori and God bless! 💗😊💗
We have a townhouse and have been here for 12 years it’s our first home. Here in the Toronto area the house prices are so high I don’t think much people are buying larger homes. And the taxes are unbelievably high as well. Living in Canada is very very expensive. We will stay where we are. Homes in my street are being sold for 760000$ thousand dollars, for a townhouse. It’s very high.
That makes sense Janice! In our area housing prices and property taxes are higher than ever with no apparent end in sight. It makes a lot of sense to love your townhome and keep the cost of living within reason. Have a great week and God bless!🌸😊💜
Hi Robyn since I left my job of 17 years to stay home with my daughters it’s just impossible to move. Plus our mortgage is very low and our townhouse has 3 beds and 2 baths. Perfect for us, and a good size backyard for a garden. Enjoy your week.
In Europe, there is also transport costs and walkability! With smaller homes/flats, there is a stronger concentration of people, which in turn leads to more shops/other amenities closer and more walkability. My parents have a 200 square meters home with a 800 square meters garden in France. We always need a car to go anywhere! Even to go to the tramway, but especially to go shopping for groceries. Only the primary school was within walking distance. We lived in the UK for a few years in a much smaller home with a much much smaller garden. We were surrounded with similar homes and everything aside from my dad's work was within walking distance. He biked to work and we didn't have a car for 5 years. I stayed in the UK, at university we had a 5 bedroom house with a tiny tiny garden in an area with many students, so most houses were full to the brim. All shops were super close, I only needed the bus for university. Now I live in a one bedroom flat near the centre of London, and we don't need a car either. We have 4 large supermarkets of different price points, hundreds of takeaways, and a zero waste shop within a 10 mins walk, the gym accross the street, bus in front of our house and only need the tube to go to work or go see friends. If I wanted a garden, I would need to move to less walkable areas. I understand the US in general is less walkable, but while before I valued space and especially large gardens, now having lived so long in walkable areas I think they are very underated. It's a life changer to just walk everywhere, and when I was a teenager it gave me so much more independence. The only downside is I'm now 21 without a driving license, which feels like a burden when I visit my parents in France in their not very walkable area.
I think your new home looks beautiful. I’m so happy our home will be done with a mortgage when my husband retires. Travel will be a priority for us too. With your new location how are you going about making new friends?
Thank you Jennifer! We are making friends with our neighbors that we see when out walking Austin and getting to know the parents of Payton's friends at work and through his activities. Everyone has been so welcoming and we feel very blessed. God bless you and your family as well!🌸😊💜
Hi Robin, I think this video is very valuable advice and information. My Husband and I have lived in a very modest home for our entire married life. Basically we never left our starter home.
As a young adult I wanted to move and have a big home that looked more like what our friends and other family had but it never happened.
Now looking back I think who was I trying to impress. We have been happy here and raised our two Sons here.
It took me a lifetime to just be grateful for what I have and not worry about what others have that I don’t. ❤️
I'm right there with you Lisa! With age comes wisdom and I wish I could have realized many of life's lessons much earlier as well. God bless you and your sweet family! 🌸😊💜
Such a great comment! 👍
We are empty nesters in a pretty big house. I would downsize, but our house is paid off and we love our neighborhood, and neighbors. Our home is the gathering place for our children and their spouses, and we always host family holiday gatherings. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else!
That's wonderful Lori! I'm so glad you love your home and it certainly seems to suit you and your family. God bless!🌸😊💜
I think most of your followers will see the wisdom in your thoughts. I know I certainly do. I used to believe “bigger was better” and spent a lot of my life wanting and wishing! Finally I got my big house….AND…all the work involved with keeping that big house in order!!! Boy, did I learn my lesson! The house really has nothing to do with my inner self…I’ve learned it really doesn’t matter where I live….the value comes in HOW I live! Am so happy I now embrace a life filled with what’s important! Thank you for this video
I can say exactly the same. The large fancy home I once owned never felt cozy and really felt more like a burden.
So well said Myrna and I couldn't agree more! God bless!🌸😊💜
When we bought this home, I went for a smaller house and more land. I knew the kids would grow up and move away. This house is plenty big for two people with room for family visits. So I have lots of outdoor space to plant, have gardens and a chicken coop! You made a great point of not having so much house to clean too! Also, because we never wanted to compete with the Jones’s, our home is paid for, utilities are low and we have financial freedom. You made some great points!
That is absolutely wonderful Allie!!! God bless you and your sweet family!🌸😊💜
This is a great story, thank you for sharing. I truly believe that less is more and excess stuff can cause unnecessary stress. And yes, the cleaning! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the reminder, Robin! Sometimes I fret about not having a larger home for our growing family, but I’m reminded that larger doesn’t always mean better. There are so many beautiful things that I love about our old, smaller home. It means that I get to walk my kiddos to school every day, that we know our neighbors well because we are so close, and we get to live in a beautiful historic neighborhood close to parks and museums. Thank you for the encouragement today!
That sounds absolutely lovely Naomi! It sounds like your home is a true treasure! God bless you and your sweet family!🌸😊💜
I thought a larger home would be great when our kids were younger. Sure it was nice but with them out of the house and out on their own, there is TOO much space!
