Downsizing for RV Life: What to Keep and What to Let Go
Downsizing for RV Life, what stays, the joy of minimalism, and what goes. Join us on the road to simplicity and boundless exploration! 🚐💖
🏡➡️🚍 What Stays and What Goes
When the call of the open road beckoned us into full-time RV living, little did we know it’d turn into the ultimate exercise in minimalism!
With a six-week countdown buzzing, we didn’t have much time, we dove into the frenzy of scaling down to the bare essentials, all with an adventurous spirit.
We had an entire house with a lot of stuff. But we were ready to start a new life head out on the road full-time.
Our first move to full-time RV life? A sell-apalooza garage sale! We bid farewell to comfy couches, trusty appliances, and a host of bulkier belongings that just wouldn’t jive with our new cozy quarters.
We sold a few things on the Facebook marketplace and continued the downsizing process.
Whatever didn’t sell at the yard sale got a temporary home in a storage POD. (BIg mistake!)
Long term storage is going to cost more money than buying new when you decide you want a home again at the end of the day.
Then, armed with just the must-haves, we hitched up a little U-Haul trailer and set off with hearts full of thrill ready for new things as a full-time RVer.
🫤 What Happened Next
A 500-mile road trip later, there we were, brimming with zest to start our RV chapter.
Yet, as we began to unpack, it dawned on us that we still had too much stuff!
Our 35 ft. fifth wheel trailer was like a wacky game of Tetris with not much space left to play.
Talk about an eye-opener!
We had tough decisions to make and needed a game plan.
This was a moment of truth, sparking a profound rethink on what ‘need’ really meant.
That little bump in our road trip was a powerhouse of wisdom in disguise, teaching us that whittling down for the RV lifestyle isn’t just about squishing your life into a smaller space.
It’s a heartening shift towards cherishing the things that really sparkle for us, minus the heavy load we carry.
When you peel back to life’s joys, it’s clear…less really can be more!
This down-to-earth guide is here to help you figure out what stays, what goes, and how to make your new tiny home feel just right!
Downsizing for RV life can be a liberating but challenging process.
Here are some tips on what to keep and what to let go:
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- 50 Ultimate RV Space-Saving Hacks for Full-Time RV Living
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- 9 Steps for Transitioning to Full-time RV Living
- 27 Essential RV Equipment for Full-Time RV Newbies
❤️ Hold on to what warms your heart:
- Treasuring the Sentimental items: For those precious keepsakes that tug at your heartstrings with emotional attachment, choose a select few to accompany you on your travels. You can also digitize photos and letters, keeping memories close without the bulk.
- Multiuse Kitchen Gadgets: When it comes to cooking in your compact kitchen, think Swiss Army knife – multiuse appliances are your best buddies! 👨🍳 Imagine a device that can be a pressure cooker one minute and a rice cooker the next. Magic!
- Capsule Wardrobe: Think smart and versatile fashion! A capsule wardrobe means fewer items but more outfit combos. Mix. Match. Repeat! 🙌 You’ll be styling no matter where your travels take you.
- Important Documents: Things like birth certificates, passports, and other important papers.
👋 What to Let Go:
Okay, pals, this might be tough.
Those roller skates from 1995? It’s time to part ways.
Create memories with photos or a scrapbook instead of keeping everything.
Sharing your items with family members or donating them is a great way to make the goodbye a little easier.
👍 You’ve got this!
- Duplicates and Excess: Declutter by getting rid of duplicate items or things you rarely use. Be ruthless in evaluating necessity versus convenience.
- Furniture: Opt for collapsible or space-saving furniture over bulky items. Consider items like folding chairs and tables for versatility.
- Non-Essential Kitchen Appliances: Keep only the most essential kitchen appliances and utensils. Items like blenders, mixers, and specialty gadgets may not be practical in a small space.
- Clothing: Donate or sell clothing you haven’t worn in the past year or that doesn’t suit your new lifestyle. Stick to versatile pieces suitable for various climates and activities.
- Books and Physical Media: Embrace digital alternatives for books, movies, and music to save space. Consider e-readers, streaming services, and digital subscriptions.
- Decorative Items: While a few decorations can add personality to your RV, avoid cluttering your space with excessive knick-knacks or bulky decorations.
- Unused Hobby Supplies: Evaluate hobby materials and equipment realistically. Keep only what you’ll use frequently and consider alternative ways to pursue hobbies in a smaller space.
