 We all live differently. We have different habits, rituals, and ways of organizing our lives. In a tiny house those behaviors greatly effect how the space works for us more so than a traditional house. This is why it is SO important for tiny dwellers to design their places to fit their lifestyles. Nothing is worse than living in a space that is not functional for YOU! Let’s take a look at three tips to get the perfect tiny functionality for your life. 1.Know your personal processes: My background is in process improvement. When studying a process to identify waste or variation we “walk the process” or map it out. Doing this allows us to see the current flow of things. This works for designing an efficient tiny house layout too! If you wake up every morning and make yourself four cups of coffee, not having counterspace for your coffee maker is going to seriously cramp your style. If you prefer to eat in front of the TV every night but take up valuable space in your tiny house for a dining table, you’re going to have regrets about that wasted space. Do you eat take out every night? Probably not a good idea to make your kitchen the largest space in your house. Really study how you do your day-to-day tasks and design to accommodate them  2. Know where everyone fits It’s a good idea for each person/animal to have their own space in your tiny house. If you have pets you need to look at where they will have their food and water bowls. Where will they sleep? If you have kiddos, where will they store toys, clothes, and art projects? If you’re married, how will you create a separate space for some much-needed solo time? Thinking through this now, will save you stress and annoyance later. 3. Get creative! Tiny houses have limited square footage. That means some areas/items will need to serve dual purposes. Keeping your personal processes in mind, can you utilize anything twice? For instance, I keep my dog’s water bowl in the shower. It keeps it out of the way and when she drips a gallon, it’s (mostly) not on my floor. Do you work from home? Can you create an eat in bar that will serve as your work desk and your dining area? Start looking at space and furnishings for more than one use!    Tiny living is an amazing lifestyle that has helped me and my family focus on what truly matters in this life. I hope it does the same for you! Keep functionality in the forefront of your mind throughout your building/buying process and dive in!
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Join us in our tiny journey on Facebook! @TinyHouseHaven  There are varying opinions on this topic. The loudest voices often coming from those who have never lived in a tiny house who shout from the rooftops, “What a waste!” Now, while each person is certainly welcome to their own opinion, I do find it odd that these individuals have: A. Never owned a tiny house. B. Use traditional housing numbers to show how a non-traditional dwelling is not a good investment without really looking at the big picture. Tiny houses are different from traditionally built houses. This does not mean they are not valuable, will not retain their value (when maintained properly), or provide financial freedom that allows you to shovel back savings. But why should you believe me?
 Myth 1: Tiny Homes don’t retain their value:
Myth 2: The price per square footage is really high! My gut response to this is, “No shit, Sherlock” (pardon my French). This is one of the most common arguments used when trying to convince people that they should not go tiny. This, again, is using traditional house math for a non-traditional dwelling. Are they wrong? Nope. The price per square foot is high upon initial assessment. What they do not consider is the taxes and interest accrued with that 1500 square foot house you’re purchasing over a 30- year period. Let’s break it down:  Ruh Roh. The price per square foot isn’t looking too hot when you factor in everything that truly goes into a mortgage. Not to mention how you are getting way more bang for your buck in the efficiency of each square foot of a tiny house. And, to top it off, even if you had to take out a 5-year loan for that $75K tiny house, you’re still going to come out on top with your savings… let’s look at that next!  Myth 3: A Traditional House will get me a higher Return on Investment when I sell! If you’re looking at outright numbers alone at time of sale, you’re probably right. However, when you look at amount freed up (your opportunity cost), you’re missing out on a lot of mullah! Mullah that could have gone to other investments over the years! So, what’s the opportunity cost of savings for the traditional homeowner? Let me paint the picture:  Okay, now we’re getting somewhere! If you look at the table above the numbers start to tell a bit more of the story around the true nature of a tiny house investment.
And this is only the monetary savings! Don’t’ get me started on the work-life balance tiny has gifted me with! More time spent with those I love = PRICELESS. Look beyond the initial (Traditional) numbers my friends. People are eager to spout off the surface numbers, but when you dig into the overall numbers spread across years, you’ll see, tiny houses are good for the soul AND can be good investments. Read more Tiny House Hot Topics Below:   
It is my birthday this month and I will be turning 34. Looking back on this year I am astounded at the growth and transformation that has taken place in myself and in my relationships. That said, I think it’s important to also mention, it was NOT easy.
