January Greetings …
May this blog find you well, not having to wrestle🤼♂️with your Medicare insurance coverage💪😂.
Book a time on my calendar or email Gray@TheBig65.com if you still have questions.
Winter vacation is over for Miti. Our Malagasi exchange student enjoyed her holiday but I think she is glad to be back in school.
Last week, we took down the house decorations, this week we took down the tree🎄.
Isn’t it amazing how many ornaments you collect over a lifetime? This one was made by my mom and hung on their tree when we were kids.
Even with a tall tree, we didn’t hang all of the ornaments; there were dozens that never made it out of their boxes, the collection of a lifetime, taking up space.
Once the tree is gone, the space feels so open again, doesn’t it🌿✨😊 ?
So after walking the tree (with Plato and Miti) to the park to be mulched (the tree, not Plato), I remembered this article on decluttering from Kiplingers that I’ve been meaning to share.
The core message is one we all know, but it helps to hear it again:
Start downsizing before you need to. Doing it gradually reduces stress, emotional overload, and costly last-minute decisions later in retirement.
Talk about stress: after we dropped the tree off, we ran into Plato’s Doppelganger twin at the park.
If you don’t have time to read the article, here are the key takeaways:
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Start small and early. Begin with low-emotion areas like a bathroom, linen closet, or pantry to build momentum and confidence.
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Use a simple system. Empty a space completely, then put back only what you truly use or value.
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Follow the one-year rule. If you haven’t worn or used something in the past year, it belongs in the “go” pile.
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Be decisive. Avoid “maybe” piles. Indecision leads to storage costs and delays.
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Let go of guilt. Donating inherited items doesn’t dishonor loved ones; objects aren’t the memories.
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Match belongings to future space. Don’t try to squeeze everything into a smaller home—decide what fits before you move.
- Don’t rely on your kids. Adult children usually don’t want most furniture or household items—assume they won’t take it.
Speaking of kids (& doppelgangers), Sus and KC went to a costume party as twins👯♂️!
Pretty convincing likeness, eh😂?
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Consider help. A professional organizer or trusted friend can provide motivation and emotional support.
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Enjoy the upside. Less clutter means less stress, better sleep, and a greater sense of freedom.
Bottom line:
Downsizing is a lifestyle shift, not a one-time purge. The earlier and more consistently you do it, the easier—and more liberating—retirement becomes.
It’s all about deliberate small steps, over a lifetime. Plato says that’s the secret to a Happy New Year!
Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”
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Medicare questions or problems?
Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.
Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).
Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
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Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:
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The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 10 organizations that offer 50 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