- Paper clutter: Old bills, receipts, and other documents you don’t need anymore (be sure to shred anything with sensitive information). Old magazines and catalogs. Unused manuals and instructions.
Remember, downsizing is a gradual process, so take your time to evaluate your belongings and prioritize what truly adds value to your RV lifestyle.
Clothes weigh more than you think. These two bags of clothes (that I thought we needed but haven’t touched in years) weigh 25 lbs each. That’s 50 lbs. total.
You might not think that’s a lot, however, when you are only allowed 2000 lbs CCC (cargo carrying capacity) including passengers, holding tank contents, etc. trust me, you’ll be over your weight limits.
🧳 Smart Downsizing Strategies:
We know, we know, parting with belongings can trigger the waterworks… but imagine the freedom!
Here’s how to ease into the bliss of downsizing:
- Declutter with Gusto: Ask yourself, have I used this in the last year? No? It’s out! Sort into ‘keep’ pile, ‘donate’, and ‘sell’ piles and feel the weight lift off your shoulders.
- One in, One out Rule: This classic technique prevents your space from getting crammed with new stuff. New souvenir in? Great, what’s leaving?
- Invest in the Collapsible Dream: Culinary creations don’t require a bulky setup. Flatten those pots, pans, and colanders until you need them to whip up your next feast.
- Vertical Space is Your Secret Storage Space Weapon: Hang it, hook it, stack it! The sky’s… well, the ceiling is the limit!
📦 Storage Solutions That Scream Genius:
Organization nerds, rejoice! These smart storage solutions are about to be your new BFFs:
- Under-Bed Bins: For all those not-so-everyday but can’t-live-without items.
- Over-Door Oasis: Who knew doors could double as closets with the right hooks and organizers?
- Vacuum-Sealed Bags: Shrink those fluffy jackets and blankets down to size!
- Ottomans with Secrets: A cozy footrest AND storage? Yes, please!
⌛️ Transition Planning
Ready to shift gears? Develop a plan with timing that reduces stress.
Start downsizing early, sell things over time, and get used to your compact lifestyle before you officially become a full-timer.
Smooth transitions make for happy campers!
🛣️ Ready to Hit The Road
There you have it, folks!
You’ve taken the first step to full time RV life.
With these nifty tips and tricks, transitioning to a downsized, simpler, yet vibrant RV lifestyle can be a whole lot smoother (and even exciting).
If you’re looking for more tips on decluttering, head over to Boot Camp Mom where you can get the Ultimate Decluttering Checklist.
Remember, a rolling stone gathers no extra belongings.
Keep only what you need and love, and you’ll be jaunting joyfully from one adventure to the next.
Downsizing for the RV life might seem like a mountain of a task.
But with these tips, you’ll cruise through the process and be on the road, soaking in the sunset, and laughing around the campfire in no time.
Happy travels and remember to wave at your fellow RVers! 🚐✌️
What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without on the road?
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Embarking on a full-time RVing journey is both thrilling and daunting, especially when faced with the task of downsizing from a traditional home to a travel trailer.
Deciding what to keep and what to let go of can be the hardest part, but I’ve found that the best way to approach it is to focus on the end goal: creating a new home filled with new memories and less clutter.
When I moved into my RV for the first time, I had a hard time parting with sentimental items like photo albums, but I soon realized that material things don’t define my whole life.
They’re just a small portion of it. My year plan involved carefully considering each item’s importance and utility, and a good rule of thumb was to keep only what I truly needed or loved.
Thrift stores became my best friend, as they offered a better price than traditional moves and helped me part with items that no longer served me.
Downsizing also meant getting creative with storage solutions.
The crock pot doubled as a stovetop, and my home office fit neatly into a storage bin.
While there were extra costs involved, like a very small storage unit for sentimental items and insurance for the RV, the extra space and freedom were worth it.
As I learned through trial and error, maximizing every square foot and staying organized were crucial for maintaining my sanity.
Along the way, I documented my journey in a blog post, sharing my best tips for fellow full-time RVers.
Through the process, I learned some of life’s biggest lessons: that experiences outweigh possessions, and that embracing change can lead to new adventures.
So, with a little cash and a lot of determination, I set forth into the unknown, ready to make new memories and live with less clutter in my mobile home on wheels.
Good luck to anyone embarking on a similar journey!
