5 Things You’ll Be Disappointed You Downgraded or Decluttered in 2025
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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The new year often brings urges to declutter and downsize to save some money. But with the economy in flux right now, you might want to think twice before making major changes to your surroundings.
“Downsizing is one of those things that sounds freeing, but rushing the process can leave you feeling like you let go of things you’d actually need later,” said Echo Wang, CEO and co-founder of the bookkeeping firm EpicBooks. “Sometimes, it’s better to slow down, think it through and hold onto what you might still need.”
Here are five things you may regret downgrading or downsizing in 2025.
Your Home
It might be tempting to move into a smaller home to reduce living expenses. But selling your house to move into a smaller space isn’t always the best financial move, according to experts.
“It’s important to carefully consider the financial implications and lifestyle changes before making such a decision,” said Jake Falcon, CEO of Falcon Wealth Advisors. “Taking on more debt in this current rate environment is not as advantageous as it was a few years ago.”
Your Car
Likewise, downsizing your car may be a choice that doesn’t save you as much money as you may think while sacrificing comfort and convenience. “While a smaller or less expensive vehicle might seem practical, it may not meet their needs for comfort, reliability, safety or long-distance travel,” Falcon said.
If you’re looking to off-load a larger car in favor of one that’s more fuel-efficient, keep in mind that gas prices have been trending down this winter, although demand for home heating oil has nudged prices up in recent weeks. “Oil costs account for 56% of what you pay at the pump. So, more expensive oil leads to more expensive gas. But that said, there are still 26 states with averages below $3 a gallon for now,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in an AAA article.
Your Garden
As grocery prices continue to rise, driven by the bird flu increasing the cost of both eggs and poultry, you might regret downgrading your garden this spring.
Blogger Ann Drake of On Sutton Place wrote about the things she missed in her new, smaller home. “I miss my garden,” she wrote. “I loved planting, watering and watching everything grow.”
According to Garden Pals, growing food in a garden can save you about $600 per year. Even factoring in the average cost of setting up a garden, gardeners could see $530 in savings per year.
Kitchen Appliances
Likewise, if you plan to cook at home more often to save money, you’ll want to keep your favorite appliances.
“Downsizing kitchen appliances can be a mistake,” Falcon said. “Having the right tools and appliances can make meal preparation more enjoyable and efficient. It also keeps options open to try new recipes and meals.”
Family Keepsakes and Art Projects
“One common regret among retirees is selling sentimental family heirlooms at a yard sale or online. These items often hold significant emotional value and can be difficult to replace, if not impossible,” Falcon said.
It isn’t uncommon for people in a decluttering frenzy to toss items and later regret it.
“I move frequently and when I do I tend to be brutal in getting rid of things … The only regret that I can think of is tossing an amusing little sculpture my daughter made in elementary school and gave to me,” SideburnHeretic wrote on Reddit.
Downsizing or decluttering too hastily could be a bad move. But don’t let this list stop you from taking an honest look at your surroundings to see ways you can downsize or downgrade to save time or money.
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