“Your goal is to downsize. Not over analyze.” That stopped me cold. You should trademark that. We are downsizing to a 500 sq ft condo. Getting ready for “flexpat” life. I have had so much regret on how much money I’ve spent and trying to ameliorate that loss by selling and even giving away to the “right” people. it has been crippling. I have been over analyzing to the max. Now I will forgive myself. Have compassion for the person who “really did need” this stuff at the time. And move forward. At peace. Lesson learned. Thank you. You guys are great.
Thank you so much for watching, Catherine! We really had to learn to let go of "sunk" costs and be okay with the use we got out of our stuff, even though we got literal pennies on the dollar for many of our items. Your attitude is spot on. It does not serve you in any way to beat yourself up. I promise that the feelings of freedom and lightness are worth going through the process. Good luck in your process! -Judy ✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
Thanks so much, Diane & Joe! It's not an easy process, especially when you do it like us (with lots of changes in your plans and then not a lot of lead time). We learned so many things in the process! But we LOVE how much lighter our lives are! -Judy
Great tips! Every community has different donation options so check what might be special in your area. Free Geek in Portland Oregon is great for used tech, for example. Also check for free hazardous waste donation sites to dispose of unused cleaning items rather than dumping. It seemed in our area they pop up in different parts of town on a variable schedule. For family, I made sure to return special items gifted to me (I got a handmade quilt from a family member so I gave that back) and our boys got all their items to address themselves.
Great suggestions, Erin! If you have time, we'd love you to take a look at our downsizing worksheet to gather your thoughts on anything we missed. I'll mention returning special items, but we did cover hazardous waste donations. -Judy ✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
Great video! I have ALOT of clothes and shoes. I've been taking them to Goodwill a little at a time in preparation for our world travels when we retire. I put aside about 20 pairs of "better" party shoes that have been worn once or twice. I created those stacks about a year ago with the intent of selling those shoes. Per your video, I'll probably never really get around to selling them. Or, it will involve so much effort that I'll regret dealing with it. These nice shoes are going to Goodwill too. Some other lady with a small foot and a party life can enjoy them. Thank you for the kick in the butt! 😂❤
Hi @morrowcleveland, I had so much angst over my Rothy's flats and I just couldn't bear to part with them. But gosh how much time and energy I wasted on thinking about them instead of just choosing one pair and ditching the rest. And honestly? I ended up getting rid of even that one pair a few months after we started traveling because I had no use for flats without support when I was walking miles and miles each day! There is much to be said for donating them and putting good karma into the world. I loved when my stuff stopped living rent free in my brain! In case you haven't downloaded it yet, here's a link to the downsizing worksheets we built. -Judy ✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet 🎥 Our 5 Travel Secrets for Retirement as Full-Time Travelers: th-cam.com/video/Oc4tZ4M1v0w/w-d-xo.html 🎥 Health versus Wealth: th-cam.com/video/6avQGFbXa2I/w-d-xo.html
Another great video. Thank you. One place I've found success is my local "Buy Nothing" group. I think most cities have Buy Nothing groups you can join and post things to give away for free. So far I've given some kitchen supplies and a few pieces of furniture. I feel good helping a neighbor and it's another way to avoid a land full and not deal with the hassle of selling.
We actually mention Buy Nothing groups in our downsizing worksheet! Thanks so much for letting us know that you’ve had a good experience with the group in your community! We are very excited about your retirement, Christine, and the great progress you’re making on downsizing! ✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
Thank you for watching, Betty & Lee! It's all too easy to procrastinate. We understand, but we have found so much freedom and mental clarity with having less stuff. It's worth it! -Judy
Thank you so much for watching, Kathleen! We have an episode coming out tomorrow (Tuesday) about getting rid of your sentimental stuff. We hope it's helpful if you are following our downsizing series, which is linked below. -Judy 🎥 Downsizing for Retirement or Full-Time Travel: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF2xRusfMEQvN-5LZZqdnQIf.html
Great advice and recommendations. Getting rid of stuff efficiently on a regular basis is a life skill everyone should have. Stay ahead of it so you don’t get swamped later or leave it all for someone else to deal with. I’d say just try to always reduce conveniently because inevitably you are also acquiring stuff.
