Thinking of Downsizing? A Tiny House Might Be The Right Fit For You

Have you ever felt like all the stuff and space you’ve accumulated has taken over your life?

The American Dream

The classic version of the American Dream portrays a family with a golden retriever puppy living in a medium-sized suburban home with a pool and a spacious backyard. 

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All of those things are great — I love dogs. I certainly love pools. 

But I don’t love clutter. And I don’t love spending more time with my possessions and property than I do my loved ones or passions. 

Collecting Clutter

Over time, the things we think we need can become a trap. They can suck away our time and resources as we try and maintain our possessions. Big lawns are beautiful, but take a ton of time and money to keep in proper condition. A massive house sounds great until you realize you have to clean and maintain every single room.

Downsizing

That same reason is why many people have chosen to downsize. This might take a variety of forms — some have adopted the minimalist lifestyle. Youtube is full of stark white apartments filled with nothing but the odd succulent and the bare necessities. 

Others try van life, choosing to roam the nation nomadically in a beat-up VW van with a built-in shower and stove. 

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Another popular option is the ever-trendy tiny house. What makes these homes so appealing? Why are so many people leaving their 3-bedroom, 2-story homes for a living space that could literally fit in their driveway? 

The reason is simple: It’s a practical, affordable, and fun synthesis of everything that makes downsizing attractive and fun. 

Tiny homes are versatile, portable, and customizable. They also force us to downsize and strip our possessions down to just the bare minimum. 

Freedom to Let Go

Your life only has space for so many things. In some senses, physical space actually determines the number of activities and life decisions you can make. 

Fewer possessions mean fewer obligations. Owning multiple cars, houses, or other major investments means spending the time and finances necessary to keep those things functioning. 

Owning a tiny home allows you to let go of the possessions that once were cluttering your life. It also means you won’t be tied down to a particular place.

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Many tiny homeowners choose to work remote jobs as well. Because of this, they can travel full-time as they work. Instead of being forced to live in the same city year-round, a tiny home affords you the possibility to hitch your house up to a truck and move somewhere completely new. 

Less Mental Stress

More stuff equals more decisions. More decisions generally result in more stress. Your mind takes a lot of energy to come up with decisions. Making constant value calls on things that don’t matter as much — like what pair of socks to wear — means that you have less energy for the more important things. 

Downsizing lets you focus your decision making and energy towards things that really matter. When you have a simple wardrobe that you like, you don’t have to worry about what to wear. When your living space is confined to just one central area, you have more time to invest in relationships and pursue the things that you love. 

Financial Freedom

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The other great thing about tiny homes is that they are both beautiful and affordable. They’re usually much cheaper than renting or taking out a mortgage. They’re an excellent tool for getting out of debt and making more room for financial freedom. 

Consider this scenario: You’re paying rent on a short-term lease on a beautiful place that you can barely afford. You have plenty of space and plenty of stuff. Instead of continuing to drown your money in a cycle of the same decisions, you can sell your stuff, downsize, and live in a tiny house. That means you can get out of debt. Additionally, you’d beable to afford things that you really want in the future.