The Truth About Tiny Living

Talk to almost anyone who lives in a tiny home and they will quickly tell you it is one of the best decisions they have ever made. However it must be understood that tiny living does not come without its drawbacks. When thinking about making the change from a normal sized, traditional home to a tiny house one must first be aware what they are getting themselves into.

Less Living Space

A tiny house doesn’t have room for a full-sized luxury kitchen or bathroom. Tiny house owners often have to make do without a bathtub or full-sized kitchen appliances, unless they’re willing to sacrifice other space for them.

Less Storage Space

For most families, moving into a tiny house means getting rid of a lot of belongings, and not all of them are unnecessary junk.

Limited Entertaining Capability

It clearly isn’t possible to host a party, have a large group of friends over for dinner, or have your in-laws come to visit when there’s no room for an extra bed. There simply is not enough room.

Zoning Rules

Although a tiny house doesn’t require much land, many cities make it difficult to build one. Zoning laws often include a minimum size for dwellings, and a 200-square-foot tiny house isn’t usually big enough to make the cut.

Financing

For those who can’t afford to buy or build a tiny home for cash, getting a loan is more challenging than it is for other home buyers. It usually isn’t possible to take out a standard mortgage, because banks don’t consider a tiny house to have enough value to make good collateral.

But hold on, these limitations can be worked around with a little creativity and although the previous list does seem a little taunting, there are many advantages to living tiny.

Lower Expenses

A tiny house costs a lot less to build than a full-sized one. It’s possible to build a tiny house for $23,000 on average. The average price for a full-sized house, by contrast, is $272,000 – more than 10 times as much. Cutting back on housing expenses enables tiny house owners to put more money toward luxuries, retirement, etc,

No Mortgage

Most people can’t afford to buy a house without taking out a mortgage, which only adds to the long-term cost. 68% of tiny house owners own their homes free and clear, as compared to just 29% of all homeowners.

Lower Energy Use

Bills for electricity, fuel, water, and waste disposal are all much lower. In addition, it’s much easier to live off the grid in a tiny house, since you can heat the entire space with a small wood stove and power it with a small solar array. Many tiny houses even have composting toilets, which break down waste without needing to be hooked up to a sewage system.

Freedom of Movement

Many tiny houses are built on trailers, so their owners can take them along whenever they move to a new location.

Easier Maintenance

With less space to clean and fewer appliances to repair, tiny house owners can spend less time on chores and more on their work, hobbies, and relationships.

Harmony With Nature

Tiny houses require less material to build and less energy to power. Also, their small size makes them easier to site in a place that’s close to nature.

A Simpler Life

Tiny homeowners pare their belongings down to the essentials, keeping only the items that truly enrich their lives.

It is true that there are many positives and negatives when it comes to living tiny. Before building or buying a tiny home, take time to look at each and weigh your options. Are the positives personally enough in midst of the sacrifices you will make? If yes, then go for it and enjoy your tiny life today!

Until next time, live tiny y’all!