You are very right! I do think that when you do a huge declutter, it forces you to really see and take stock of your spending and all the wasted money. It can be very jarring. The flip side is that when you do downsize, even at a steady pace, you have the opportunity to have freedom from clutter and more mental clarity. There always needs to be a one-in, one-out mentality if you aren't getting rid of everything permanently. Your point about not leaving it all for someone else also is spot on! Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Hi! Judy & Kevin, Wow! Very interesting & comprehensive video. We have already done a huge downsize. We found that for our solid wood furniture we got about 10 cents on the dollar. Ouch! But once it was gone we didn’t think about it anymore. You talked about a number of resources that we didn’t know about. Thank you for sharing & blessings to you!! Marion & Jan 😁👍🏼
Thank you so much for watching, Marion and Jan! Congratulations on all the hard work you have put in already. It can feel daunting, but so empowering when you are finished. And you're wise to move on after the acknowledging the sunk cost of things. It can be hard to do, but it will help you to not to ever want to feel that way again regarding your stuff. Thanks for letting us know that this video was useful, especially since you're already deep in the process. Below is a link to our downsizing worksheets. We'd love to hear your thoughts on them and whether you have any additional suggestions. -Judy ✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
Do Something Everyday. When I moved and downsized, some expensive items went to thrift. I got my value out of these items, now time to let go. Allow some lead time for disposing of electronic and battery recycling, sometimes finding places to accept these items can take research. Let go, Let go - there is a new life ahead. I am not my stuff.
Hi Steven, Yes, it can be heartbreaking to get rid of expensive items, but you're right, you have to look beyond the cost. If the item isn't serving you, you shouldn't keep it. Regardless of how much it cost initially! And yes, it was a tremendous amount of research about how and where to dispose of our stuff. You have it absolutely right! Congratulations! It's a lesson that is not easy to learn. -Judy
I have been selling, donating and getting rid of my accumulated junks since pandemic 2020 (yes, it takes time). Believe it or not, I have sold more than 1000 items through eBay, FB Market place, and Craigslist. What a relief... ha ha ha.. that's what we all do in America.. over consumptions !! no wonder most of us are broke to the bone ! Now I have most of important stuffs fit into one checked in and one carry on luggage. I am ready to travel the world ! see you guys on the road !
Congratulations, @MountainGoat67! That is a lot of stuff you've sold! I think it's awesome that now you get to reap the benefits of all your hard work. Enjoy your travels! -Judy
I’ve had a couple of “living estate sales” just to downsize the things in my 4000 square foot personal home (and basement) to turn it into an airbnb. I think estate sales is the easiest way to dispose of things. My local estate sale company will even donate the leftovers and get the house clean and ready for sale!
Thanks for letting us know this worked for you, Emily, and for watching! Offhand, did they give you a flat price or take a percentage of the profits, and if it was a percentage, how high was it? We've heard about the donation process that estate companies will also do, but my understanding is that those extra come with an additional cost. Did you find that to be true in your situations? -Judy
Well I did my own living estate sales with the help of a few friends. But over the years I’ve actually worked some estate sales (my friends own the company) they charge 30% it includes the removal and clean up. Also the owner can specify if certain items don’t sell (or even set minimum pricing) that those items are not given away to charity. Since Covid they changed over to online estate sales and it’s the same process, they clean up the house give away items that don’t sell to charity.
As a side note, my husband and I are almost full time world travelers however we have kept a home base house here in New Mexico and our house is always “travel ready” as we rent it on Airbnb when we are gone. Plus we have 6 other units we also airbnb/mid term rentals. Everytime we are across the world and get the call that something needs repair we say “sell it all!” Hahaha
I don't feel comfortable selling anything I can't ship because it makes me nervous having people come to my house or meeting them somewhere. I'm not willing to die to get a little $ for my stuff. Luckily I really don't have anything worth anything.
I've met in public places like a nearby mall or in a public park that was near to our house. We never gave our home address except for when someone was picking up large items like furniture. Our last home was an apartment, so even if we met them outside, they didn't necessarily know our apartment number. We couldn't host a yard or garage sale, but for privacy purposes, it worked out! But we agree that if you don't feel comfortable with in-person exchanges, there are plenty of places that will accept your stuff. Thanks for watching! -Judy
We were just as nervous about it as well. We do it on eBay and we arranged pickup on the local county sheriff property. The money gets paid through the eBay app, and you just scan a QR code from the buyers email before handing over the item. But since they have already paid you, there's no negotiation on this day. It did go well on our first try. We sold a wood burning stove, so it was involved. Anything we can keep out of landfills. We ONLY communicate through ebay and we got a PO box out of the neighboring community, for our mailing address for the site(for returns). We rent the smallest box size possible, it costs us $32 per quarter, well worth it. We also use that to forward our mail to while extended travels. Our local thrift stores are packed to the rafters and are turning away a lot of donations. We sold a lot of our electronics first, and most went quickly. Now it's collectibles, miscellaneous household items and furniture, clothes and shoes are next.