In today’s social media-drenched world, we often see the bright side of people’s lives. The posed, positioned and pretty pictures that they outwardly reflect. I, too, posted my life because there were such joyous times that were worth sharing. BUT, 2021 was also a year of internal work that was hella hard. There were no posts of the battles, the hard conversations, the building of self-discipline, the acceptance of disappointments, the moments of weakness, or the evolution of becoming more. Even the pictures in this very blog do not remind us that life (messy and uncomfortable) is happening at all times.
Adopting a minimalistic lifestyle in 2020 cleared out clutter and unnecessary mental noise. What I wasn’t prepared for was what I would need to focus on once the dust had cleared. Those spaces left room for me to wonder and wander.
By unburying myself from work and “things”, I started prioritizing what mattered. My relationships took a front row seat and I soon realized that there was work to be done there. My belief system and worldview met my eye, and I realized there was work to be done there. My mental and physical health, which had constantly been shoved to the back, had room to walk forward. Again, I realized there was work to be done there. 
The word that often comes to mind for this year is “transformational”. For years, I allowed myself to be distracted and bombarded and I enveloped myself in a scratchy blanket of status quo. I wrapped it tighter and tighter even though it didn’t feel right; even though I knew there was something more. All this because I didn’t want to risk the warmth it provided me, even if it was subpar.
At the age of 33, I realized I was lonely. Ravenous for meaningful relationships. Hungry for deep conversations. Thirsty for meaningful spirituality centered in love. Desiring more knowledge and more wisdom. I was malnourished for a truly rich existence. So, the work began. And, fuck, it was hard.
I still haven’t “arrived”; I’m still digging and exploring and facing the hard things that come along with truly loving and accepting yourself. I’m moving forward though, which is more than I can say for the last 5-7 years. And I am thankful.
I am thankful for this tiny lifestyle that I purposefully chose not even knowing it would lead to a holistic transformation. I am thankful for the loved ones that have embraced this journey with me. I am thankful for the boundaries that have been established that have brought peace and balance. I encourage you, as we move into a new year, to commit to removing the clutter and chaos from your life (physical, mental, and emotional). Because when you do that, the pieces of you that make you whole can come forward and you can greet them with more patience and grace. Show up for yourself so you can be you. I have no idea what 2022 is going to bring, but I will be there; present and mindful of the work that continues. The work that truly matters.   
Last week, my husband and I conquered a goal we’ve had for thirteen years. THIRTEEN YEARS of talking about this goal, fighting about this goal, feeling defeated because we seemed to be going no where with this goal.
WE. PAID. OFF. 100%. OF. OUR. DEBT. Honestly, it’s still a little bit surreal. I looked at Jordan yesterday and asked, “You mean we get to keep the money we work for now?” (Sans taxes). He laughed and replied, “Yep. Finally.” Finally, is the truth! About 5 years ago, despite consistently making over six figures on my own salary we had stalled out on paying off debt. At that time, we carried debt in a car payment, school debt (undergrad and two graduate degrees) and some medical debt. Later, we added another car payment and it just kept going up despite our consistency in paying over the minimum amount. We couldn’t dig out and we were “normal” for it. We were tired and the mountain of our debt still loomed over us. 
BE a weirdo
In our society it is absolutely normal to turn eighteen and immediately go into debt for your education, transportation or living costs. You’ve been a legal adult for 2.5 seconds and WHAM- Here’s $10,000 of debt that will accompany you through the rest of your young-adult life straight into middle-age. A faithful frenemy, whether you want it or not. The cycle of this debt machine is relentless, and many people will continue to live within the labyrinth with no exit in sight for many, many, many years. A year ago, the labyrinth shifted for us. In early Spring of 2020, I lost my job. This event started a series of decisions that would challenge me greatly. We went tiny. This decision stretched me in redefining my identity, how I viewed success and Eventually helped shape me into a stronger and more genuine version of myself. Financial stability was one of the many appealing reasons to adopt this lifestyle, but we never thought it would allow us to break free so quickly from that debt cloud. But it did. Fourteen months after going tiny we were able to pay off the rest of our debt. COMPLETELY. It equates to right around $48,000 that we’ve paid off in that amount of time. Originally, we were putting back money for additional investments when it hit us. “Let’s invest in ourselves.” With no debt on our table we immediately would get a 7% return (the average of our interest rates for our loans) and the ability to set back even more for investments.
What does this mean for us now?
