We recently reached a milestone we’ve been working toward for months, and we’re so grateful. Today we’re sharing the full update and digging into a question that keeps coming up: how do you know if downsizing is right for you, and what if you regret it? Fortunately, there are four practical ways to try smaller-space living before making a permanent move. That’s a huge advantage and a helpful way to answer the “what if” for yourself. We also reflect on how the reality TV show you’d choose (or avoid) reveals a lot about your personality, share a packing tip that’s helped us pare down even more, and explain why we enjoy watching TV but aren’t eager to be on it.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- We didn’t record this episode from our POD, but here’s a look at its delivery. The device that lifts the POD off the truck—nicknamed “Pod-zilla”—was a highlight for Sherry, who loves quirky product names.
- The four steps to “test drive” smaller living come from The Little Book of Living Small by Laura Fenton, which was also excerpted in the April 2020 issue of Real Simple.
- Unknowingly, we experienced all four steps over the years before deciding to downsize. They helped clarify our needs and gave us the confidence to move forward.
- Test Drive Tip #1: Simplify and minimize gradually. We’ve been paring down over several years, often discussing the process on the podcast. See episodes like “Why We Got Rid of Half of the Toys” and “Can Minimalism Be Cozy?” for examples of our slow, steady approach.
- Test Drive Tip #2: Notice which rooms don’t get used. We never physically closed off rooms, but we realized some spaces—like our formal dining room—were mostly redundant because we always ate at the kitchen island. Recognizing underused rooms helped us see that two nearby eating spaces felt unnecessary (listen to “Our House Is Too Big” and “Science Says These Rooms Are a Waste of Space” for more).
- Test Drive Tip #3: Learn from people who’ve already downsized. We’ve interviewed many people about their experiences, including Dana & Steve Miller, Mandy & Kevin, Shavonda Gardner, Myquillyn Smith, Miranda Anderson, and minimalism expert Joshua Becker. Hearing a range of perspectives helped shape our expectations and choices.
- Test Drive Tip #4: Try smaller spaces while traveling. Renting compact vacation homes is a low-risk way to see how your family adapts to less square footage. We’ve rented small homes like a 700-square-foot place in Charlottesville and used Airbnbs in Costa Rica to test comfort levels and daily routines in tighter quarters.
What Reality Show Would You Go On?
- Below is the exact photo we used to apply for The Amazing Race back in 2005. We had just started dating and Sherry hadn’t watched the show, so it’s lucky we never got called—she’s convinced she’d be terrible at it (hear the podcast to find out why).
- In 2015 we made a Real Housewives spoof video that still makes us laugh, and it feels relevant to this conversation about TV personalities and how we present ourselves on camera.
Note: the video is also available on YouTube.
We’re Digging
- I meant to photograph all our picture frames gathered together as a way to evaluate items before packing, but instead I grabbed a slightly blurry screengrab from a video Sherry shared on our Instagram Stories. If you follow us there, you’ll find more behind-the-scenes moving info and decluttering tips.
- We’ve also been watching the McMillion$ documentary (originally on HBO, now on Hulu). It’s based on the Daily Beast story about the McDonald’s Monopoly scam—a story we discussed on the podcast a couple of years ago.
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in a past episode, we compiled a master list of everything we’ve been digging in one place, plus a page that lists all the books we’ve recommended on our Book Club page.
Finally, thanks to Social Print Studio for sponsoring this episode. They offered 15% off orders with code YHL15 through April 30th, and their Mother’s Day standard shipping deadline was April 27th.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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