My parents were hoarders, and it took two years to clean out their 1,000 square-foot house," says McCoy, a psychotherapist in Florence, Arizona, and an author of books that cover topics like teenage depression. "My aunt was not a hoarder but had many treasured mementos squeezed into her closets and attic. I made a firm decision after these experiences, to downsize my life so that no one I love will have to go through a prolonged cleanup after I'm gone."
But downsizing is harder than it looks. McCoy says she and her husband managed to part with many of their belongings when they sold their home of 29 years and moved to an active-adult community. But even so, they're still downsizing, she says.
No wonder it's hard. After all, you spent a lot of money to get to where you are, and you don't want to throw out everything you own, do you? (Well, maybe you do.) But before getting a bulldozer to scoop everything out of your home, try these tactics from people who have been there.