We lived in a very small house for 20 years and also did a lot of traveling in an RV for our ministry. We did that for about 10 years and then traveled living out of hotel rooms for 5 years. We decided to get out of a two-story house and get into a ranch with an attached garage since we were entering our sixties. We actually upsized. Not what people normally do in their 60s but we had lived in such tiny spaces we just wanted more elbow room and room for guests. Our main level is 1450 which is perfect for the two of us it has two bedrooms and one bath. But our lower level is also 1450 and has two guest rooms and a bathroom and a family room and storage. And we love it because now we are able to host people and even host people for lengthy stays. It's wonderful. And yet our main living space is not too big not too small. And someday we could have someone living full-time in our basement if we added a kitchen. It's a walkout basement very nice for full-time living. That would give us additional income in our retirement years. So this is what works for us. Everyone has to do what works for them.
Absolutely Laura! Your home sounds lovely and I'm glad that you found what works for you family. God bless!🌸😊💜
A smaller home also keeps you from having to relocate when death occurs. Yes, there are some that hold to the big homes and acreage until the last minute instead of downsizing long before this happens. Thank you for all the advice.
Absolutely Sandra! Thank you and God bless!🌸😊💜
As I get older living in a small space has been perfect for me!!!! less to clean, saving money on utilities and more time for family and friends!!!! I can enjoy my weekends because I not spending so many hours cleaning!!!
So true Diane! Have a blessed week ahead! 🌸😊💜
I completely agree Robin we just downsized as well and I love it! Having less to maintain makes life much more simple. When we were living in 3000sf with so much extra space it really made me think, 40 years ago the average home was about 1000sf now it's more than double that and growing, It really makes me wonder. Sometimes it seems like people don't want to be in close proximity to the rest of the family, also compared to the rest of the world we are going overboard with our consumption and bigger is not always better! Thanks for the great video! 👍
So well said DeAnna! Thank you and God bless!🌸😊💜
Amen! When our two kids went off to college, we downsized from 3500 sq to 1600 sq ft. Then after retirement, we left Alaska (45 years!) and are renovating (my husband is a builder) an unattached garage, 700 sq ft. at our kids home in Utah! I LOVE it! Gives us lots of time with our grandkids (4 years and 5 months)! Priorities change when you get older for sure! Still counting our blessings with less! P.S. we have two large, organized totes of family heirlooms/photos to pass on. We found our kids didn't want our "stuff" at all as we sold our years of accumulation!
That is so amazing! I love it!!! Enjoy your new home and all the time you will have with your grandchildren! God bless!🌸😊💜
Great video! My husband and I moved into a 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 1700 square foot condo with a patio and deck with green space and a pond and couldn't be happier. We are debt free. I retired a couple years ago and loving life. I really don't like cleaning very much so this size is perfect. I do get cleaning inspiration from you Robin. I'm continuing to purge things weekly because I don't want my daughter to go through what I went through when my parents passed. Decades of stuff they never got rid of 🙂Keep the great content coming. I really enjoy your videos!
Thank you Carol! Your home sounds so lovely! I'll be here for the cleaning motivation - I need it too! 😂 God bless! 🌸😊💜
Same here, it's very freeing!
We find it so freeing to have downsized from 3500 sqft to 1100sqft. You understand what you really need and have time, energy and $$ to pursue things you love to do like spending more time with grandchildren, helping in church and fun activities. Best thing we've done in a while.
Very well stated, Robin!
We downsized a couple of years ago, from 3800 sf to a little over 2300 -- almost similar to yours -- and I'm so thankful! Still a work in progress (still some boxes in the laundry room and garage), but so much better than before. When I pass by a huge house or mansion, I am filled with gratitude that I don't have to deal with their upkeep!
We have a big house with a big family and yes the upkeep ugh. I try to keep things minimal and that has been a game changer.
2300sq/ft is a mansion 😂
We tried downsizing a couple of years ago when we had to make a move, but I guess we downsized too much! We stayed there just shy of two years. We don't regret it, we learned a lot and it's what led us to our current home that we love.
I enjoy your calm, pleasant videos. You remind me of my late aunt, who I thought was the prettiest lady in all the world. I think of you that way too. I am old enough to be your grandma, but that makes no difference. I love your home, your decorating, your cooking. I just admire you. Thanks for your time. Arlene
Thank you so much Arlene! Your kind words really made my day. Have a blessed start to your week!🌸😊💜
I could not agree more, Robin! I follow a lady on RUclips to get decorating ideas (she has wonderful, tasteful ideas) but the AMOUNT of decor she has in her house is way over the top. I'm much more like you. I'm not necessarily a minimalist but I'd like to have SOME decor. Even though the house I'm living in is our first home, I thought about the future when buying it. It's not a large home but enough for the 4 of us and still a nice size once we become empty nesters. Another great, insightful video, Robin. Thank you. ❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing this video. I really enjoyed hearing your insights on downsizing, or living in a smaller home. My husband and I were blessed to have a 1700 sqft ranch home built. I am enjoying finding creative ways to organize things throughout the home. I feel in a small home you can make very systematic organization systems to help keep upkeep to a minimum. Thanks for the encouragement to stop the comparison game and see the blessings of living small.
