Full Time RVing - How To Downsize Your Home To An RV

Full Time RVing in Talladega National Forest See all 4 photos Full Time RVing. If you loved this article and also you would like to collect more info regarding อพาร์ทเมนท์ kindly visit our own web page. Camping at Talladega National Forest.Source: Stephanie Henkel I am happy to have the opportunity to answer the question posed by Ms Dee... "
"How do you downsize possessions for the fulltime RV lifestyle?"
After retirement, my husband and I decided to make a drastic move. We sold our house, downsized our belongings and became full time RVers. Our plan of full timing for one year changed as we came to love the lifestyle, and ultimately, we lived in our RV for 4 years before buying a house to use as our home base.
Downsizing to an RV or Smaller Living QuartersOnce you have made the decision to be a full time RVer, you are faced with the major project of downsizing from your "sticks and bricks" home to an RV. Even if you live in a modest, three bedroom, 1500 square foot home, downsizing to an RV might be overwhelming. In our case, we have a 33' motor home which gives us about 240 square feet of living space with additional storage space in the "basement" compartments.
The tips I've given here will be useful if you are downsizing from a house to an RV or from a house to much smaller living quarters. You will still need to make careful selections of what to keep, what to store and what to toss.
Organize First Organization is the key ingredient if you want to keep your sanity during this process. Here are some useful tips on how to start organizing for the move and how to downsize your belongings.
Downsize your household items See all 4 photos Sorting out household items to sell and donate.Source: Stephanie Henkel Tips on Organizing BelongingsRather than tackle your house as a whole, think of major groups of belongings that you will need to downsize. As you make your decisions, keep in mind the space and amount of storage compartments you will have available in your RV.
Organize by Groups For simplicity's sake, I've listed four groups of things that you will need to examine:

Clothes and Shoes

Kitchen and Household Items

Files, Papers and Office Items

Tools and Garage Items
Each group of belongings contains subgroups: necessities to be packed into your RV, items that would be nice to have if there is room and items that you just will not need...EVER!
Clothes You'll Need While RVingBasic casual clothes will be the most useful, but in limited amounts. Don't pack 10 pairs of jeans or dozens of t-shirts!


jeans

light weight slacks


shorts


tee and knit shirts


a few button up shirts


one dressy outfit each with appropriate shoes.

fleece jacket and windbreaker

raincoat

sweat shirt or sweater

bathing suit and cover-up

knit cap and gloves

socks

sweatpants and shirt

bathrobe

night clothes

slippers

hiking boots

athletic shoes

a pair of dress shoes

sandals

Crocks or shower shoes
1. Downsizing Clothes and Shoes -Be Realistic!This can seem like an overwhelming task, but unless you will be working a job that requires dressy clothes, you can probably pare down your wardrobe drastically. I suggest that you make four piles of clothes starting with the stack that you will take with you.
Clothes to Take in Your RV This stack includes necessities, but must be limited by storage space. Of course, individual needs vary with lifestyle, but generally, an RVer's life style is much more casual than it was in their previous lives. Clothing should be pared down accordingly. After our first year of RVing, we gave away or donated most of our dress clothes, as we never wore them. Plan to dress in layers - you can make do with a fleece jacket or windbreaker layered over a sweatshirt or sweater. Shoes take up a lot of space and can be a problem to store, so limit yourself to necessities that fit into your storage space.
See a list of "must take" clothing at right. � � � � � � �� � � � �
Clothes to Donate or Sell This should be your largest pile of clothes! You may be reluctant to part with expensive business and dress clothes, but consider your new lifestyle and be realistic.
Donate or sell: Unless you know that you'll need them for specific occasions, you probably won't need business suits, very dressy clothes, dress shoes, winter boots or a large selection of purses. If you plan to follow the sun in your RV, you can also get rid of heavy sweaters, winter coats, winter boots and other winter items. Keep one coat, scarf and hat if you must, just for old time's sake!
Clothes to Trash Let's face it, we all have our old favorite torn jeans, threadbare t-shirts and underwear with sprung elastic. Again, be realistic! If you haven't worn it and haven't fixed it, you don't need it!
Trash: anything that is worn, torn or stained. Toss clothes with holes, missing buttons, sprung elastic and broken zippers that you were planning to fix but never got around to doing. You know what I'm talking about, people! Toss out clothes that you won't be taking with you and that are not suitable for sale or donation.
Clothes to Store My best advice is, "Don't store clothes." From personal experience, I can tell you that storing clothes is a waste of storage space. Clothes go out of style, they may no longer fit, and your lifestyle changes so that they are no longer appropriate. Clothes in storage may get damp or insect damaged. We stored tubs of clothes "just in case" for four years. At the end of that time, most of them went to charity thrift shops or the trash. Very, very little was ever used again.
Store if you really must: Sentimental items like a wedding dress or your high school letter sweater. If you have a pile of clothes you think you want to store, take another look. Bite the bullet and pare the pile down to a minimum.
Kitchen and household items you'll need in your RV
can opener

