How Downsizing Helped Us Afford a Life of Travel—and How It Can Help You Too
When I first met my husband, he was an avid poker player. He once entered a nationwide tournament in Scotland and ranked as the 52nd best player in the entire country! (He doesn’t brag, but I will—how cool is that?!) Like any poker enthusiast knows, not every hand is a chance to go “all in.” Sometimes, you hold back and hedge your bets. That philosophy is exactly how we approached our dream of RV travel.
It all started with an Instagram reel featuring a family who sold it all to travel full-time. I couldn’t stop watching, and with a cheeky smile, I sent it to my husband. To my delight he was on board with this crazy idea, and fast forward a few months, we’d made plans to downsize our house, buy a truck and an RV, and hit the road! But instead of going “all in,” we doubled down on a part-time travel lifestyle to prioritize flexibility, freedom, and family balance. Here’s how we made it happen—and how you can too.
The Trial Run: Why We Didn’t Go Full-Time
When we first dreamed up our RV lifestyle, we were ready to go full-time. We even considered renting out our house. But after two years of part-time RVing, we made a shocking revelation: RV travel, especially with little kids, is a lot of work (who knew huh!). Here’s what we learned:
Travel Days Are taxing: Packing, hitching, driving, setting up, and planning routes can be overwhelming—especially when juggling kids, work, and never ending snack requests from the backseat!
Decision Fatigue Is Real: From planning stays to kid-friendly activities to meal prep, the constant decision-making is really tiring.
Maintenance is Nonstop: We were once told, towing an RV is like putting it through a mini earthquake, and that is so true! Things break, fuses blow, and repairs are inevitable—sometimes costly and time-consuming.
Don’t get us wrong—there’s immense privilege in being “exhausted from exploring,” and we’re grateful for it every day. But burnout is real. For us, having a home base has been the perfect balance. We can explore incredible places like Acadia National Park or chase warm weather while still having a stable place to recharge and regroup.
Why Downsizing Was the Game Changer
Downsizing wasn’t just about affording an RV—it aligned perfectly with our broader goals of financial independence. Here’s how it worked for us:
We Sold Our Home Ourselves: By skipping a realtor and selling for sale by owner, we saved over $15,000 in commission fees.
We Bought Smaller: Downsizing to a smaller home in a state with cheaper insurance significantly reduced our monthly expenses.
We Invested the Savings: Selling our home gave us enough to afford a truck, RV, and even reinvest extra funds for long-term goals.
Lowering our cost of living gave us the freedom to work part-time, travel part-time, and spend more time with our kids. It’s a lifestyle that feels balanced and sustainable.
Steps to Start Downsizing
If downsizing sounds like a way to achieve your dreams, here are actionable steps to get started:
Evaluate Your Needs: Walk through your home and identify items you haven’t used in the past year.
Sell or Donate: Use apps like Facebook Marketplace to sell furniture, tools, or toys. Donate what you can.
Research Housing Options: Look for smaller homes or areas with lower taxes and insurance costs—maybe even another state or country!
Reinvest the Savings: Use proceeds to fund travel, invest in a dream, or build your financial freedom.
Downsizing isn’t just for people who want to RV full-time. It’s an incredible first step for families who dream of more travel and less stress. For us, it was the best decision we’ve made, giving us the flexibility to enjoy the best of both worlds: adventure and stability.
If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the world while staying financially secure, downsizing might just be the key to making it happen. So why not take the first step and see where it leads?
Does this sound like the lifestyle for you? Let us know in the comments—whether you’re already downsized or just dreaming of more freedom, we’d love to hear your story!
