LAUREN & LEE ROBERTS

How We Downsized Our Life to Move Abroad: Tips, Tools, and Tough Decisions

When we decided to move abroad, we knew there would be a lot of logistics to tackle—visas, finances, housing. But what we didn’t anticipate was just how emotional and exhausting it would be to downsize our entire lives into a few suitcases and four plastic totes.

We bought our house a few years ago, but Lee has actually lived here throughout his entire life. Over the decades, it’s accumulated everything from childhood toys to spare hardware from DIY projects long since completed. Then I moved in, bringing with me an entire apartment’s worth of furniture, kitchen tools, and way too many purses. To make things even more complicated, I recently inherited a room’s worth of my mom’s belongings after she passed away. Suddenly we had three lives’ worth of stuff under one roof, and it was all staring at us like, “Well? What gets to come along?”

Letting Go of the Life You Planned

The hardest part wasn’t figuring out how to sell a dresser or pack a suitcase. It was letting go of the life we thought we were going to live. The beauty supplies I was definitely going to master (anyone else convince themselves they were going to get really good at DIY eyelash extensions?); Lee’s fishing gear that had seen so many early morning trips; and camping gear we curated for hiking trails we never quite made it to. Each item held plans, effort, and memories—some of our gear had been researched, saved for, and upgraded over years.

But ultimately, we realized that clinging to those things was clinging to an old version of ourselves. We’re not giving up on our hobbies forever—we’re just choosing not to carry their weight right now. We’ll rent or rebuy when the time is right. This new life of slow travel demands flexibility more than preparedness. And so, with some sadness, some laughs, and a lot of Facebook Marketplace listings, we let it all go.

Sorting Through Sentiment

Letting go of things tied to people you love? That’s an entirely different level of struggle. There were scarves that still smelled like my mom’s perfume, old notes from friends I haven’t seen in years, and kitchen tools Lee’s parents used every Sunday.

We had to ask ourselves: Do we need the item, or do we just need the memory? In many cases, the memory won. We paused and let ourselves feel it—and then we let it go. Sometimes with a photo, sometimes just with a deep breath.

Digitizing and Storing the Essentials

We scanned documents, snapped photos of handwritten recipes, and digitized letters and mementos (if you have an iPhone, this is super easy to do). Everything went into organized folders in the cloud. What couldn’t be digitized but still meant the world to us, like my family heirloom quilts, we packed into four large totes.

Inside the photos and documents tote we added these photo organizers and boxes with acid free paper to keep things tidy and protected, and we threw these silica packets into everything to prevent moisture damage over time. We plan to either bring the totes back with us on a future visit or have them shipped once we’re settled long-term.

Facebook Marketplace: Surprisingly Wild and Weirdly Effective

We sold almost everything that we weren’t keeping or donating on Facebook Marketplace. The office desk, the toaster, that old set of mismatched bakeware—gone. You’d be amazed at what people will buy. Honestly, nothing is off-limits, so if you’re downsizing, post it. Someone out there wants your broken lawn chair or half-used candle set. We made a good amount of moving money and cleared a whole lot of space.

To give credit where it’s due: Lee handled all the messages and meet ups. I’m afraid I would have thrown in the towel very quickly if I’d had to answer 15 million “is this available” messages!

What Made the Cut

Everything that made the final cut had to earn its spot, so we asked ourselves:

• Will I be upset if I never see this again?
• Can it be replaced cheaply abroad?
• Does it bring value every day, or is it just “nice to have”?

We kept the bare minimum of toiletries and personal items, upgraded our work from anywhere setups to be as small and efficient as possible, and left behind anything that plugs in with an American plug like my hair tools and our fancy steamer.

Our wardrobes were brutally edited down. I used to own enough clothes and shoes for five people—truly, no exaggeration. Every closet, drawer, and under-the-bed bin was packed. And somehow, I still felt like I had “nothing to wear.” Now? I’ve built a tiny-ish capsule wardrobe that almost fits into a carry-on. It’s a mix of versatile basics, a few pieces I truly love, and layers that can take me from city walks to countryside getaways. Letting go of fashion “somedays” was hard—but now I feel lighter, more intentional, and more me.

You Can Do This

Downsizing is not just about physical space—it’s about emotional space too. It’s about choosing the life you want, not the one your stuff dictates. Whether you’re moving abroad, decluttering your home, trying to make some extra money, or just not wanting to leave a burden behind for your kids someday—it’s possible. It’s hard. It’s freeing. It’s worth it.

Give yourself permission to let go. Be ruthless. Be tender. Be proud of every item you release into the world. They served you once—they don’t have to serve you forever.

We’re lighter now. And more ready than ever for the adventure ahead.

– Lauren & Lee

Want a peek at the tools, apps, and gear actually getting us through this move? We’ve added a short list here.

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