When my family of 4 moved to a small town, we downsized. We now spend more time together and less money.

Tech Insider : Business
Family looking out the window at snow.
The author's family (not pictured) spends more time together after their move.

AleksandarNakic/Getty Images

The cities where downsizing will save you the most and least

Tech Insider : Business, Style, Travel
A condo building in Houston, Texas
StorageCafe analyzed dozens of big US cities to see how much downsizing would pay off.

Getty Images

A family of 4 downsized to a 1-bedroom home so they could live rent-free. Storage hacks help them make the most of the space.

Tech Insider : Business
A side-by-side of a family walking through a field and a kitchen with white cabinets and a butcher block island.
The Johnson family downsized to save money for their future.

Mckayle Buckley Kallschmidt/Ashley Johnson

I'm 61 with 16 grandkids. Instead of downsizing, we bought a bigger vacation home to finally make family trips work.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Doug Beachy (center) and his large family of four kids and 16 grandchildren.
Doug Beachy (center) and his large family.

Courtesy of Doug Beachy

Instead of downsizing, I moved into a bigger home at 74. My grandkids love the extra space, and family visits are finally fun.

Tech Insider : Business
A selfie of Laurence Gerowitz and his wife Dottie Lipski.
Laurence Gerowitz and his wife Dottie Lipski.

Courtesy of Laurence Gerowitz

I'm single and an empty nester, so I decided to downsize. I made some compromises on my new apartment to save money.

Tech Insider : Business, Style, Travel
The author wearing sunglasses and sitting on a boat.
The author recently downsized to a smaller apartment.

Courtesy of Kelly Magyarics

My boyfriend and I decided not to buy a house and instead rent small studios. Minimalist living works for us.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Catherine Work and her boyfriend at dinner table
The author and her boyfriend prefer a minimalist lifestyle.

Courtesy of Catherine Work

Two Gen X empty-nest couples are 'rightsizing' in a development focused on community

Tech Insider : Business
Stephanie Falk (left) and Judy Cooperman.
Stephanie Falk (left) and Judy Cooperman.

Courtesy of Stephanie Falk and Judy Cooperman

Instead of downsizing, we bought a bigger house. Our family uses the space, even if cleaning is endless and bills are higher.

Tech Insider : Business
A family walking into a home being shown by a real estate agent.
The author and her family (not pictured) moved into a bigger home when their friends were downsizing.

Anchiy/Getty Images

Boomers spent their lives accumulating stuff. Now their kids are stuck with it.

Tech Insider : Economy
A mountain of antique items with a cutout in the shape of a person with their arms on their hips in the center of the pile

Getty Images; iStock; Natalie Ammari/BI

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