Comments on: Tiny Houses: A Mortgage Free Housing Solution

By: Phinance

Phinance — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:31:19 +0000

Wow, now I feel like I live in a mcmansion! I think it might seem a little bit much for people who live in the big city, but once you get used to a simple and tranquil lifestyle, I think you would enjoy the more simple things in life more and lead a more fulfilling life away from urban distractions.

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:45:58 +0000

Another way to look at this is big things start small . . . too many people rush into more than they can afford. They should really do it the other way around.

By: Writer's Coin

Writer's Coin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:21:46 +0000

Every time I see new and old videos on these tiny houses I’m tempted. Oh am I tempted, but it’s never gonna happen.

It just seems like too far of a jump for me…maybe for a summer or a couple of months it would work out. But for good? Kudos to those people.

By: IRG

IRG — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:57:34 +0000

I live in a NYC apartment that is just a bit over 500 feet. One bedroom, one bath and it also serves as my home office.

I crave space like nothing else I can think of and had I known how much it mattered, I would have moved to a bigger space a long time ago (I’ve been here over 20 years.) Now, I can’t afford to move.

I truly do not get how people, especially a family of four or more, can live in say 1,000 square feet and just be happy.

People need room to move around and have private space (beyond shared bedrooms, which is the case in most places of 1,000 feet or less).

People need personal privacy.

They need to be able to do things that might be noisy without disturbing others.

I guess we city folk, while not desiring McMansions, still want some just plain old walk-around space.

I wonder how much time folks in tiny places actually spend at home. How much time is spent out of the home (work, etc.) and outdoors.

Cause those teeny places are just claustrophobic to even look at for me.

Sorry. No way.

To each his own.

FYI: My mother’s room in an ALF was bigger than some of those places. Of course she needed it to, for things like a wheelchair, etc.

I wonder how these spaces will work as people age and can’t go outside as much or get around.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:28:00 +0000

This makes me a feel a little bit better about our current house!

By: Rebecca Rivera

Rebecca Rivera — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:15:50 +0000

My house is about 800 square feet. It is perfect for us (myself and my two sons ages 11 & 5.) My only real wish is for a bathtub, as we only have a shower, but otherwise our house is great. We have 2 small bedrooms (10 x 7 and 7 x 11.) We have a living room, eat in kitchen, and bathroom. We also have a washer dryer by the back door (a stackable.) Our utilities average $100 a month for electricity and $115 a month for gas. (Old house, no insulation makes for a higher gas bill.)
I actually want to knock this house down (it is falling off foundation, it is about 90 years old.) and rebuild only adding about 5 feet off back to have a full tub in bathroom.
However I do not think we could go any smaller. We homeschool and do need space for all our school stuff.

However the view from those tiny houses is amazing. I could understand wanting to live there.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:15:14 +0000

There are free tiny house plans… no really… published under a creative commons license at: http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/free-plans/

By: Matt @ My Financial Recovery

Matt @ My Financial Recovery — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:57:03 +0000

Frugal Dad – I LOVE IT. I live in Vermont myself, not all that far from Johnson. I really enjoyed that video clip. I may have to go check this guy out in person, maybe build a tiny house on the 60 acres my grandmother owns. My girlfriend and I found a spot we would love to live on someday but this may be an interesting way to spend time.

Thanks for the post!

By: RainyDaySaver

RainyDaySaver — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:30:40 +0000

Back in March, I blogged about another guy/company that does this, Tumbleweed Tiny Houses: http://rainydaysaver.blogspot.com/2009/03/teeny-tiny-houses.html

I don’t think I could do it. While I personally do my best to be as green as possible, my human need for space (within reason, I loathe McMansions and the like) would prevent me from even attempting to live in a 100-sq.-ft. home.

By: tammy

tammy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:46:40 +0000

I just mentioned to a friend that my ideal retirement home would be an RV or house boat. Like a tiny house on wheels…or on the water!
Thanks FD for a wonderful, enlightening post!