Our Journey to Downsize and Sell Everything for Full-Time Travel

After years of watching people living a life on the road, we finally made the bold decision to leave behind the traditional lifestyle and embrace full-time travel. It wasn't an easy choice; the idea of uprooting everything we've known and stepping into the unknown was both thrilling and terrifying. We had built a life that ticked all the boxes—careers, a beautiful home, and a comfortable routine. But deep down, we knew something was missing. We craved more freedom, more adventure, and more time together as a family.

As soon as we decided to make the leap, the reality of what we were about to do hit us hard. The excitement of starting a new chapter was quickly met with the daunting task of preparing for it. Downsizing our lives—deciding what to keep, what to sell, and what to let go of—has been an emotional rollercoaster. Every item we sorted through seemed to carry memories, and the process of letting go was much more challenging than we had anticipated.

At the same time, the practicalities of getting our home ready for sale and planning our new life on the road brought their own set of challenges. There were moments of doubt, where the comfort of our current life made us question if we were doing the right thing. But through it all, the vision of a life filled with new experiences, exploring new places, and bonding as a family kept us moving forward.

My oldest son’s room became the dumping ground during the process! Keep, Sell, Throw, or Donate?

Letting Go of the Unnecessary

We all get so attached to our belongings, don't we? I mean, there are things I've held onto for years that I haven't even looked at. Yet, every time I try to declutter, I just can't let them go! We often tie memories to our stuff, making it hard to part ways. This was one of the toughest parts for me. To help, I started taking photos of sentimental items. For instance, I had my first birthday cards and wedding cards tucked away. I'd never gone through them, but tossing them felt wrong. So, I photographed each card and its message, creating a digital album. This way, I can still reminisce without the physical clutter.

When sorting through our things, we knew we had to be ruthless. No more "let's keep this just in case." We categorized everything into four piles: keep, sell, donate, or throw away. Take my wedding dress, for example. It's super special to me, but I'm never going to wear it again. I found a local charity shop that accepts bridal wear and donated it. Knowing it might bring joy to someone else made letting go so much easier.

Some items were surprisingly harder to part with than others. Jordan, for instance, had a tough time letting go of a hip flask he'd never even used! Overall, I think I found the process a bit easier than he did—probably because I had way more stuff! What helped me was getting into the right mindset beforehand. My tip? Start decluttering early on when you're still riding the high of your big decision. That initial excitement can make it easier to tackle the emotional side of letting go.

Me packing up items that have sold on Vinted.

Selling Our Belongings

Even though we’ve gotten rid of a lot, we still have plenty left to sort through as I write this. We've donated tons of items to charity, passed things on to family and friends, and sold quite a bit too. So far, we've made over £2,000 selling our stuff on Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, and at a few car boot sales. Speaking of car boots, they're definitely my last resort—people always want things for next to nothing! I tried to sell a perfectly good pair of GHD straighteners for £5, and folks still didn’t want to pay it!

Vinted has been our best platform by far, and surprisingly, toys sold better than clothing. My local courier shop knows me by name now because I was there daily at one point—it was like having a full-time job! One thing I've learned is that people don’t want to pay much for second-hand items, even if they’re in excellent or brand-new condition. Buyers almost always offer less than the asking price, so I quickly figured out that overpricing my items a bit made accepting those lower offers a lot easier.

One of many carboot sales

Toys

Toys! We hadn’t even realised just how much we’d accumulated over the years for the boys. I have to admit, I felt a bit ashamed as I sorted through their things. Most of their toys were second-hand, which I’ve always preferred because they’re still young and don’t know the difference, plus I love the idea of reusing rather than always buying new. But still, the sheer amount was overwhelming.

Here’s a tip: if you’re planning to declutter your kids’ toys, do it when they’re not around—it makes the process so much easier. And guess what? They haven’t even noticed that most of their toys are gone! I did feel a pang of guilt when my youngest was searching for a particular toy and asked, “Oh Mam, have you sold it!?” Oops! Thankfully, he quickly forgot about it and moved on to something else. It’s a reminder that sometimes we hold onto things more for our own sake than for theirs.

Moving Forward

Now, I’m eagerly awaiting our house sale so we can finally part with the rest of our belongings. Decluttering and simplifying our life has become a bit of an addiction, to be honest, and it feels incredibly freeing! Embracing change and the freedom that comes with letting go is crucial if you're considering making a big shift like this for your family. I used to have a much more closed mindset, and I know that if I was still in that headspace, this whole process would’ve been a lot tougher.

Speaking of mindset, this whole experience has really cleared my head. As an overthinker, my brain is constantly in overdrive, but the act of decluttering has helped to calm some of that mental noise. With less stuff to worry about, I feel so much lighter and more at ease with myself. It’s amazing how much clearer your thoughts can become when you’re not weighed down by all the excess.

Thinking of Decluttering Your Life?

Have you been thinking about decluttering your life and embracing a more minimalist lifestyle? Maybe you’re not planning a big change like we are, but still, the idea of letting go of some of the excess in your life appeals to you. If so, I can’t recommend it enough—it’s truly life-changing. My journey into minimalism actually started a few months ago when I stumbled across The Minimalists on Netflix. I became obsessed, and it sparked the beginning of my own decluttering process, even before we made the decision to sell everything and hit the road.

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, the New York Times bestselling authors behind The Minimalists, have helped millions of people get rid of clutter and live with less. Their approach is simple, practical, and incredibly freeing. If you’re curious, I’d suggest checking out some of the free resources on their website. I personally found their Minimalist Rulebook and Game Calendar super helpful as I started clearing out our home. Whether you’re taking small steps or making big changes, these tools can help guide you towards a more intentional and clutter-free life.

Minimalism isn’t just about getting rid of stuff; it’s about making room for what truly matters. As we continue our journey toward a simpler, more intentional life, I can honestly say that letting go has been one of the most empowering decisions we’ve made. Whether you’re looking to declutter a little or completely transform your lifestyle, remember that every small step counts. Start with one drawer, one room, or one category of items, and see how it feels. You might be surprised at the clarity and peace that comes with creating more space in your life. If you’re ready to give it a try, I encourage you to dive in—you never know what new opportunities and freedoms you might discover along the way.

If you’re curious about what led us to make such a big change, check out our blogpost where we dive deeper into the reasons behind our decision. You’ll get a glimpse into the motivations, challenges, and hopes that drove us to embrace this new way of life.