I couldn't agree more! Thank you so much and God bless!🌸😊💜
I love my downsized home. Went from 6000sf to 800sf temporarily! I could plug in the vacuum by the front door and vacuum the LR, DR, Kitchen, hallway, BR, bathroom, Mstrbed and closet without unplugging!!! And the whole place was deep cleaned in about 45 minutes! I finally moved into my 2400sf home and its my “Goldilocks” home….its just right!
Glad to see you back this week. Have a blessed week ahead!
I love that Jen! We had an apartment like that and vacuuming was a breeze! I'm glad you found your "sweet spot"! God bless!🌸😊💜
I agree 💯 percent.
I live in a small home, and I love that I don't have to feel like I'm a slave to maintaining it.
Quality over quantity. That goes for the 10 item wardrobe too. Will you be doing a video for your fall 10 item wardrobe?
Amen Eva! 👍😄 It absolutely applies to the Ten Item Wardrobe. I'm not yet sure if I will do a dedicated fall wardrobe video, but I'm sure I will be sharing a little of what I'm putting together for the upcoming season. Have a blessed week ahead! 🌸😊💜
Ever since beginning my Minimalism journey almost 5 years ago now, I have felt so free. I don't have to keep things just because it's what I've always done or keep things because it was a gift or something. I don't have to stay behind to clean when my family goes on adventures and I can have people over without notice. It's been a game changer here. Less definitely is more!
Robin, I loved hearing your perspective on living in a smaller space. You really convey contentment in every video. That is a beautiful attitude! I certainly need to practice that more! Blessings to you and your family.💙
Thank you so much! Have a wonderful start to your week and God Bless!🌸😊💜
This video came at just the right moment. We are downsizing and move on 1 September. You’ve helped reinforce the idea that we are doing the right thing, and allayed some of my concerns. Luckily I’ve been decluttering for the last 3 years so I think we’re going to fit!
That's great! Decluttering the unimportant and making room for the important.
We relocated to be closer to family because my mother in love had a massive heart attack. Im a bit of a minimalst, so going from a 1400 square foot parsonage to a 750 square foot apt was an adjustment. We are a family of 4 my children being young adults 1 still at home.
I def agree with all of these tips. However the cost of living in NH is very high so housing is ridiculous. But the Lord is always good and He has surely provided every need along with some extra blessings. The move was necessary so it is what it is.
Hi Robin! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences about downsizing! You have taken a deeper look at what it means to have a smaller home, and it was well thought out.
Since 2014, my husband and I have been living in a 2-bedroom condo apartment that we chose thinking about retirement. All of the advantages you mentioned we found to be true. But what struck me the most was that we indeed feel more love and gratitude about the apartment we own than for any other dwellings we previously lived in. Also, it truly expands creativity, and encourages minimalism, or at least owning less! But as you said also, quality over quantity! 👍
I would love to hear more about this topic as you gradually discover more advantages of living in a smaller home.
I’m glad for you about the fact that you experienced more togetherness and closeness as a family. That is so important! 💗💗Have a blessed week! 💙💚💛
Thank you so much Monique! God bless!🌸😊💜
My home is the same size as yours, takes much less time to clean than our previous huge home. Have a lot more time to relax✨
Isn't it great Kathryn?!👊😉 Thank you and God bless!🌸😊💜
Excellent video Robin! I like to think that we “right sized” when we moved 3 years ago. Slightly smaller home and yard and since we are empty nesters we reminded ourselves that MOST of the time it’s just my husband and I! No regrets!!!
That's great Laura! Have a wonderful week and God bless!🌸😊💜
Hi Robin! I agree 💯 percent! It is so gratifying to downsize and go through your stuff and donate or giveaway the things you don’t need. It saves time, money, space and just frees up your home and mi d for other things that are more important. You are getting soooo close to 100K subscribers!!!! What an accomplishment that will be for you!! Keep well and “see” you next Sunday!
Thank you Jennifer - you and I are on the same page for sure! I appreciate your encouragement and support very much. God willing, I am looking forward to reaching 100K with you all soon. I couldn't do it without you! God bless!🌸😊💜
Hi Robin! I missed seeing Austin. I look forward to taking a peek at him! Also whenever i tell my husband about your videos, i refer to you as “my friend Robin was saying such & such or my friend Robin was showing how to….”. So now when i mention you, he knows who i am talking about!
Thank you Christine! I will try to get some "Austin Antics" into a video very soon - maybe he'll make an appearance in a "short" so that you can get a peek. 😉 I think of you as a friend as well and I am so honored that you would invite me into your home each week. God bless!🌸😊💜
I honestly considered showing this one to my husband, Robin, as I am SO READY to downsize and he is not 🙄. In my case, I am simply tired of cleaning (or being nagged by the things that must be cleaned that I don't always get to each week. In my 60's, it is a constant struggle...4 bathrooms; 2 that are rarely used...yep I can totally relate to that part!). In his case, he has a professional recording studio out in our garage that he uses for the video production work he does to support charities, fundraisers, etc. on a volunteer basis. Clearly, he's still having too much fun😊. I certainly can't fault him for that! Of course, I can't really say I'm ready to downsize if I still have rooms to declutter. It's a work in progress. As always, you inspire me! Thanks for sharing the surprising benefits. Have a wonderful week!
