Pick Your Space Wisely

Living in a smaller living area might be easier than you think. How much space needed to live is frequently confused by how much space is wanted. Sometimes having less is more. Less space can mean more convenience...or luxury. Having less space can mean having more money in your pocket to invest in other things like--more real estate. Thinking about living in a smaller space might seem counter intuitive for some, but it can be very freeing to those who make it work. There are 3.3 keys to living in a smaller space:

1. Live your needs
Living your needs means different things for different people. Every person has different needs. Some people need big houses to hold their big families. Some people work from home and need space to accommodate. Some people travel all the time and are rarely home. Every person has to decide what they need and decide to live in those needs. Living your needs will allow for financial prosperity as long as the needs are in proportion to income. Remember, living your needs doesn't mean you have to live in a hallway.

2. Get rid of JUNK!
Most people purchase homes to fit the amount of stuff they have. It is often a progression of more living space to fit the stuff they have filled into the old space...like a child purchasing new shoes to replace the outgrown old pair of shoes. Most of the stuff that isn't needed is better known as--JUNK! All of the following would be classified as JUNK--the shoes you haven't worn since 2003, the pants you haven't wore since college, and the free t-shirts you're holding on to, "Just in case I need it". Get rid of the stuff you don't need and haven't used in the last year. If you didn't use it in the last 12 months, chances are very good you will never us them again.

3. Stop boredom shopping
Boredom shopping is like boredom eating except rather than your belly getting fat your credit cards gets fat. There are multiple layers of problems when this happens that could be discussed, but let's focus on the fact that boredom shopping is the #1 cause of JUNK accumulation. Stop the boredom shopping and the bleeding will soon stop. This may mean no more late-night QVC or Ebay. OUCH!

3.3 Furnish to your space
How you furnish your space will determine the feel of your living environment. Large bulky furniture will make a smaller living space seem smaller. It is important to furnish your space to how much space you occupy(Furnish to your space). Things like Murphy beds are great for studios and provide the usable/functional/efficiency to limited space. Having simple efficient furniture will make a small space more enjoyable.