Is a Tiny Home Right for You?
Here at Tiny Life Consulting we have over two hundred pages of answers to almost any question you can think of asking. However, the first and most important question you must ask yourself (and/or your family) is this: how much room do we need?
Tackling the Most Basic Question: How Much Room Do I (We) Need?
The world of tiny living is exploding in popularity, and with good reason. The cost of housing has exponentially outpaced any increase in wages. The cost of living just seems to go up and up. In many cases, it makes good sense to see where we can decrease our spending. My wife and I semi-retired five years ago, and we went through this process ourselves. We sold our house, moved three hundred miles from our home valley of 42 years, sold our second car and most of our stuff, and bought a much smaller (1100 sq/ft), though not tiny, house. We took everything into consideration. One of the basic tenets of making this kind of move is:
You Need The Room You Need
At our age, we needed a house without stairs. We needed to be close to civilization (even though that pains me greatly.) We needed a place for our kids and grandkids to sleep when they come to town. To be able to live sustainably and on our own as long as possible, we needed something easy to take care of that we won’t have to move. And fortunately, after a lifetime of working, we were able to do that.
As I have watched the popular tiny home TV shows, I’ve seen a family of five packing themselves into less than 300 
square feet (with a composting toilet). I just cringed. Believe me, I understand how tempting it is to escape the financial pressures of a mortgage. I also understand this may sometimes be the only option. In that case, we have pages with some helpful solutions including Extending Our Living Spaces Outdoors and Directory of Off-Grid Resources. Almost every page on our site has DIY instructions and helpful YouTube™ videos for every possible project associated with living tiny. We’re here to help.
But when it comes to sticking a family with children in a really tiny house, my wife just won’t watch. Raising a family is tough. You may have decided you want to do it, or you have to do it, and more power to you. Hopefully you’ll find lots of helpful advice on our pages. But for a moment, let us help you think through some possible alternatives.
Tiny Living is a Mindset, Not Necessarily a Particular Structure
Sometimes letting go of a predetermined plan can open the door to better possibilities. Many people think that THOWs (tiny houses on wheels) are the only way to go tiny. THOWs are terrific for the right people at the right time. But tiny living is about smart living. It’s about making good (and sometimes sacrificial) choices, and delayed gratification. It’s about being open-minded. Check out these two pages: Tiny House Types (there are SO many choices out there!) and Tiny Houses: Where to Start. Before locking yourself into anything, explore all your possibilities. Who knows what you might find?
Tiny Homes Can be Appropriate
There are situations for which tiny homes, especially THOWs, are just perfect. For a single person, a couple without children, or a family with little bitty kids who are barely walking, before they can take a header out of the loft.
Tiny homes can also be done for a specific period of time. Perhaps a young family with one infant could live in a tiny home for a couple of years with the goal of saving money to afford a larger home. The tiny home served a purpose.
Tiny homes can be an excellent choice for a specific time in life.
Some folks feel, and rightly so, they want to leave a smaller carbon footprint on the Earth. I respect that immensely. Just know that, if you decided you need a little more room, it doesn’t mean you failed at being fiscally responsible or ecologically-minded. You can still be a good steward of Mother Earth with a slightly larger home, and it may be an emotionally healthier situation for you and/or your family.
A Tiny Pioneer Tells His Story
Watch the video below. This family realized they needed a bigger home after living in this tiny home for two years. The tiny home was good for a specific time in their lives but their family is growing. They didn’t fail at the tiny life. They used the tiny life for a purpose then decided to move on. It was a good decision.
This family has a lot of videos honestly describing living in a tiny home. It’s worth the watch.
Knowledge Is Power
We hope you find the answers you need for your decision on whether or not to bite the tiny bullet! Please know there is help to be found on our pages; just use the search bar. You’ll find a good start here at Pulling The Tiny Trigger! All the questions you’ll want answered and more.
Other pages of this website you’ll be interested in: 
My Favorite Tiny House of 2021
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