Thank you Joan! I think you are not alone. Many things must be factored into this choice and I will pray that when the timing is right, you will be able to realize your dream. It sounds like your husband has a wonderful calling, and what a blessing to have the space for him to accomplish such important work. Maybe an even better recording studio space is out there to be found in God's timing. God bless! 🌸😊💜
Love the part where you said a smaller space brings more family unity💕
Thank you Julie and God bless! 🌸😊💜
Hi Robin! I really loved your video, because in youtube we see over and over again houses bigger every time, and it seems to me like the owners "work" for their home, but they don't enjoy them. So, I find really important and real that you share with us your experience. And also, beauty and cozy don't belong to bigger houses. (And as always, I apologize for my bad english haha)
Boy it is tricky here in Northern California. We would love to move out of our 3000 square-foot home, after raising our five children here. However, new homes are costing almost as much. And then figuring in window treatments, landscaping, etc.--
really put us in quandary.
We moved and downsized 14 years ago. Such a great decision and we’ve never regretted it! Great video and so close to 100,000 subscribers! How awesome!!
So we’ll said. I have never lived in a large home so I don’t have perspective on that. But I think your new home is great and know from your sweet spirit you are making it the most wonderful place to be.
Thank you so much Betty! God bless!🌸😊💜
Such an excellent and thoughtful video, Robin! I think that I mentioned this in a previous comment but I think that the challenge of organizing smaller spaces and making them functional is fun and can be very rewarding. Standing in front of a much smaller cabinet or closet and thinking through how to make it functional is like solving a puzzle! It's very evident that you are enjoying your new home and lifestyle so much. Thank you for sharing what you're learning with us. It's very motivational and inspiring!
Thank you Elise! You are so right - the challenges are a part of the fun! Have a wonderful week and God bless!🌸😊💜
This was a great video that I needed to hear. We are in the process of downsizing our home, and I'll admit, it's hard to part with some things, especially furniture we've had for many years. One of the main reasons we are choosing to move is due to reducing property taxes and less square footage to maintain. Thank you for sharing your tips as they were very helpful to me. It helped me gain a better perspective on this transition in life. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family.
I'm so glad that you found this helpful! I pray that your move goes well and that you are content with your decision. I hope that you discover all the benefits mentioned and more. God bless!🌸😊💜
Good points! All of them. I live in a smaller home, less housework, less yard work, less stress. 👍🏻🙂 Thanks for sharing and have a blessed and wonderful week! 🌸
Thank you Carla! Isn't it wonderful?! Have a blessed start to your week!🌸😊💜
I have a 2500 square foot house on almost 2 acres that I have owned for 27 years. In all the years I have owned this house, I have never really been able to enjoy it because there always seemed to be something that needed painted, power washed, stained, weeded, grass cut, trees trimmed, branches picked up and the list goes on and on. That’s just the stuff on the outside. I live in the Northeast so during the winter I am doing all the maintenance inside and then during the warmer months it’s outside maintenance, and so the cycle repeats. I’m tired and ready to downsize. I have been decluttering for the last 3 years.
We are in the process of moving from two bedroom one washroom to a two bedroom two washrooms and this video helped me to appreciate that less is more. We used to struggle at times as we are a family of seven. Plus we are now on the ground floor instead of on the second floor.
I agree with all your observations. Your "smaller space" is 2.5 times the size of my home.
So well said Robin! I go by the phrase, “less is more”.
Less definitely can be more. Excess stuff can cause unnecessary stress. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Welcome back, Robin. I missed you last week.
My husband and I left our acreage in the country and moved to a duplex/condo in town several years ago, but while downsizing the property was great, we downsized too much in terms of housing space. So we built our dream home and now live in a 4200 sq. ft. home the largest we've ever owned and as empty nesters! . It would be very difficult to maintain, but my husband helps. We know we will eventually have to leave this place for something smaller but for now we love our home.
I think the key is that no matter the size, if you love your home, that’s where you need to be!
Kathy, I completely agree with Lori! Each family has unique needs - one size does not fit all. I'm glad you love where you are!🌸😊💜
I couldnt agree more, Robin! We LOVE our smaller home! Its so lovley; and so homey. Its my sanctuary; and I wouldnt trade it for the world. This is our place. ♥️
What a great video, my friend! We have so much in common!
See you in the next one; have a great week! ~ Audrey 🤍🏡🌤
I absolutely love that Audrey! The love you have for your home is expressed so well and it warms my heart that you are completely content! God bless you and your family! 🌸😊💜
@@FaithandFlour
Awe; thank you so much Robin! I certainly do love having less “house”, but more “home.”
♥️
Thank you for doing this video, and for the sweet comment!
I agree with you 100%! We would love to move out of our large home and downsize, but although we would get a decent price for a big house we’d overspend on a smaller one in the area we live in. So we’re just trying to wait it out until the housing market evens out a little bit.
Same with us. We will get a good price for our large home, but smaller ones in our local market cost even more!
