maintenance); • Environmental concerns (Many Boomers are becoming more concerned about their carbon footprint and the state of the environment they’re leaving for their children and grandchildren.)
7. Less Work for Your Adult Children
Deciding to downsize can mean reducing, or even eliminating, a lot of work for your grown children — something that many empty nesters find to be important. Adult children are often left with the arduous, time-consuming, and often unnecessary task of sorting through, giving away, selling, and storing the possessions of their parents after the parents become ill, are immobilized, move into assisted-living facilities, or pass away. Is this something you want your own children to deal with? While paring down your possessions is definitely better for you as you go through the process of downsizing — for decluttering, organization, making the most of your new space, and even mental health — it’s also considered a gift to your adult children because they won’t have to sort through all of your stuff down the road. Too often, aging parents hang on to sentimental possessions in the hope — or assumption — that their children or grandchildren will desire them some day. However, the truth is that many children don’t even want these items their parents have “saved” for them.
12
Powered by FlippingBook