Downsize your expenses

By reducing the things you own, you reduce clutter, reducing the size of house you need, reducing your heating and cooling usage. Getting rid of unnecessary stuff is the start of a avalanche that can save you thousands in mortgage payments alone. Cleaning the house out of unwanted and unnecessary stuff also generates a lot of gear to sell either online at Craigslist of Ebay, or in a yard sale. If you can't bring yourself to get rid of a lot of it, consider still going with a smaller house and using a storage unit for the things you rarely use.