@elizaC3024 Sounds like you are making good, steady progress. Congratulations! It's not easy and it is more time consuming than you realize. But it's a huge awakening to realize how much most of us have accumulated in our lives. -Judy
@ParisianThinker Are you saying that there's no place to donate items? The sales process can be very hard and time consuming-we get that. Are there people you can pay who would help with this process if you have physical constraints? There aren't any free services that help in the US, either. But the process is very freeing if you can tackle it. Of course the process can be daunting, but I think it works better if you don't think about tackling it all at once. You have to take it one bite at a time. We wish you all the best. -Judy
Thanks for this very helpful video. I was thinking that I'd use an estate sales agent to simplify the process of selling stuff, and then I'd donate whatever was left and in good condition. But my heart sank when I recently read that estate agents won't bother with a place that has contents with a total resale value of less than $10,000. I live in a 1,200 square foot house and know that I'm nowhere near that level. Does what I describe match your understanding, in case you've heard from others about this?
We didn't use an estate agent to help us, so I can't say for sure, but from what I'm reading, they expect to make a minimum of $3K and then will also want 20-50 percent of the profits. I've heard great things and also read horror stories, so using one isn't always as straightforward and easy as one would hope. I've heard that it makes sense to get quotes from multiple agencies if you are in a city or town big enough to have more than one option. It sounds like they also will donate items for you as part of the process, but I think you might need to negotiate all of it. You might want to reach out to an agent in your area to find out before you trust what you're hearing online because your area might be different. And perhaps they'd either be willing to take less if you do more, or you can give them more of the profits if your primary focus is to avoid doing the bulk of the work yourself. I'd probably be asking how they plan to price your goods as well if getting the most money out of it is your goal. Thanks so much for watching. Here's a link to our free download if you want to look through the other parts of the process just so you have your arms around the downsizing process. Good luck and we'd love to hear your findings. -Judy ✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you so much for this insight! I live in a big metro area, so there would be multiple estate agents, but also competition for their business from people with bigger houses. I'll start researching estate agents for my local area so I know whether working with one is a viable option. Thanks again.
Yes, we plan to keep everything in the US for the foreseeable future. It's hard to put them in other places when we aren't sure where we are planning to settle. While capital controls might be an issue, we personally choose not to spend a lot of time worrying about things that might or might not happen. Of course, you need to do what makes you the most comfortable, but there is so much in life you could worry about that all that worrying could strip joy out of the life you do get to lead. -Judy
Hi Enrique, We learned SO MUCH during our downsizing process. But it took a village. We left the US without having everything done. We had an amazing building manager in our building in San Francisco and she finished up the last of what we didn't resolve. She insisted through our process that she would take care of transporting our donations to the right organizations and managed some of our other stuff as well. Otherwise, we would have had to move our departure date. She was the true hero. We moved out a lot of our donations ourselves, but having her support was incredible. While it was a bit of a distraction to our efforts, she also had building residents come through and take what they wanted (before we left and afterwards). It was great to meet neighbors that we didn't know beforehand; we just wish we would have had more time to get to know them when we weren't under a deadline. But we learned some hard-fought lessons in that process, so we think we're qualified to help others avoid our mistakes! Thank you for always watching and stopping by to leave a comment. It's always a pleasure to hear from you! -Judy
“Your goal is to downsize. Not over analyze.” That stopped me cold. You should trademark that. We are downsizing to a 500 sq ft condo. Getting ready for “flexpat” life.
I have had so much regret on how much money I’ve spent and trying to ameliorate that loss by selling and even giving away to the “right” people. it has been crippling.
I have been over analyzing to the max. Now I will forgive myself. Have compassion for the person who “really did need” this stuff at the time.
And move forward. At peace. Lesson learned.
