Ep 138 | Downsizing 101 with Marni Jameson

Marni Jameson, author and columnist, joins us to discuss the difficult, emotional journey of downsizing your home or your aging parents' home.
Marni is a nationally syndicated columnist, author, journalist, TV guest, speaker and America’s most-loved home and lifestyle expert. Her weekly column “At Home with Marni Jameson” appears in papers nationwide reaching millions of readers. An award-winning journalist, Marni is also the author of five books, including Downsizing the Family Home and Downsizing the Blended Home.
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In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
The personal event that sparked Marni's interest in writing about the process of downsizing her family's home
Where to start when it comes to downsizing and the emotions attached with the activity
Questions to ask yourself (beyond "does it spark joy?") when you're deep in legacy management
How Marni made decisions about childhood memories Spark Joy Episode 7 - Design and the Future of Minimalism

The importance of keeping the end game in mind
The difference between an antique and a valuable antique - it's all about what the market wants!
Tips on compromising about what to keep/discard when you are downsizing a blended home
How Marni knew when to lean on professionals during the process Example: Everything But the House (feat. in Spark Joy Episode 44 or Maxsold


Marni's tips for those those who are downsizing
Marni's favorite tidying tip:
-Two phrases that are off limits in her household: "for now" and/or "later"
-Clear counters - put it away! (visual harmony and peace)
What sparks joy for Marni:
Her yard and backyard oasis
To connect with Marni Jameson, you can find her at marnijameson.com
Just for Spark Joy Listeners:
1) Email Marni at marni@marnijameson.com using the subject line "Spark Joy Special"
2) Within the email indicate which book you'd like to purchase ("Downsizing the Family Home" or "Downsizing the Blended Home") through Marni's team
3) Receive your book plus a FREE copy of Downsizing the Family Home: WORKBOOK, which retails for $15 (offer available for 10 lucky Spark Joy listeners!)
Gems:
"You want to honor the family legacy, and memory and history, but you can't take it all with you."
"When everything is important, nothing is important."
"I have enough. They are alive in my heart."

"It's important for parents to not be a storage locker for their kids."
"You can't hold on to everything and you have to learn to evolve and roll forward and be present in who you are now."
"Has it served its useful life?"
"It's freeing to let things go and realize they have served their purpose."

"I love stuff. I just don't want to have something that's not me anymore, that's not useful to me anymore, or not who I am today."
You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy
Special Guest: Marni Jameson.