Indeed, when the conversation of home affordability and how ‘boomers destroyed the economy’ comes up, tiny living is barely even mentioned.
Many people have very little knowledge or information about this kind of living, and hence do not even consider it in their decision making.
It is good to once in a while hear from people who actually live the lifestyle so you can know what you are getting yourself into, or what you will be missing out on.
Jessica Mokhiber Palmer, her husband and their two dogs have been in living in a 192 square-foot home in upstate New York for a year and a half now. They recently spoke to Readers Digest to explain their lifestyle.
Read: Living in a Tiny House With Kids.. Pros, Cons and Everything You Need To Know
As with most people going this route, their main reason for choosing to live in a tiny house was the financial freedom that comes with it. Having no mortgage to pay was a very exciting prospect for them.
They were also attracted to this kind of living because it comes with less house maintenance, is eco-friendly and generally more sustainable.
They took time to explain what most people don’t know about living in a tiny house.
Here are ten things.
1. The outdoors become an extension of your house.
Unlike normal-sized houses where you can trap yourself inside all year round, to live in a tiny house you must really like the outdoors. Jessica explained that they are generally outside all day, and sometimes consider the house as just a place to sleep. She explained that not even snow keeps them inside.
2. You need to find your own space sometimes.
This is true if you are living with a partner, and even more so if you are both working from home like Jessica and her husband.
It may be a work-related video call, or just some privacy to concentrate better. This may not be a problem in other houses, but with company around in a tiny house, you’ll need a lot of creativity to get yourself some private space.
3. Yes, you can fit a king size bed, but…
Many tiny houses have lofts big enough to fit a king-size bed. In fact, so does Jessica’s. But this comes with other challenges.
Because the bed will be an almost perfect fit, it becomes a struggle when changing sheets. Jessica reveals that it requires a lot of maneuvering.
4. How about toilet and waste water?
Well, it goes without saying that most tiny house don’t come attached to the grid. Many don’t also have septic tanks. Instead, they utilize a composting toilet which uses some science ‘magic’ to turn solid waste into compost.
5. How big is the closet?
Honestly speaking, if you are the kind of person with hundreds of clothing item, tiny living may not be for you.
Jessica explained that you have to learn to live on about five outfits per season, and that they had to cut down their wardrobe by almost 80% when they moved.
She added that she doesn’t usually buy fast fashion, but rather prefers well-made items that will last many years.
6. Storage matters.
When living in a normal house, the issue of storage does not come up a lot. After all, there is probably more drawers and cabinetry than you can possibly need.
However, this is quite the opposite in a tiny house. Creativity is required to come up with storage space, and these has often been found under the stairs, under the couch and even the bed headboard.
7. How many people can you fit inside.
Now, if you are a fun of entertaining and hosting, you may have to go a different route.
Tiny houses are by design not meant to accommodate all your friends. Sure, a few of your close friends can possibly fit inside, but still their movement will be restricted.
Jessica explained that they prefer entertaining in the summer when they can utilize the outdoors.
8. How is the maintenance in a tiny house?
A tiny house is remarkably easier to maintain, but at the same time requires more frequent cleaning because dirt and clutter is noticeable faster than a bigger house.
The good thing is that a handheld dustbuster might be all you need 90% of the time.
9. Tiny living and financial freedom
Of course there are little or no mortgages with tiny house. These houses are hard to finance the traditional way.
This was a huge weight off the shoulders of Jessica and her husband, and it did not stop there. Their electricity bill is a fraction of what it would be.
The couple has also learnt to be frugal with their money, because they can’t just go buying ‘cute’ things knowing too well they won’t fit in the house.
10. Insuring your tiny house can be a challenge.
This unconventional kind of living is still not very accepted by the financial institutions, and getting a mortgage can be a nightmare as mentioned. However, even after buying the house out of pocket, having it insured can present another challenge.
Jessica opted not to insure their house, saying the cost of insurance was not worth what the home was worth.
Now Read: Are Tiny Homes Worth It ?