Thank you. You guys are great.
Thank you so much for watching, Catherine! We really had to learn to let go of "sunk" costs and be okay with the use we got out of our stuff, even though we got literal pennies on the dollar for many of our items. Your attitude is spot on. It does not serve you in any way to beat yourself up. I promise that the feelings of freedom and lightness are worth going through the process. Good luck in your process! -Judy
✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
Great tips. We are like you, we got rid of everything. It felt liberating when we first started downsizing. Definitely start as soon as you can.
Thanks so much, Diane & Joe! It's not an easy process, especially when you do it like us (with lots of changes in your plans and then not a lot of lead time). We learned so many things in the process! But we LOVE how much lighter our lives are! -Judy
Great tips! Every community has different donation options so check what might be special in your area. Free Geek in Portland Oregon is great for used tech, for example. Also check for free hazardous waste donation sites to dispose of unused cleaning items rather than dumping. It seemed in our area they pop up in different parts of town on a variable schedule. For family, I made sure to return special items gifted to me (I got a handmade quilt from a family member so I gave that back) and our boys got all their items to address themselves.
Great suggestions, Erin! If you have time, we'd love you to take a look at our downsizing worksheet to gather your thoughts on anything we missed. I'll mention returning special items, but we did cover hazardous waste donations. -Judy
✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
Great video! I have ALOT of clothes and shoes. I've been taking them to Goodwill a little at a time in preparation for our world travels when we retire.
I put aside about 20 pairs of "better" party shoes that have been worn once or twice. I created those stacks about a year ago with the intent of selling those shoes. Per your video, I'll probably never really get around to selling them. Or, it will involve so much effort that I'll regret dealing with it.
These nice shoes are going to Goodwill too. Some other lady with a small foot and a party life can enjoy them.
Thank you for the kick in the butt! 😂❤
Hi @morrowcleveland, I had so much angst over my Rothy's flats and I just couldn't bear to part with them. But gosh how much time and energy I wasted on thinking about them instead of just choosing one pair and ditching the rest. And honestly? I ended up getting rid of even that one pair a few months after we started traveling because I had no use for flats without support when I was walking miles and miles each day! There is much to be said for donating them and putting good karma into the world. I loved when my stuff stopped living rent free in my brain! In case you haven't downloaded it yet, here's a link to the downsizing worksheets we built. -Judy
✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
🎥 Our 5 Travel Secrets for Retirement as Full-Time Travelers: th-cam.com/video/Oc4tZ4M1v0w/w-d-xo.html
🎥 Health versus Wealth: th-cam.com/video/6avQGFbXa2I/w-d-xo.html
Another great video. Thank you. One place I've found success is my local "Buy Nothing" group. I think most cities have Buy Nothing groups you can join and post things to give away for free. So far I've given some kitchen supplies and a few pieces of furniture. I feel good helping a neighbor and it's another way to avoid a land full and not deal with the hassle of selling.
We actually mention Buy Nothing groups in our downsizing worksheet! Thanks so much for letting us know that you’ve had a good experience with the group in your community! We are very excited about your retirement, Christine, and the great progress you’re making on downsizing!
✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
Thanks for this video reminder and your tips! We've been procrastinating on downsizing for too long.
Thank you for watching, Betty & Lee! It's all too easy to procrastinate. We understand, but we have found so much freedom and mental clarity with having less stuff. It's worth it! -Judy
Really enjoy your videos. So enjoyable and informative.
Thank you so much for watching, Kathleen! We have an episode coming out tomorrow (Tuesday) about getting rid of your sentimental stuff. We hope it's helpful if you are following our downsizing series, which is linked below. -Judy
🎥 Downsizing for Retirement or Full-Time Travel: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF2xRusfMEQvN-5LZZqdnQIf.html
Great advice and recommendations. Getting rid of stuff efficiently on a regular basis is a life skill everyone should have. Stay ahead of it so you don’t get swamped later or leave it all for someone else to deal with. I’d say just try to always reduce conveniently because inevitably you are also acquiring stuff.
