Downsizing your home isn’t simply a question of storage space, it can mean changing your lifestyle entirely. A large home requires much more upkeep and encourages owners to fill the extra space with items that they don’t truly need. Keep yourself honest by taking inventory of everything in your home and shave that down to only the items you truly need. Once you do, you’ll have a better idea of how much extra stuff you have.

With the right planning and soul-searching, losing some of that extra space and square footage means you can gain a lot more in other, more important aspects of your life.