Tiny Houses
Why do we need Tiny Houses? Tiny houses offer a practical solution to those who are struggling with big mortgages and big taxes. Logically, the smaller the house, the smaller the bills. Building costs/selling price affects the mortgage, while square footage has a huge impact on property taxes. The trend over the last 3 generations has been to make rooms bigger and houses bigger. Therefore, young families (say in their thirties) who want to start a family, begin their house-hunting process with a certain mindset which is destined to disappoint them. Spacious luxury at home has become an aspect of the culture - the norm.
The daunting prices of most homes are disproportionate to the family income. In the 1950s, living expenses represented less than 25% of a household income - and Moms stayed at home. As housing prices soared, it required 2 incomes per household to keep up. Over time, housing prices approached 50% of average household income (even with both parents working). If we're talking about a single person, 2 jobs might be needed. If the slightest hiccup in the income stream occurs, a mortgage payment is missed. People are no longer able to save for a rainy day. Reserves don't exist.
Another cultural change that added to the demand for housing was that families separated earlier. You can still find families of immigrants living together (8 or 10 in an apartment). But once the family becomes established in a new country, sons and daughters seek independence, and want "their own place." Let's add insult to injury and point out that your living expenses have also skyrocketed. Electricity, heating oil or gas, gas for your car, groceries. How many phone bills do you pay every month? You pay for water. You pay to watch TV. (Sorry, the devil made me do it). What can be done? There are 2 things we can do: one is to revert back to sharing housing with extended family members; the other is to live in smaller housing. This might mean unloading a lot of "stuff." Never an easy thing to do because of the memories, and because you know you'll only get 10% of what it's worth if you sell it. Remember, "you can't take it with you." Give away some of it to friends and family. Take whatever photographs you need in order to preserve the memories. Pictures don't take up a lot of room. The resistance to getting rid of things is due to an emotional attachment. Make your logic more dominant than your emotion, and the task will become easier. You will be surprised how easy it is to adapt to NOT having something you've gotten used to having. Furthermore, "stuff" doesn't cause happiness. Happiness comes from being with people you love. If you've ever met any of those immigrant families I referred to earlier, you'll know what I mean. Think of those family gatherings around the holidays. Are you ever any happier than you are then?
How do we go about it? Tiny houses work well when they are built with an emphasis on simplicity and space saving. Today's choices of appliances and other devices can actually make it easy to get the results that will make you happy living in diminished surroundings. Depending on how small you decide to go, you might even get away without any mortgage payment at all. That would certainly go a long way toward making me happy. Let's start with the bathroom. Switch over to Small Bathrooms. for several suggestions. In tiny houses, you will never be too far from the bathroom, so you won't need more than one. Then you should visit a page about having a small eat-in kitchen. Compact appliances will make this job easier.
There should be a good-sized and comfortable room for general living space and entertaining guests. You probably don't need more than 2 bedrooms (one can be a loft shared by more than one kid). Lastly, I recommend having an unfinished basement for storage. You can easily find a corner to accommodate your home office - even in tiny houses. All this can be done in 600 square feet, plus the basement. If you are already feeling like your head is being squeezed, splurge and go to 900 square feet. I can tell you that there are websites on the internet that describe 100 square foot houses, so don't think that I'm being ridiculous by suggesting something less than 1000. Designs for tiny houses are as plentiful as for larger homes. With some planning and some imagination, a house of less than 100 square feet can be luxurious, comfortable and unique. Throw in all the money you'll be saving, and now you're wondering why you haven't done this already. Lots of people are doing it in mobile homes, prefab homes, apartments, condos & co-ops. A home doesn't necessarily have to be secured to the ground. Inexpensive land plus an affordable house equals a happy homeowner. Tiny houses help you to minimize the major expenses of your life and allow leftover money to be put to a better all-around lifestyle. Cutting back on space that is seldom used, and making better use of your existing financial resources, is simply smart living. Sure, your habits will change a little, but for the better. Living In Small Houses. Think big. Live small.
Reduce your Mortgage.
And if you are adventurous enough to go the extra step, here's a site to visit if you'd like to know about Living Off The Grid -- helping the family, helping the neighborhood, helping the planet! If you have a question, contact me about tiny houses by clicking here.
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