You are very right! I do think that when you do a huge declutter, it forces you to really see and take stock of your spending and all the wasted money. It can be very jarring. The flip side is that when you do downsize, even at a steady pace, you have the opportunity to have freedom from clutter and more mental clarity. There always needs to be a one-in, one-out mentality if you aren't getting rid of everything permanently. Your point about not leaving it all for someone else also is spot on! Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Hi! Judy & Kevin,
Wow! Very interesting & comprehensive video. We have already done a huge downsize. We found that for our solid wood furniture we got about 10 cents on the dollar. Ouch! But once it was gone we didn’t think about it anymore.
You talked about a number of resources that we didn’t know about. Thank you for sharing & blessings to you!! Marion & Jan 😁👍🏼
Thank you so much for watching, Marion and Jan! Congratulations on all the hard work you have put in already. It can feel daunting, but so empowering when you are finished. And you're wise to move on after the acknowledging the sunk cost of things. It can be hard to do, but it will help you to not to ever want to feel that way again regarding your stuff. Thanks for letting us know that this video was useful, especially since you're already deep in the process. Below is a link to our downsizing worksheets. We'd love to hear your thoughts on them and whether you have any additional suggestions. -Judy
✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you!! 😁👍🏼
Do Something Everyday. When I moved and downsized, some expensive items went to thrift. I got my value out of these items, now time to let go. Allow some lead time for disposing of electronic and battery recycling, sometimes finding places to accept these items can take research. Let go, Let go - there is a new life ahead. I am not my stuff.
Hi Steven, Yes, it can be heartbreaking to get rid of expensive items, but you're right, you have to look beyond the cost. If the item isn't serving you, you shouldn't keep it. Regardless of how much it cost initially! And yes, it was a tremendous amount of research about how and where to dispose of our stuff. You have it absolutely right! Congratulations! It's a lesson that is not easy to learn. -Judy
I have been selling, donating and getting rid of my accumulated junks since pandemic 2020 (yes, it takes time). Believe it or not, I have sold more than 1000 items through eBay, FB Market place, and Craigslist. What a relief... ha ha ha.. that's what we all do in America.. over consumptions !! no wonder most of us are broke to the bone !
Now I have most of important stuffs fit into one checked in and one carry on luggage. I am ready to travel the world ! see you guys on the road !
Congratulations, @MountainGoat67! That is a lot of stuff you've sold! I think it's awesome that now you get to reap the benefits of all your hard work. Enjoy your travels! -Judy
I’ve had a couple of “living estate sales” just to downsize the things in my 4000 square foot personal home (and basement) to turn it into an airbnb. I think estate sales is the easiest way to dispose of things. My local estate sale company will even donate the leftovers and get the house clean and ready for sale!
Thanks for letting us know this worked for you, Emily, and for watching! Offhand, did they give you a flat price or take a percentage of the profits, and if it was a percentage, how high was it? We've heard about the donation process that estate companies will also do, but my understanding is that those extra come with an additional cost. Did you find that to be true in your situations? -Judy
Well I did my own living estate sales with the help of a few friends. But over the years I’ve actually worked some estate sales (my friends own the company) they charge 30% it includes the removal and clean up. Also the owner can specify if certain items don’t sell (or even set minimum pricing) that those items are not given away to charity. Since Covid they changed over to online estate sales and it’s the same process, they clean up the house give away items that don’t sell to charity.
As a side note, my husband and I are almost full time world travelers however we have kept a home base house here in New Mexico and our house is always “travel ready” as we rent it on Airbnb when we are gone. Plus we have 6 other units we also airbnb/mid term rentals. Everytime we are across the world and get the call that something needs repair we say “sell it all!” Hahaha
Thanks, Emily, for this helpful information! -Judy
That's one of our reasons in a nutshell for not wanting to maintain properties. We don't want to have to deal with those types of calls! -Judy
I don't feel comfortable selling anything I can't ship because it makes me nervous having people come to my house or meeting them somewhere. I'm not willing to die to get a little $ for my stuff. Luckily I really don't have anything worth anything.
