Tiny Homes Have Tiny Costs
When I was a kid I would dream about the spacious 5 story mansion that I was sure to live in when I grew up. Now that I’m grown that dream has significantly changed. In my opinion that much room would just be a waste of resources and space. That’s when I discovered the tiny house movement. Everywhere you go people are talking about going green and conserving resources, but these aren’t the only reason to invest in a tiny home.
I’ve invested quite a few hours scouring the internet for as much information as I could about tiny homes, and I’m not talking about cramped studio apartments. There has been an explosion of people building tiny homes that are designed to optimize every square foot to work for the owner. These houses are typically less than 1,000 square feet. People all over the world have started building tiny home communities, or clusters, where they can live near their friends or people with like-minded interests. Some of these communities have common rooms, where people can gather together for entertainment purposes.
There are plenty of things to think about when considering to build a tiny home. One of the most difficult challenges to deal with are the government regulations in your desired area. It’s best to do research and to speak with local authorities to determine what you can and can’t do.
The majority of people have built their own home; however there are companies that specialize in the construction of tiny homes. Most of these companies have different layouts and styles that you can choose from to fit your needs. Building your own home tends to be the cheapest route, but even purchasing from a company is cheaper than buying a traditional home.
Another concern for living in a tiny home is that you can’t have traditional use of utilities. While this is true in most cases, there are places you can be connected to the grid. If you aren’t connected to the grid there are other means of obtaining energy and water. While living in a tiny home you can use solar (which works even in snowy areas),water, and hydro power if you don’t have traditional power hook-up. A lot of tiny homes use propane to heat their homes, and wood or propane burning stoves. You can get water from a city connection, well, or cistern. Not only is energy consumption greatly reduced when living in a tiny home due to the size, but using alternative methods also tend to reduce costs in the long term.
A majority of the people living in tiny homes appreciate the fact that the way they are living tends to be more eco-friendly. Tiny homes tend to have no room for a septic tank so most of them have composting toilets instead. Owners tend to recycle items that they can reuse, and throw out less since they are consuming less in general to run a downsized household.
The major positives that I have gathered about living in a tiny home is that there is less clutter, less time spent on cleaning, larger savings, and a lower carbon footprint. One negative to living in a tiny home is that you really have to prioritize what you keep; you simply wouldn’t have the room to have as many possessions as you once did. Another concern is that you have significantly less room to entertain guests in a tiny home which can be a problem during winter months if you can’t comfortably sit outside. Living in a tiny home isn’t for everyone, but I’m excited to see if this movement continues to grow over the years.
Written By: Sara Sunday