I am very pleased that you are very comfortable in your new home. I think with all your renovations, etc you have also encouraged all of us in our own renovations.. Thank you so much for your encouragement! You have reminded us again of what is important!
I totally agree! We downsized to a much smaller house and I love it!! I don’t miss our big house a bit, and that surprised me at first, but this house is so much easier to clean. We have saved so much money on utilities,…all the reasons you gave are spot on!!
We are in a big house now with big family but I try to keep things minimal. The cleaning can definitely be overwhelming.
*You are so insightful! Thank you for sharing your gracious words!*
All smart info….all we are daily on top of as well. We have just moved to the state our kids grew u0 in and have 4/6 grands!!! People over things…..exactly…..we are working on plans for a new house and have purchased a piece of land in the same town as one of my sons…..just keeping costs down in planning this new stage is going to be the challenge. Thanks for the tips
I think it depends on the beginning size of the house. For us, we went from 1500 to 2400sqft and it was a complete blessing. Being a prepper, I needed space for an extended pantry and freezer. 3 cats with litter boxes was always a challenge in my smaller home. More due to the layout of the house instead of the size. For me, the bigger house is much easier to keep clean because everything has a home now and things are jammed into shared spaces. We went from a smaller house with a huge yard to a larger house and smaller yard which we love. Yard work was a major time thief. Our house is now large enough to host more family being able to visit. I regularly go through different areas to clear out things not used and things no longer needed. We didn't buy new furniture to fill those extra rooms. Facebook marketplace and thrift stores were a great resource for those items. It just took patience. Eventually something we needed always showed up. That includes home decor as well. I think it all depends on each person's needs as to whether downsizing is a plus or minus. Do you think your family would have downsized had it not been for the need to relocate?
Good points! This is our story, but there are many factors and choices that each family needs to carefully consider that are unique to each family and situation. We have always planned to downsize, but we were patiently waiting for the right set of circumstances. 🌸😊💜
We are downsizing to new retirement home. Looking to the freedom of less cleaning and less stuff. Great video.
All the best for your move Susan! God bless!🌸😊💜
I downsized 2 years ago when I became a widow. At first it was hard and the place never seemed to be tidy I realised this was because although I had downsized my possessions I had not do enough. Over the two years I have used up some of the things I had stock piled and also some of the stuff I had kept but didn’t really use or need. I have now got more storage in place and less possessions to find homes for and my life is much better. I totally agree with all the benefits you talked about in the video. I can do my cleaning in a quarter of the time, the monthly outgoings have halved, the property upkeep is less expensive and also takes less time. To sum it up it has become a win win situation.
Your other home was beautiful, but your current home is so much more practical. You can be free to enjoy reading, etc. So happy for you. I am in the process of getting rid of extra things. Lorraine
Absolutely Lorraine! Thank you and God bless!🌸😊💜
Robin I agree. In fact, my husband and I have realized we could downsize even more! It indeed make your life less complicated and frees you to do more with less.
I agree completely! Thank you Kathy and God bless!🌸😊💜
Love that one Mrs Robin , down size your home 🏡 to upgrade your life 🙏 great video. bring family closer 💕
Thank you so much Georgia and God bless!🌸😊💜
@@FaithandFlour 🙏💕 blessings
We're raising our 7 children in a 1,400 sq ft home. We homeschool and are on a very limited ministry budget. It always surprises me how much Americans feel they "need". We're debt free and haven't killed each other. Lol. It's really not that hard. Having been out on the mission field and seen how others live, I am so thankful for the home they would consider a mansion.
Yes totally agree with your advice, I have always longed for a garden however I’ve been blessed with living in an excellent area with lovely neighbours. I’m getting older so a smaller home suits me down to the ground Robin. Blessings to you and your family from Ireland 🇮🇪💜🙏
That is so wonderful Eileen! I'm glad that you too love your smaller home and that it suits you so well. God bless!🌸😊💜
There is a farmer close to my house that rents for the summer small plots of land for gardening. It’s all fenced in and the farmer prepares the soil each year. It’s great for people who live in condos or townhomes but still want to have a garden. It’s also great because a bunch of people rent plots so everyone ends up sharing vegetables, flowers etc. Great way to meet people and also learn a lot.
We live in a 1000 sq ft home! Yours is large compared to ours. The only thing I want is a room large enough for our extended to eat. Our dining area is 8x8. We have Sunday dinners as a family twice a month and thankfully our grandson’s home has the room for four generations!
I think that's great Gloria! I'm glad you have a solution for your family gatherings and that your home suits your needs otherwise. I think we could actually go even smaller. We lived in our RV while doing renovations and it was about 250 sqft. It had everything we needed - although family gatherings would be an issue for us too. 🌸😊💜
Great Robin! I downsized to a smaller home about 7 1/2 yrs ago and it was really hard for a long time to realize I didn't have the wall or room space to bring new things in - but I finally am learning to quit buying everything that looks cute and start letting go of things! Have a blessed week ahead!