I've met in public places like a nearby mall or in a public park that was near to our house. We never gave our home address except for when someone was picking up large items like furniture. Our last home was an apartment, so even if we met them outside, they didn't necessarily know our apartment number. We couldn't host a yard or garage sale, but for privacy purposes, it worked out! But we agree that if you don't feel comfortable with in-person exchanges, there are plenty of places that will accept your stuff. Thanks for watching! -Judy
We were just as nervous about it as well. We do it on eBay and we arranged pickup on the local county sheriff property. The money gets paid through the eBay app, and you just scan a QR code from the buyers email before handing over the item. But since they have already paid you, there's no negotiation on this day. It did go well on our first try. We sold a wood burning stove, so it was involved. Anything we can keep out of landfills. We ONLY communicate through ebay and we got a PO box out of the neighboring community, for our mailing address for the site(for returns). We rent the smallest box size possible, it costs us $32 per quarter, well worth it. We also use that to forward our mail to while extended travels. Our local thrift stores are packed to the rafters and are turning away a lot of donations. We sold a lot of our electronics first, and most went quickly. Now it's collectibles, miscellaneous household items and furniture, clothes and shoes are next.
@elizaC3024 Sounds like you are making good, steady progress. Congratulations! It's not easy and it is more time consuming than you realize. But it's a huge awakening to realize how much most of us have accumulated in our lives. -Judy
Difficult to do this in France where no one has any money and there are no services to help with this effort.
@ParisianThinker Are you saying that there's no place to donate items? The sales process can be very hard and time consuming-we get that. Are there people you can pay who would help with this process if you have physical constraints? There aren't any free services that help in the US, either. But the process is very freeing if you can tackle it. Of course the process can be daunting, but I think it works better if you don't think about tackling it all at once. You have to take it one bite at a time. We wish you all the best. -Judy
Thanks for this very helpful video. I was thinking that I'd use an estate sales agent to simplify the process of selling stuff, and then I'd donate whatever was left and in good condition. But my heart sank when I recently read that estate agents won't bother with a place that has contents with a total resale value of less than $10,000. I live in a 1,200 square foot house and know that I'm nowhere near that level. Does what I describe match your understanding, in case you've heard from others about this?
We didn't use an estate agent to help us, so I can't say for sure, but from what I'm reading, they expect to make a minimum of $3K and then will also want 20-50 percent of the profits. I've heard great things and also read horror stories, so using one isn't always as straightforward and easy as one would hope. I've heard that it makes sense to get quotes from multiple agencies if you are in a city or town big enough to have more than one option. It sounds like they also will donate items for you as part of the process, but I think you might need to negotiate all of it. You might want to reach out to an agent in your area to find out before you trust what you're hearing online because your area might be different. And perhaps they'd either be willing to take less if you do more, or you can give them more of the profits if your primary focus is to avoid doing the bulk of the work yourself. I'd probably be asking how they plan to price your goods as well if getting the most money out of it is your goal. Thanks so much for watching. Here's a link to our free download if you want to look through the other parts of the process just so you have your arms around the downsizing process. Good luck and we'd love to hear your findings. -Judy
✅ Downsizing Prep Worksheet: findingginamarie.com/request-downsizing-prep-worksheet
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you so much for this insight! I live in a big metro area, so there would be multiple estate agents, but also competition for their business from people with bigger houses. I'll start researching estate agents for my local area so I know whether working with one is a viable option. Thanks again.
@@beththomas6514 Good luck. We'd love to hear what you learn. -Judy
Will you keep your bank accounts and brokerage accounts in the states? I am concerned about CBDC and capital controls.
Yes, we plan to keep everything in the US for the foreseeable future. It's hard to put them in other places when we aren't sure where we are planning to settle. While capital controls might be an issue, we personally choose not to spend a lot of time worrying about things that might or might not happen. Of course, you need to do what makes you the most comfortable, but there is so much in life you could worry about that all that worrying could strip joy out of the life you do get to lead. -Judy
Gee whiz, I'm exhausted just THINKING about what you two did to achieve your goals!
Hi Enrique, We learned SO MUCH during our downsizing process. But it took a village. We left the US without having everything done. We had an amazing building manager in our building in San Francisco and she finished up the last of what we didn't resolve. She insisted through our process that she would take care of transporting our donations to the right organizations and managed some of our other stuff as well. Otherwise, we would have had to move our departure date. She was the true hero. We moved out a lot of our donations ourselves, but having her support was incredible. While it was a bit of a distraction to our efforts, she also had building residents come through and take what they wanted (before we left and afterwards). It was great to meet neighbors that we didn't know beforehand; we just wish we would have had more time to get to know them when we weren't under a deadline.
But we learned some hard-fought lessons in that process, so we think we're qualified to help others avoid our mistakes! Thank you for always watching and stopping by to leave a comment. It's always a pleasure to hear from you! -Judy