PDX Renovations

Tag: downsizing

  • New Year’s Resolutions you can keep

    Thinking ahead to the new year?

    It’s that time of year again to make a list and check it twice and then when Christmas is over, start your new year’s resolutions. It’s a great time to look back on the year, ponder our decisions, forgive ourselves for our mistakes and think about what we’d do differently in 2015.

    Most people’s first thought is to get rid of bad habits. Quit smoking, give ourselves a break from alcohol, junk food, Starbucks daily, carbs…whatever your vice is. Or the number one resolution, get in shape! Gym memberships soar in January due to New year’s resolutions. Every year millions of people decide it’s time to lose weight, get in a good workout routine, and start feeling great. 80% of those same people will cancel their memberships by March.

    So how about this year concentrating on getting out of debt. Paying off credit cards, car loans, and consolidating other debts. Again, it’s a new year’s resolution that millions of people make each January, yet many never follow through on.

    Here are some tips to stick to your new year’s resolutions and get yourself out of debt for good, because who wouldn’t want a new start to the new year?

    • Think small. Baby steps. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so make your goals attainable and you are much more likely to stay on track. Don’t say you are going to lose 50lbs in three months. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time. Or start really positively and retune your thoughts…how about just starting to work out. Doctors recommend 20minutes of good cardio just 4 times a week, so start small and you will see better results without the usual burnout.
    • Credit cards. Get your Credit in shape! Check your credit score online. There are plenty of sites now that will give you your score without a fee. Knowing your credit rating is important and this coming year, make it a goal to see that number rise. By making small changes in your spending habits, you can make a big difference. Pick which ones you want to pay off, make a good budget and stick to it. Cut up the ones you wish to pay off, cancel them even to avoid the yearly service charge and then you won’t be tempted to use them while paying them off.
    • If your goal is to quit smoking or drinking or using tobacco. Don’t go cold turkey on January first. Give yourself a chance to succeed. Make a goal of cutting back. Smoking one less cigarette a day can be hugely beneficial to your health. Or contact your doctor or pharmacist.  Check out the options. It’s hard to give up a bad habit and if you set yourself up for failure, you’ll just end up backsliding and guilt will build and you’ll be back in old habits before St. Patty’s day!
    • Finally, let’s talk downsizing! A new year can mean a new fresh start. Clean out the garage and all those closets. Get rid of the old and donate to the needy. I’m sure we all have that “closet” that stores things we haven’t used in years and now, (after the holidays with all those new gifts), is the perfect time to clean it out and donate. And if you do it before Jan. 1st, you can write off your donations on your taxes. An old adage to go by is if you haven’t used it in a year, then it’s time for it to go.

     

    So, are you holding onto a house that you no longer have a need for? Perhaps the kids left for college and it’s just the two of you milling around in all that space. Space that just costs you money to heat and clean and upkeep. Consider a fast “CASH” sale. Visit the rest of our website and see what we can do for you in 2015 to help you attain your New Year’s Resolutions! www.pdxrenovations.com

  • The Benefits of Downsizing Your Home

    While bigger is usually better when it comes to your living space, there may come a time in life when you take stock of your home and utter the d-word: downsize. Perhaps it’s that spare room that you haven’t entered in a month that triggers your reaction. Maybe your kids have finally moved out, making the house seem cavernous in their absence. It could be that the hassle of cleaning and maintaining your home has become too much. Or, the expense of living in your current home may prompt a move to someplace more within your budget. Whatever the case, downsizing your home can save you money in a variety of ways – many of which may surprise you. Here are just a few.

    You have less stuff. As with any move, you take an inventory of your belongings, and invariably pare down things you no longer use or need. This simplifies your life, and when you move to a smaller dwelling, you have less space for those frivolous purchases that often end up doing nothing but occupying space.

    Closer quarters = closer family. In a smaller home, the inhabitants are invariably forced to make spend more time together, cooperate and make compromises on space, which fosters a greater sense of togetherness than a home with lots of space where family members can segregate themselves. Downsizing your home can actually bring you closer to your loved ones.

    More quality time. A smaller home means less upkeep and often spending less on utilities and a mortgage, which translates into more time and money to devote to leisure activities that enhance your quality of life, such as traveling and hobbies.

    To be sure, downsizing your home is a major life decision, and one sometimes prompted by circumstance. But it can be an opportunity to streamline your life and eliminate space and possessions you don’t necessarily need.