Thank you and God bless! 🌸😊💜
I’ve lived in a 25,000 sq. foot home most of my adult life. I’ve always thought I’d like a bigger house. When I discovered your channel, in your former home, I experienced vicarious pleasure in watching you keep your large home so beautiful. I’ll sheepishly admit now that I was disappointed when you decided to downsize. But in watching you transition into your new home, I learned two things. One, that a smaller home can be just as charming and beautiful as a large home. And two, that it’s what YOU bring to that home, no matter it’s size, that makes all the difference. Thank you for helping me see that my small home is exactly the right home for me.
Thank you Denise! 💗😊💗
Hi Robin…I agree with you on all points…but cleaning is cleaning right! Always gotta clean and you are right you don’t clean as much and that’s the best part. I went to a smaller home of 2900 square feet and it’s plenty for me and hubby! I’m glad that you are finding so much comfort in your home. Have a great week, God bless and thanks for the motivation!
So true Revita! If I discover a way around cleaning I will definitely let you know! In the meantime, we'll get through the cleaning together - and in less time in our smaller homes! God bless! 🌸😊💜
Absolutely agree with you on downsizing being a positive thing. For me, “Less is more”! Love your videos Robin! 💐🌸🌺
Thank you so much! God bless!🌸😊💜
Is a European, it sometimes surprise me how big the average house is in America. Not in a bad way, but it seems to be almost twice the size of the average house in Europe. :)
I do like the feeling of lots of space. But as a single person (living so small that I have only 'upsized' to 55 square meters, about 592 square feet), I actually like this size. My main living space is a large room, about half of the apartment space, and very multi functional (bedroom, dining room, living room and occasional workout room). There are less rooms to clean, it takes barely any time at all.
I was starting to feel a bit like I was lacking storage, but then I did a huge declutter. And what I found was, when you have the space, you keep a ton of things you never really use or value. A smaller space helps you limit that, so decluttering is less overwhelming, because there is a limit to how much can build up.
We live in a small home, around 1600 sq ft. What you said about more love is so true. In a small home, there are not as many places to hide away from your family. You have to learn to get along with everyone, and I believe it’s teaching my kids how to better get along with each other.
Totally agree. One of your best videos. Thanks and have a good day. 👍
That is so sweet of you Pauline! Thank you and God bless!🌸😊💜
We downsized from 3000sqft to 1200sqft once all the kids permanently left the home. It is so much easier to keep clean and maintained, has decreased our electric bill because we are heating/cooling a much smaller, more compact space without all the open space our larger home had. I hadn’t realized how many unused kitchen gadgets and unworn clothes we had until we had to be thoughtful on what we actually used and wore and either gave our kids what gadgets they wanted or donated them to a transitional women’s shelter. Clothes, shoes, linens, towels were all decluttered and donated or given to our children for their first apartments/homes. We went from 5 beds/3 baths, dining room, living & family rooms and a den to a 2 bed/1bath cottage and WE. LOVE. IT! When kids and grandkids visit, air mattresses are utilized but we all just enjoy the togetherness the smaller home gives us.
Hi Robin - you certainly are getting close to 100,000 subscribers. I’m excited for you. As you know I will be downsizing sometime in the near future. Not exactly sure when because some of it will depend on what my family decides to do. The biggest thing for me is the maintaining a house that I only live in a few rooms. Of course I love my home and have raised my children here. At one time it was bursting at the seams with their friends etc. but now it’s just me and so much of the house is really not used. I built this house in 1979 so with its aging things are starting to go wrong. Kinda like me as I age. Ha ha. I have been doing so much better and able to do a lot more than I was able to do a few months ago. I’ve lost 32 pounds and my blood sugar is down to normal and my doctor has even taken me off some very expensive medicine. Thanks for this great video. Love in Christ.
Hi Donna! I'm so glad to hear about all of the progress you have made and that you are feeling much better! Praise God! 🙏 I will continue to pray for your health and for the plans surrounding your downsize. Big hugs to you my sweet sister in Christ! 🌸😊💜
Totally agree. We decided to re-emigrate from Scotland back to the Netherlands and will downsize to be able to have more time and money to travel.
I love that Els! I pray that all goes well for your move and wish you happy travels!🌸😊💜
Thank you so much for the inspiration. We are a mid60s couple, 22 years in an upstairs 2BR apartment on the list for a downstairs 1 bedroom due to difficulty with stairs. Even with no deadline, its difficult to know where to start clearing out. Its not necessarily going from 750 down to 625 square feet, its losing the spare hobby-music-storage room!
Storage can be one of the biggest challenges for sure! God bless!
🌸😊💜
i agree that a ‘smaller’ home is better in so many ways than a larger one! my husband & i are DINKs & bought a 3-2-2 (1300 sq ft.) in 2020 and have a mortgage well within our means. most of our friends purchased wayyy larger homes with gigantic mortgages and some are really struggling now due to covid & the economy. i will never trade my peace of mind for a bigger house or lifestyle creep. i’m going to try painting a room here or there & repainting some furniture since everything we have is in good shape, i think i’ve just outgrown the style. but that’s the fun of it, i have the time and money to try some new things so here i go! :) kudos to you and your family for recognizing the downsizing as an opportunity for positive change! i appreciate all that you are able to share with us. i always learn a lot! have a great week! 🥰
You are the most amazing person ever. I can't remember how many years I have been following you, but the things you say and do are life changing for me too. I would love you to give a detail description of your home furnishings. Which ones are new and how did you decided on each new piece of furniture you bought. I love you decor and would really like to know where you got it from. The kitchen is much smaller than your other home, however, I truly like it better. It seems so functional. ALso, I would love you to do a vlog on your daily chores like you did in your other home. Can you tell us about the pool and how you are liking that because you didn't have one in the other house right? How is Payton adjusting to a smaller home too?
