#own less

As it turns out, owning less costs less, too. Not only does it give you room to breathe, but downsizing your belongings can put money in your wallet, help you build up your savings, and provide you with the opportunity to follow your dreams, whether you want to travel the world or start your own animal sanctuary. Who knows? It might even lead to an early retirement. Here's how:

You Don't Need as Much Space

The more you own, the more space you need to keep it all. Whether you bought a larger home because of the closet space or you rent self-storage to keep items you don't know what to do with, when you get rid of things, they're not taking up space anymore. And, you don't need to keep paying for that space anymore, either. You can downsize to a smaller home if you want, which usually means a smaller mortgage payment and less money spent on energy bills. You can also kiss that monthly self-storage fee goodbye. Even downsizing to a smaller storage unit can save you several hundred dollars a year if there are some things you still aren't prepared to part with.

Disorganization and Clutter Can Be Costly

The more stuff you own, the more likely you are to lose things due to disorganization. The more you lose things, the more time you spend replacing them. Maybe you forgot about the toolkit buried in the garage so you now own three hammers. Or maybe your kitchen is so cluttered with gadgets and utensils that cooking and cleaning up can be a pain, so you find yourself eating out just to avoid it.

Having too much stuff around is also costly when it comes to your mental health. Owning too many things or being surrounded by clutter can drain your energy and cause depressed or anxious feelings. While extra odds and ends around your home can directly tax your wallet, they can also be emotionally taxing and make it difficult to get things done.

Maintaining Things Is Also Costly

Many things you own require some kind of maintenance. If you own multiple cars, you're paying insurance, taxes and routine maintenance fees on vehicles you might not even drive. Have multiple closets full of clothes? You're likely spending extra money washing, drying, or taking those items to the dry cleaners. When a new version of your favorite gadget hits the market, you might be tempted to spend even more money to upgrade and replace it. Even maintenance expenditures that seem reasonable will build up over time, which is especially uneconomical if you don't use the items as often as you planned.

You Can Make Money Selling Unwanted Items

The best part about downsizing is that you can actually make money selling your unwanted or unnecessary items. From furniture to jewelry, there may be some real value hidden in belongings you don't necessarily love but have been hanging onto. To start enjoying peace of mind and start saving money, let EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE handle the work of selling it all for you. While someone else photographs and lists your items on online auctions accessible to a pool of global buyers, you can focus on enjoying your newly decluttered life and an extra windfall from your old items.