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Downsizing for retirement
Comments
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Dustyevsky said:We upsized on retirement, moving to a cheaper, but picturesque area. The advantage has been seeing more of our children, grandchildren and family, than might otherwise have been the case.In recent years, it's even been possible to house our youngest daughter and husband while they saved for a deposit, and without falling out!Just an alternative view from someone who didn't feel particularly old on retirement. I reckon by 80 I will, so that's when I plan to downsize....if only the garden!0
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lincroft1710 said:I have a 60 year old book of new (then) individually built houses. One of them was built for an elderly couple who were "downsizing" from a manor house. The Gross Internal Area of the new house was about 375 sq metres plus attics!
I find them absolutely fascinating, but they obviously assumed that only 'the better off' would read them. One item (1920s, so discussed the problem of getting 'staff' in this post war, leaner, world) featured a number of house designs 'for those of modest means'. This meant including a separate sitting room for the 'dailies' (a cook and housemaid) but not bedrooms for residential staff. Because 'modest means' = 'too poor to afford live in staff'.
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louby40 said:We downsized last year from a 4 bed 3 storey townhouse to a newer 3 bed semi. We had 2 bedrooms and a bathroom that weren't even being used and basically stored suitcases.
I had cancer in 2021 and although fully recovered now, my love for my teaching job had gone so the move was spurred on by wanting a different way of life. Moving and being mortgage free was the answer. There was some equity left over to sort out the garden, new kitchen and the rest has gone into an ISA .
We are close to a supermarket and a pub. We have some lovely walks around us and can catch a bus easily once we can no longer drive.
It has been a challenge adapting to a smaller house, maximising storage has been key and a MASSIVE declutter was in order. We are in the same area so still close to family and friends.But at nearly 57 I've just retired from teaching and am about to become a self employed, part time online trainer.
Downsizing was definitely the answer for us.
Interestingly my wife is also a teacher and at 52 feels her love has gone and her vast experience overlooked for young newly qualified but ambitious teachers. One of the drivers for the move is to free up capitol so she doesn't have to work - or at least take a break.. Perhaps build up a tuition business.
I'm mid fifties and stuck in a job that pays well but is soul destroying.
I also want to retire by 60 and enjoy retirement whilst healthy.0 -
vic_sf49 said:I'd pay off the flat, move to it, and live there for a year (if it's not too small), to see if living in that area is what you really want.You might be there 2 months, and something about the area drives you nuts (flipping tourists etc), and you decide to rethink where you want to live.It also might challenge you on how much space you want or need, vs how much you think you can downsize by.
Probably be divorcing each other when we get cabin fever0 -
subjecttocontract said:I don't understand the need to downsize either. Many of our friends & family have downsized and often ask when we will do the same. I've been retired over 20 years with no interest in downsizing. If I moved I'd probably buy a much larger place....after all, you can never have enough space. I think I would seriously struggle in a smaller property. We've had quite a few properties that we've let out, all much smaller than our main house and a Spanish holiday home which was substantially smaller than our UK property. All ideal for a weeks break from time to time but I would never have been happy to live in such a small places on a permanent basis. I guess it's down to what suits you as an individual......we are all different, aren't we ?0
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youth_leader said:I really dislike living in a bungalow after my big house, I particularly miss going upstairs and seeing the sunrise/sunset. As well as using stairs. I went to Madeira at Christmas and the hotel restaurant was up a huge marble staircase, nearly killed me
If you have the money, I would recommend finding a house where the stairs have room for a stairlift. Unfortunately I was about £30K short for a house in this area.0 -
bouicca21 said:I do not understand why people downsize. Marriage breakup meant that I was forced as it were to downsize from a 4 to a 3 bed with smaller rooms in a slightly different area of London. I consider it just about liveable for a singleton, would love some extra space.Also, do not underestimate how difficult it can be to remake your social life when older.If OP is moving out of London to a cheaper area I’d use the difference in price to buy space rather than downsize. My main concern would be transport links - I never want to be dependent on having a car because there will come a time when I can’t or shouldn’t drive.0
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We live in a 4 bed, but have no intentions of downsizing. Master suite, guest bedroom, study and hobby room. The study and hobby rooms are used on an almost daily basis, especially in the winter (no gardening) so we can't go smaller. All depends on your lifestyle.0
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The_Famous_Flame said:vic_sf49 said:I'd pay off the flat, move to it, and live there for a year (if it's not too small), to see if living in that area is what you really want.You might be there 2 months, and something about the area drives you nuts (flipping tourists etc), and you decide to rethink where you want to live.It also might challenge you on how much space you want or need, vs how much you think you can downsize by.
Probably be divorcing each other when we get cabin fever2
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