Thanks Robin for all your ideas. WE sure love you.
Thank you so much Roberta! It has been very special to have you with me through these years on RUclips. I appreciate all of your kind words and encouragement more than I can say. I also love your feedback and will try to answer all of your questions in my upcoming videos. Payton is doing so well and we are very happy with how well he has adjusted to everything. God is so good! May He bless you and your family! 🌸😊💜
It's shocking how large houses are in the US. Where I grew up upper middle class, 4 family houses, were 900-1,200 sq. ft. I live in the US now in a 690 sq. ft apartment and we truly don't need more space for two people and a couple pets. When I was living by myself, 450 sq. ft was about the size for me to have everything I wanted and needed.
I think and see that younger people are getting more accustomed to 300-900 sq. ft apartments and getting more in touch with how much space they actually need. With high prices and being accustomed to a smaller space, I think demand for smaller houses will increase. I'd encourage most people in the US to downsize, you'll make it work.
I’m glad you are happy and rested❤️❤️❤️🤗
The hubs and I are in the season of life of taking care of my mom in her home. The house is 1700sqft with 4bd/2ba. We have a guest room for the guests we never receive and a dining/living room combo that no one ever goes into - such a waste of space. When my husband and I think of our dream home, it's a 2bd/2ba home. Location: TBD 😜 But I am done (and I'm only 47) maintaining such a big place for nothing. Honestly, I don't even really bother cleaning those areas, but just knowing they're there unused, and worse storing crap we don't use (in the guest closet, in cabinet end tables, and in the china cabinet) just leaves me so unsettled. OH, and our dream home will have an industrial strength hood vent over the stove! I'm so happy for you and your family, Robin. Your new home is coming along so beautifully 💚
We live in the East Bay area, and live in a home that is 1900 square feet. If I look our home up on Zillow, it is worth an outrageous 1.8 million. But we have poured our heart and souls into this home we have lived in since 1999. Everything is small (4 bedroom, 2 bath), but we have remodeled every square inch and it is perfect for us. The outside is perfect. We live on a half acre, and we have remodeled our back and front yards so they look perfect to us. We love our bay area cottage. It is perfect, and I have to think twice before buying clutter that I may desire. Instead I just buy something if I love it. I have to have self control, and we live in a very beautiful, likeminded to us place. We are blessed.
Paul McCartney chose to live in a smaller house with his family to enjoy that family togetherness. I find that same familial joy in our small house. I also find myself more attached to my small dwelling, wanting to care for it and make it cozy compared to a larger more austere home.
Makes so much sense. Love your new home.
This definitely captured all the reasons we are so happy we recently downsized to a much smaller cozy home! Thank you 😊new subscriber
Welcome!!💛😊💛
@@FaithandFlour thank you 😊
We have a very small home. It is just right for us. I understand what you are saying. Have a great week
Thank you Judy and God bless!🌸😊💜
We downsized last year from a 2400 sq ft home to a 1100 sq ft home. I absolutely love it. I naturally have a very minimalist style, and it is plenty of room for our family. Our children share bedrooms, which I think is good for them. And I like that I do not have a big house to manage.
Hi, Robin, and welcome back. I hope you and your family had quality R&R together! ~ My question is, have you become acclimated to your new kitchen yet? I think it's the most difficult room to get adjusted to when you move or remodel. ~ You have a great week as well.
Thank you Linda! I really love our new kitchen. It helped tremendously that I could design the space to suit our needs. It was challenging in the beginning to sort out the organization, but it's working great. Have a wonderful week and God bless!🌸😊💜
Really enjoyed this one. We are in England and looking to do the same as our girls are starting to move out. We are mortgage free, but it’s so expensive to buy here that it will free up some money towards a good down payment for them each in future. Would love to some videos on your garden plans and enjoy your meal planning/budgeting videos too 😊.
Thanks for sharing. Those are great points. I want about the same size as our old house and more land since I want to homestead.
Thank you Jean! That's a great goal! God bless!🌸😊💜
Glad you’re back 😀
Thank you Lisal! Have a blessed week!🌸😊💜
Really agree with all your points and perspective on down sizing!!! Thank you for sharing. Bigger is not better lol!!!
Thank you and God bless!🌸😊💜
Hi Robin, How refreshing to hear this message on social media! Was this your idea, your husbands or brought about by joint conversations?
We have not left our 1000 Sq ft new raised ranch and have created space for 7 children, home education and the children’s businesses they start after graduation.
We cannot imagine the monthly bills in a larger home and must continue to think “where will this fit” before buying anything.
Thanks for sharing! Julie 🌷
I agree, we just did this. Love it!
Wonderful Cheryl! God bless!🌸😊💜
I can relate to so much that you mentioned. Another great video. You really did save the best 'til last. I totally agree.
