By Darla Youngblood
When I was raising my daughter and son as a divorced single Mom, I rented 3 bedroom houses so they could each have their own room. When your raising your children you need that space. But once my children grew up and moved out on their own, I started renting a one bedroom apartment. I really enjoy the small space! I’ve gotten rid of almost everything I had when I moved into a one bedroom apartment. Right now I have in my living room a recliner loveseat I found on Facebook marketplace for only 134 dollars! There is nothing wrong with it at all! The woman and her second husband had remodeled their house and didn’t need it anymore. She had bought it with her First husband who passed away so she no longer needed it. It’s a name brand piece of furniture very good quality. I had bought a basket cabinet a long time ago and brought it into my living room. Then a neighbor and friend bought me a 40 inch TV for 14 dollars at Goodwill and my daughter bought me a fire stick from Amazon and my neighbor programmed my TV and remote for me! So for less than 150 dollars I have a new living room! A former neighbor had given me a coach and I had that and a big wooden desk and a nightstand in my living also both given to me and some men in my church took all 3 pieces of furniture to Goodwill for me. Anything I have that was given to me or even that I bought and don’t want anymore I donate to Goodwill or another charity. I also had a table and chairs given to me that I just so happened to tell a Uber driver about it and he and his fiancé needed a table so I gave it to them. I had just bought a huge wooden table from my neighbor who was moving out and she sold it to me for 25 dollars! So my dining room and living room are all new to me for less than 200 dollars. I keep my floors in the entire apartment clean because right now I’m using a walker and electric wheelchair because I need a knee replacement surgery. So having such a small amount of stuff in my small apartment is wonderful! I enjoy the smaller space! Less to clean, less money for rent each month. I live less than two miles from my Walmart Neighborhood Market where I have my pharmacy and can also pick up anything I need for food while I’m in there. I enjoy the apartment complex having good neighbors who have also become friends.
So this weeks cutting cost tip is think seriously about downsizing your home to a smaller house if you want to buy a house or to an apartment if your tired of the maintenance of a house and you will have all the maintenance work done for you when you rent. Living in a smaller house or apartment means you have more time for important things like spending time with your family and friends! That’s much more important than pouring your time and energy and money into the place you live. No one will ever care how big a space you live in when they visit. They are coming to see you and spend time with you not caring how big your house is. So consider downsizing and making your life more simple comfortable and stuff free!