Less time worrying about alarm clocks, running out the door, and trying to beat the morning traffic.
More time for a slow-paced start, enjoying your morning coffee, and dusting off your bookshelf to finally cozy up with that book you have been delaying for months.
Planning for retirement takes time, but what’s more of an adjustment is settling into a new routine.
The rush of adrenaline to kickstart all the activities or set into action all the trips you have thought about but never accomplished for years are now all within reach. Sometimes, the thought of selling your home or even downsizing completely for a fresh change of scenery crosses your mind.
FINANCES
Stowing away finances into savings accounts, RRSPs and GICs is essential to ensuring financial stability throughout retirement. When the decision to downsize is finalized, equity is accrued through the sale of your current home. Learning how to disperse those funds into the correct banking avenues to plan your trips and enjoy retirement without hassle is vital. Consider interest rates, the best season to sell your home, and search through real estate markets to get a better feel for what your options are to optimize your finances for the best possible outcome for your future.
LIFESTYLE
Before choosing a smaller home, apartment, or condo, identify what your new normal looks like. Whether you’re wanting to be more active outdoors, joining a cycling club or outdoor adventure group, fine-tuning your culinary skills or learning how to capture better photos, downsizing means less room for your equipment. Ensuring your new lifestyle fits your new home means less stress, not having to move twice, and more time to enjoy the things you love.
LOCATION
We have all spent time rapidly spinning a globe just to see where it lands. But before pinning a marker in a map to your new home location, consider the necessities you will need to access. In case of emergency, hospitals and medical care providers should be within a commutable distance. Researching township websites or browsing social media can give you a general idea of the postal services, grocery stores in range or the farmers’ markets you might be spending your Saturday mornings at.
DECLUTTER
Organizing your items by category, necessity and with labels will help you sort between items you want to keep or throw away. You can modify this further by keeping a physical or electronic spreadsheet to keep track of the belongings you are carrying over to your new residence. Pro Tip: pending guidelines, consider donating furniture items that are in good condition to your local shelters or charities.
Calloway Storage Portable Containers are a perfect solution to storing properly wrapped and safeguarded furniture and personal belongings, while you decide what stays and what goes.
PLAN AHEAD
Planning is key and safeguards from any mishaps or bumps along the way. Keep your neighbours, friends and family in the know with your moving details in case you need assistance, like moving belongings and furniture into your Portable Storage Unit. Creating a detailed schedule of moving dates, storage dates, and tracking your living expenses ensures a smooth road to retirement.