The Tiny House Movement

Call it crazy, call it weird or call it right. Whatever you call it, the small house movement is on the rise. Each day, more and more people are selling their large, costly homes and downsizing into small, even tiny homes. Blogs, books, even documentaries on the movement are popular at the moment. Architects  and builders are jumping on the small home bandwagon, designing thrifty home options for those seeking simplicity.

The average American home is close to 3600 square feet while a tiny house can run between 100 and 400 square feet. While there are all kinds of tiny homes, even those with wheels, the theory behind them is the same; scale down and focus on living a less stressful life.

There are many reasons why people are supporting the tiny home movement, Some people are doing it for environmental reasons, some for financial reasons and others just want to have more time and freedom.

(via http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8334169797_4d1a568d81.jpg)

Most Americans devote one-third to one-half of their income to keeping a roof over their heads. When you look at the numbers, this translates to working 15 years just to pay for a home. Over 75% of Americans are living from paycheck to paycheck and are frustrated because their mortgage and home operating costs are so high.

Although a tiny home is not the right answer for everyone, we can all learn a few things from those that have made the bold move to downsize. The first is that there is freedom to be found in getting out of the cycle of debt, where all we earn is going into our home, and there never seems to be quite enough.

Another lesson comes when we understand what is really important to be happy in life. Many times it is easy to get so caught up in working to pay the bills that we sacrifice relationships, health and even the home that we work so hard to pay for.

Some who make the tiny house move desire a smaller mortgage, or no mortgage at all, and fewer home bills. Green options make living in a tiny home even more attractive. Hooking a small home up to solar or wind power is not nearly as expensive or complicated as refitting a larger home.

Downsizing requires effort, there is no doubt. However, getting rid of stuff can be incredibly therapeutic, especially if it is stuff we don’t use. Clutter creates stress, and we live with many things that we do not need.

Some Tiny House Facts

•   78% of tiny home owners own their home

•   55% of tiny homeowners have at least $10,000 in savings

•   The average cost to build a tiny home is $23,000 compared to the national “regular” sized home of  $272,000.

•   The average tiny home is 186 sq/ft while the average standard home in the United States is 2100 square feet.

•   While you may not be ready to move to a tiny house just yet, are there ways that you can get rid of stuff or downsize. Remember, baby steps towards self sufficiency are still steps.