Pinch Like You Mean It! 101 Ways to Spend Less Money Now by Dr. Penny Pincher - HTML preview

Tip 63: Consider downsizing to reduce expenses

I have moved from a larger, newer house to a smaller, older house to save money on housing expenses.  Most real estate price or rent is based on square footage, so moving to a smaller place can save you money on your mortgage or rent bill every month.  A smaller place also costs less to heat and cool, and property taxes are less as well on a less expensive property.

A couple things to consider when downsizing- you don't want to end up spending a lot more on utilities than you expect if you move to an older house that is less energy efficient.  This can offset a lot of savings.  Also, if you move somewhere further from work and school to find a less expensive place, you could end up spending more on gas for your car and eat into your savings from living in a smaller house.

If you are going through the hassle to downsize, make sure that it will actually save you money!

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