This financial freedom lends itself to different, additional freedoms.
Many of you reading this, might be in the same debt boat that seems to have holes no matter how you try to plug them. You don’t have to sink. There is a path to the shore. It’s just a bit unconventional (according to our society norms). Simplify. Downsize. Live within your means. Have a budget. Have an emergency fund. Have a plan. I tell you all of this not from a stance of bragging, but from a stance of ENCOURAGEMENT. I know many people with stories similar to mine. It is for them, that I write this- Don’t give up. Don’t give in to the cyclical nature of loans and credit. Don’t buy into the cheap façade of success (big house, new car, jet ski, boat, job that drains you blah blah blah) Keep going and find your financial freedom. We found ours by thriving tiny. Want more of our journey? Join our Facebook Group HERE! 
Disclaimer: I do use affiliate links on here, meaning that if you purchase anything through my affiliate links, I receive commission at no additional cost to you! My views and opinion are never swayed because of this! I only recommend products and services I love! Follow more of our tiny adventure by joining my Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/479222586335815/?ref=share I am an introvert. I recently joked that I would do anything for a stranger if they were ever in true need but putting on a bra and keeping a dinner date with a friend…. that’s a challenge. For those close to me, this is not a surprising revelation. They acknowledge my “perfect day” is one where I can lock myself away and get lost in a good book while sipping on a quality scotch. For those who don’t know me well, this can come as a shock because, yes, I really like connecting with people in an authentic way and yes, I do live in a tiny house community.
In actuality, the thought of living in a tiny house community gave me quite a bit of angst in the beginning. All those people! And I would have to see them on a day-to-day basis, while at home… what if they wanted me to share my scotch? The Horror. But, as many of you know, finding a place to legally park your tiny house is TOUGH. So, with limited options, we ended up in a tiny house community and… it’s been the best thing ever.
It isn’t the place so much as it is the people. I can honestly say, I like hanging out with these people. We come from all different backgrounds and are at different stages of life, but we are like-minded in how we choose to live our lives and that unity is beautiful. Over the last year, that relationship has developed into a familial vibe. We often have meals together, celebrate birthdays or life accomplishments and do our monthly goat sacrifice to the tiny house gods… (oh c’mon, I know some of you think tiny house communities are cults, so I had to throw it in there!).
Truly though, my life has been enriched by these people and the unique gifts, talents, humor and support each of them brings to the dynamic of what we now call home. I love how they have all adopted my daughter and now instead of having one mama watching out for her, she has multiple (poor kid). This life is made more beautiful by people I now call friends. I didn’t know I needed them and I certainly wasn’t searching for them, but I appreciate them so much. I can confidently say, they are worth putting the bra back on and breaking open a nice bottle to share.
“Community is a sign that love is possible in a materialistic world where people so often either ignore or fight each other. It is a sign that we don’t need a lot of money to be happy – in fact, the opposite.” — Jean Vanier
I usually start typing with the goal of sharing a story from my life or experiences. But today, I am honored to bring you SOMEONE ELSES JOURNEY and how going tiny changed her life. Rather than try to insert my own voice and do this narrative justice, with her permission, I am publishing her direct words because they are powerful and inspiring. She now wants to share it so others can recognize the freedom this lifestyle creates. 
TRACI’s STORY
February 2020 changed my life and is the official time in my life that forced me to reflect on every dynamic of where I wanted to be as a person. And most importantly as a mother. While living at a local women’s shelter, due to homelessness, not being able to work because I didn’t have proper childcare, and just a number of changes that occurred… things got tough- quick. I was prideful and afraid to ask for help because I had always been self-sufficient. But during my short time there I feel like I was able to find what was meant for me and my children and that was investing in a tiny home, even if it was just for a little while. I wanted peace in being able to afford a rental payment and other expenses that come along with adulthood. So, I set aside $150 the next month and made a call to a local portable building company to go over details and arrange a delivery date. My tiny home sits on a small piece of family property in central Oklahoma. Looking back a little over a year later, my tiny home saved my life. It gave me and my children experiences we are grateful for; a first chance at being a homeowner, financial, longevity freedom, endless trade skills that will last a lifetime and so much more. Ultimately my “why” will not stop with me. My future goal is to return what going tiny has gifted me and my family by creating a tiny community just for single mothers within my local community. This is my “why”. Respectfully, Traci.