metal spatula

plastic spatula

wire whisk

measuring spoons

measuring cup

wine bottle opener or cork screw

place setting for 4 of dinner plates, coffee mugs, desert dishes, cereal bowls, cake plates,

forks, knives and spoons, drinking glasses, wine glasses

serving spoons

microwaveable/ oven safe casserole dish

13 x 9 cake pan

cookie sheet (make sure it fits the RV oven as some of them are very small)

clips to close chip bags

several sizes of plastic storage containers with lids

plastic outdoor table cloth

dish towels, pot holders, cloth napkins and place mats

wooden spoon

percolator coffee pot (for use when you don't have a power source)

small grill and BBQ utensils

medium frying pan

pots, 1 each of small, medium and large

Paper napkins, plates, paper towels,

Other: aluminum foil, plastic wrap, zip lock baggies in a couple of sizes.

portable electric mixer (optional)

small toaster (optional depending on space)

electric coffee pot (optional)

Linens and bedding: pillows, two sets of bed linens, bedspread or comforter, towels, wash cloths, blankets, a couple of afghans.






2. Downsizing Kitchen and Household ItemsUnless you are moving into a large luxury RV, you will probably have drastically less kitchen storage than you were accustomed to in your house. Our RV has very limited kitchen storage, but we find that it is sufficient if we choose wisely.
Kitchen and household Items to take in your RV First, choose the basic kitchen items that you must have. Choices will be ruled by available space. You may be surprised what you can do without.
My list of household basics is in the box at right. � � � � � � �� � � � �
Household Items to trash Next, go through remaining items and trash anything that is:

broken, cracked or chipped

worn out and ugly

frayed, stained and faded

otherwise not suitable for sale or donation
Household items to donate or sell Donate or sell any good items that are:

duplicates of what you are taking

cute, but seldom used like those little cheese spreaders with fancy handles

not needed in your RV like drapes, curtains, shower curtains, large table cloths and wrong size bed linens

too bulky to take like small appliances, extra towels, scatter rugs, knick-knacks, paintings and wall hangings, extra blankets, bedspreads, throw pillows
Household items to store You are bound to come across a few sentimental items that you can't take with you, but can't part with, either. Before you put things in storage, why not check with your kids or relatives to see if they would like Grandmother's punch bowl or your Mom's silver serving platter? Wouldn't it be better if someone were enjoying these family heirlooms than if they were stuck in a dark storage bin somewhere?
The things you choose to store are a personal decision. I chose to store my favorite set of good china and crystal as well as extra stainless steel silverware that wouldn't fit in the RV. I also stored a lot of things like extra pots, dishes, etc., small appliances. Except for sentimental things and good china and crystal, most of what I put in storage was never needed again. After downsizing and living a simpler lifestyle, I realized that I did not want or need all that "stuff!"
Documents to keep in your RV
Financial statements and last year's tax return - can generally be stored electronically.

Current receipts - can be scanned and stored electronically.

Insurance policies- original paper policy.

Identification - Keep originals, but also make copies of driver's license, social security card, credit cards in case of loss. These can be kept electronically on a flash drive in case your computer is lost or stolen.

Passports and birth certificates

Pet records - Keep health records for pets as well as proof of rabies vaccination for cats and dogs as you will need to show it at some campgrounds.
It all has to fit in the RV See all 4 photos It can be tricky to get everything to fit into the RV!Source: Stephanie Henkel 3. Downsizing Files, Papers and Office ItemsOh, the paper clutter we collect! When we have plenty of closets and drawers to store papers, files, bills, receipts, pencils, pens and miscellaneous office supplies, it's easy to ignore the need to de-clutter and downsize. But now, the moment of truth! You are moving into an RV where you will have very limited space, so you need to select and plan carefully.
Once you've completed the time consuming, but necessary task of going through the stacks of papers on your desk and bookcases, you can begin to think about what you really need to take with you.
Papers and records to keep in your RV: You can keep the actual papers, or, like some efficient RVers, scan in your receipts, tax returns and other documents to keep electronically. If you do this, be sure to have backup copies of everything in a safe place.
*A note about tax Records: There is an IRS website that recommends how long to keep your tax records. In most cases, three to four years is all you need, but in some cases, you might need to keep records for seven years. My recommendation is to carry one year of back tax records with you in your RV. Read the publication and put remaining records in storage. See the box at right for additional records and important documents you should carry with you.
Office Supplies You will want to take your computer, scanner, printer, cables and electronic devices, cameras and all the cables that go with these devices. I found that the easiest way to organize the dozens of cables was to put each in a zip lock bag marked with its purpose and the device it belongs to.
Reserve a space for office items like a stapler, notepads, paper clips, pens, pencils, erasers, and whatever other items you like in your home office. Get rid of the hundreds of extra pens, pencils and things that you never use!
Photographs This has to be the most difficult category because those old photographs are the record of our lives. If you are like me, you probably have thousands of photographs, photo albums, slides and movies from years gone by. Here are some suggestions for dealing with them:

Scan in your most treasured family photos and load onto storage cards to put into a digital picture frame or onto flash drives. Keep backups on external storage drives.