Thank you so much Michelle! God bless!🌸😊💜
here here to all your great points hi Mr Austin
Thank you Sara! Austin sends his love! 🌸😊💜🐾
Hi Robin 👋🏻
I really enjoyed your insights on downsizing. Thanks for sharing! You’re so close to 100K subs! Congrats!! God keeps ‘expanding your territory’ and blessing your YT ministry. You’re an awesome and classy lady. Blessings 🌿
Great ideas, options and discoveries. Thank you for sharing today's video, it's wonderful, wise and helpful. Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you Cynthia and God bless you and your family as well!🌸😊💜
@@FaithandFlour Thank you Robin!!
I have been looking for ways to simplify our life. I am finding it a challenge though. I raised a family in a 4000 sq ft home with a large yard. It was a lot of work caring for 3 children and the house and yard. In my 50s I got divorced and moved into 1649 sq ft rambler with a simple yard. It was such a relief to have a smaller house. When I got remarried we wanted a view home. We shopped for 2 years to and were not able to find a modest size home but we did find a fabulous 3700 sq ft home with an amazing view in a wonderful location at an incredible price. We are now in our 60s and still have the smaller home as a rental and it is now time to do a renovation of our primary residence. On top of those 2 homes for the past 28 years I have owned and operated a vacation rental 3 hours from our residence. We love our vacation home and spend a significant amount of time there. We love our primary residence. It is really a challenge to see our way to simplifying. We will be selling our long term rental but that still leaves us with 2 good size homes and 2 yards to maintain. Having the larger house allows us to host larger church groups and entertain easily. It is a lot to keep up with though. Travel is also a priority for us as well and that would be easier with less responsibilities.
Yay ❤❤❤❤ sooo happy to see this before bedtime .
Thank you Penny! Sleep well and have a wonderful start to your week! 🌸😊💜
Your old laundry room was the thing I envied the most LOL.
Each home has elements we miss. Do you miss any particular room from your last house?
Probably the laundry room as well, but eventually we plan to renovate the one here, so it will be fun to design that. Thank you Lori and God bless! 💗😊💗
We have a townhouse and have been here for 12 years it’s our first home. Here in the Toronto area the house prices are so high I don’t think much people are buying larger homes. And the taxes are unbelievably high as well. Living in Canada is very very expensive. We will stay where we are. Homes in my street are being sold for 760000$ thousand dollars, for a townhouse. It’s very high.
That makes sense Janice! In our area housing prices and property taxes are higher than ever with no apparent end in sight. It makes a lot of sense to love your townhome and keep the cost of living within reason. Have a great week and God bless!🌸😊💜
Hi Robyn since I left my job of 17 years to stay home with my daughters it’s just impossible to move. Plus our mortgage is very low and our townhouse has 3 beds and 2 baths. Perfect for us, and a good size backyard for a garden. Enjoy your week.
I’m going to downsize my home in the next 4-6 weeks . Can’t wait!
In Europe, there is also transport costs and walkability!
With smaller homes/flats, there is a stronger concentration of people, which in turn leads to more shops/other amenities closer and more walkability.
My parents have a 200 square meters home with a 800 square meters garden in France. We always need a car to go anywhere! Even to go to the tramway, but especially to go shopping for groceries. Only the primary school was within walking distance. We lived in the UK for a few years in a much smaller home with a much much smaller garden. We were surrounded with similar homes and everything aside from my dad's work was within walking distance. He biked to work and we didn't have a car for 5 years. I stayed in the UK, at university we had a 5 bedroom house with a tiny tiny garden in an area with many students, so most houses were full to the brim. All shops were super close, I only needed the bus for university. Now I live in a one bedroom flat near the centre of London, and we don't need a car either. We have 4 large supermarkets of different price points, hundreds of takeaways, and a zero waste shop within a 10 mins walk, the gym accross the street, bus in front of our house and only need the tube to go to work or go see friends. If I wanted a garden, I would need to move to less walkable areas. I understand the US in general is less walkable, but while before I valued space and especially large gardens, now having lived so long in walkable areas I think they are very underated. It's a life changer to just walk everywhere, and when I was a teenager it gave me so much more independence. The only downside is I'm now 21 without a driving license, which feels like a burden when I visit my parents in France in their not very walkable area.
I think your new home looks beautiful. I’m so happy our home will be done with a mortgage when my husband retires. Travel will be a priority for us too. With your new location how are you going about making new friends?
Thank you Jennifer! We are making friends with our neighbors that we see when out walking Austin and getting to know the parents of Payton's friends at work and through his activities. Everyone has been so welcoming and we feel very blessed. God bless you and your family as well!🌸😊💜
Never thought about all these advantages my small house. They are true. We live in a 2 bedroom and 1 bathroom house. Family of 3 humans and 2 cats.
And I never missed a room for guests. I prefer to pay for the hotel bill once a year. Much cheaper than owning a bigger house.
Outstanding!!!!
Thank you! 🌸😊💜
Wonderful video 👍 Thank you as always ❤️🇬🇧
So nice of you Alisha! Thank you and have a blessed week!🌸😊💜