Thank you, Traci, for your willingness to share your story that has the potential to bring hope and touch so many lives. I cannot wait to see your vision for your tiny community come to life. You are a mover and a shaker who will help change the course of lives for so many. #tinyhousehero #thrivingtiny
Join me as I take you on a tour of this adorable 8X16 tiny house on wheels. This welcoming little home is owned by John Ezell, a recent college graduate who made his independence and home owning dreams a REALITY.
John found the incomplete shell of his home on Facebook Marketplace. He laughs as he shares how he would constantly stalk the ad on Facebook wondering if it would be a good fit for him. He finally gave himself an ultimatum, "buy it, or stop looking at it". He bought it and finished it out in five months for a total cost of $15,000. He is now enjoying his new tiny life as he starts his career in public health. This tiny cottage on wheels has actually sheltered him as he's taken it on disaster relief assignments. He loves the portability and freedom it allows him as well as providing mental relief and security. Follow more of our tiny adventure by joining my Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/479222586335815/?ref=share  This year for Evelynn’s fourth birthday, I quietly tucked my Pinterest brain aside and opted for a birthday based on experiences versus a party. This was helped along by the fact that we’re in the midst of a pandemic but I’m not going to lie, I still had the urge to spend $500 on presents, cake, pizza and unicorn décor because I was afraid I wasn’t being a good mom if I “deprived” my little one of all those things. Now first, let me start off with saying- there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with birthday parties and having things. I know some will read this and immediately get defensive. Parents, life is hard enough without taking on the guilt of the world- LET. IT. GO. (I hope you all began to hum our favorite Disney song). I am not judging you, I am not telling you you’re doing it wrong, I am sharing my experience with the hope that it helps someone, somewhere. Now that you’ve read my disclaimer, you should know that we will, most likely, still have some future birthday parties and we certainly have things (though much less than what we had before). Things are not inherently bad, an obsession of having things is quite unhealthy. This combined with the connection of things to self-worth is what I worry about. And with the constant barrage of targeted ads, I know I must be purposeful in helping my daughter to not fall prey to forming a materialistic driven mentality. So for this year, I made the conscious decision to start teaching Evie about a different side of celebrations, one that focuses on time spent together and rich experiences. Dr. Gilovich, a Cornell professor, has claimed, “One of the enemies of happiness is adaptation. We buy things to make us happy, and we succeed. But only for a while. New things are exciting to us at first, but then we adapt to them,”. I believe this mentality starts at a young age and keeps growing from there. This is clearly demonstrated by the two month old toy laying out in the elements gathering rust. Where do they learn this from? Well… that’s the doozy, go look in a mirror. We, as parents are responsible for teaching our children to respect the items they have (leading by example) and to ensure they do not become desensitized to a world full of stuff. The fact of the matter is, as a tiny lifer we are limited in space so the idea of adding a shit ton of toys into the mix was not appealing or viable. However, I didn’t want this to detract from the excitement and importance of a birthday. Then one night I remembered a college mate telling me of her birthday experiences. Rather than a party, her parents would surprise her with a trip. Over the years she had visited different beaches, countries and (of course) Disney Land. I loved all the beautiful memories she had of her and her parents sharing in these experiences. Pulling on inspiration from my friend’s stories, I began to plan a week-long celebration for Evelynn’s birthday. Yes, there were some small gifts mixed in but the FOCUS wasn’t on gifts- it was on experiences and quality time as a family. Below are some high lights of what we did to make our little one feel like a queen for a week.
  
 Disclaimer: I do use affiliate links on here, meaning that if you purchase anything through my affiliate links, I receive commission at no additional cost to you! My views and opinion are never swayed because of this! I only recommend products and services I love! Follow more of our tiny adventure by joining my Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/479222586335815/?ref=share Join me in this short video as I answer a great and important question: Is living in a tiny house safe? 
Disclaimer: I do use affiliate links on here, meaning that if you purchase anything through my affiliate links, I receive commission at no additional cost to you! My views and opinion are never swayed because of this! I only recommend products and services I love!
Follow more of our tiny adventure by joining my Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/479222586335815/?ref=share I love watching people’s non-verbal’s as I tell them I have a black Lab and a Collie that live with me and my family in 425 square feet. Even with pandemic masks over their faces, I can clearly make out the wide eyes, raised eyebrows and slight intake of breath. The next question is almost always some version of “How does that work?” In this short video I share some tips, tricks and solutions for helping you go Tiny with your fur babies! 
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