Disperse family photo albums to children and relatives who will appreciate them.

If time permits, go through loose photos and throw out duplicates and any that are poor quality or of scenes, people and things that you no longer care about.

Send treasured albums to a commercial place that will put the photos on CDs for you.

Remove photos from frames and place in albums to conserve space.


Tools and hardware for your RVWhile this looks like a long list, many of these items are small and can be stored in a tool box or in the bucket.

Assorted Mechanics tools (pliers, hammer, screwdrivers, wrenches)

Assorted bolts, screws and nails

Ax

Bucket

Bungie cords

Coveralls and work gloves

Drill & bits

Duck tape and plumbers tape

Extension cord 50� heavy duty

Filter wrench Oil

Water filter-RV

Flashlights

Flare kit

Fuel filter - RV

Funnel-utility

Grease gun

Heater hose and radiator hose

Hose clamps

Hoses - green for regular water; white for drinking water

Jacks

Jumper cables

Leveling blocks

Lug wrench

Measuring tape

Mechanics wire

Motor oil, Power steering fluid, brake fluid transmission fluid

Ratchet straps and rope

Rubber gloves for emptying tanks

Sewer hoses

Shovel

Silicone lubricant

Spare fuses, reflectors and bulbs

Vehicle wash brush & soap

Windshield squeegee

Windshield washer solvent

Wiper blade - RV

Zip ties
4. Downsizing Tools and Garage ItemsParing down garage items and tools can be a traumatic experience for the do-it-yourself mechanic or homeowner. As with other categories, it is best to start by selecting the items that you will need and can fit in your RV.


Tools and hardware to take in your RV Do take a set of basic tools that will be needed for simple repairs inside and outside of the RV. If you are able to do mechanical repairs on the RV yourself, then you will need a wider selection of tools. Don't forget to pack things like duck tape, an assortment of screws, bolts and nails, wire, flashlights and other emergency repair items.


Tools and garage items you will not need Be ruthless about getting rid of cans of paint, solvents, large power tools and all of the years of collected junk in the garage and basement. Now is the time to give your kids a set of tools and sell the lawnmower on Craig's List. You will not need leaf blowers, lawn mowers, rototillers or garden tools.


Tools and hardware to store Again, it is a personal decision on whether or not to rent storage space. Just remember that the cost of space can add up to a lot of money over a few years. When you are done full-time RVing, will you want to return to the same kind of lifestyle in another sticks and bricks house?
Additional Items you will need Don't forget to save some space for a small outdoor grill, a few outdoor folding chairs, a small folding table and an outdoor mat to set up your outdoor living space!
A step ladder is extremely useful for accessing high places on the RV, making awning or roof repairs and miscellaneous other uses. We carry a 7' ladder that is attached to the back of the RV on a special rack.
Carry along a road atlas and some good campground directories (see my article on Best RVing and Camping Guides). Even if you have a GPS, you'll need paper maps!
Downsizing HobbiesIf you have hobbies that you love, you may want to allocate space for some of them in your RV. Some hobbies are not easily packed into an RV, but it's amazing the inventive ways that people manage to take their hobbies on the road. Limit yourself to one or two hobbies, and take along some basic supplies for the ones you really love to do. Things like wood carving, crocheting, painting and drawing are easily portable. There are many people who are rockhounds, beaders and quilters who gather together in campgrounds to share their hobbies. When you set your space priorities, do find a little room for your favorite hobby!


Full Time RVingHave you ever considered downsizing to live full-time in an RV?
Yes, I'm going for it!

Yes, I've thought about it for my retirement years.

I don't think I'd like living in a house on wheels.

No, I like my stuff too much.

No, it sounds crazy!
See results without votingOn the Road at Last! See all 4 photos Finally hitting the road!Source: Stephanie Henkel Quick Tips for DownsizingNo one said this will be easy, but here are a few tips to help relieve your separation anxiety:

Photograph it, then give it away. If you have some things that you love, take a photograph of it for a digital album before parting with it. You'll have a memory without having to store it!

Give family heirlooms to family or special friends. Do consider giving your sentimental items to friends and family who will appreciate them. Be sure to include a little note with family heirlooms so that their history won't be lost.

Be realistic and objective. When was the last time you wore those pointy toed sequined shoes? How often do you really use the giant Turkey platter or your aunt's white linen table cloth? How many of those 500 books have you even moved in the last 5 years?

Consider cost and consequences of long-term storage. Unless you have a temperature and humidity controlled place to store furniture, think twice about storing it. Furniture can easily become mildewed and damaged by mice or insects if stored for a long time.

Look forward to your new unencumbered lifestyle!


Happy Trails by Roy Rogers and Dale EvansReady? Happy Trails to You!While the whole process of downsizing may seem overwhelming, it will come together as you organize a segment at a time. Expect to feel a mixture of relief, and maybe a bit of regret as you see your things pared down to what will fit into your RV. But I can tell you from experience, that there is a huge feeling of freedom and joy when you finally do hit the road.
Happy Trails to you!
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Copyright �2012 by Stephanie Henkel


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