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Hi Taylor
- I've been thinking about renting out our basement to bring in a
little extra monthly income. Problem is, my wife has loads of old
stuff in there that she doesn't want to get rid of. Any advice for
a guy who's trying to gently convince his wife she doesn't need all
this stuff? - Mario
Hi Mario - Looks like you're already heeding my most immediate
advice, which is to tread cautiously. It's easy to misjudge the connection
someone else might feel to things you view as old stuff, so you want
to approach the conversation with care.
That said, turning storage space into a money-making rental is a great
financial move. Try bringing these points up to see if something sticks. |
1. Sell
some of your own things. A good starting place might be to
show her you're serious about a little spring cleaning. If you
can organize a yard sale or do a donation run with your own clothes
and some gadgets from the garage you don't use often, she might
be inspired to throw in a few of her own things. Sometimes it's
simply a matter of letting go of a couple of small items and realizing
that undertaking doesn't create a lasting sense of regret. If
you initiate the process, you won't have to hound your wife and
she won't feel like she's being pressured. Even if you only end
up selling your own stuff, there's nothing wrong with that.
2. One step at a time. If you're asking your wife to get rid
of years and years of collected storage, it's no wonder she finds
the idea a little upsetting. I'm sure there are valuable items
and objects to which she feels an emotional connection. If you
lump all those things into the same category, your effort could
be perceived as callous. Start with one thing or one small collection;
maybe there are old children's toys that can find a better home
or one piece of furniture that could be sold online and open up
a lot of space. Letting go of old possessions can be a long process,
and allowing for it to happen in stages might be your best bet.
3. Make some trades. Compromise factors into most aspects
of a healthy marriage and this situation is no different. If you're
going to ask your wife to part with things she loves, what might
you offer in return? There could be some extra housework you can
start taking on, or there's a landscaping project that could be
done in exchange for clearing out the basement. If there's something
you can offer that turns the situation into a win-win, go for
it.
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I understand
the urge to get the space turned into a rental as soon as possible,
but I think patience is going to be a big part of making it happen.
When it works out in the end, it will have all been worth it. Good
luck Mario!
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| Disclaimer:
Information presented is for educational purposes only and is not
an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific
securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve
risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to
first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional
before implementing any strategy discussed herein. To submit a question
to be answered in this column, please send it via email to Question@GoFarWithKovar.com,
or via USPS to Taylor Kovar, 415 S 1st St, Suite 300, Lufkin, TX 75901.
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