More Tiny Houses
Posted by Lentus Ambulandus
There was a good article at the BBC the other day about small living spaces. In it, they profile a lady from Colorado who, years ago, bought a small apartment at a time when her friends were all buying houses.
“I was teased a lot because I bought so conservatively,” said Michelle Jackson, now 42. “Some of my friends didn’t understand why I wanted such a small place. There was some peer pressure that I didn’t expect.”
Ah, yes. Peer pressure. But Jackson gets the last laugh. Her reduced living costs have afforded her a degree of financial freedom, such that she’s been able to leave her job. I guess she does all the teasing now, during her ample spare time.
There are some interesting stats, including the average size of newly-built, single-family detached homes in select countries:
Denmark: 1,475 square feet / 137 square metres
U.S.: 2,506 square feet / 233 square metres
Australia: 2,616 square feet / 243 square metres
Go Aussies!
The article goes on to discuss a range of factors that should be considered by prospective owners of small (< 500 square feet) and tiny (< 350 square feet) houses. In my opinion, they save the most important consideration for the end:
Professionally built tiny houses [in the U.S.] typically cost between $30,000 and $50,000…Build it yourself and you could do it for $25,000 or less.
Just think what you could do with the $325,000 you didn’t spend on your house, or the equivalent amount of time that you didn’t need to work. The possibilities are endless.
I trust readers will recognize the house in the picture…
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Would that be your tiny house? It’s a beauty.
Is the chimney made of brick and/or stone? That’s a very nice feature.
Hey Spooner. No, that’s not my house. That house is on a pond, in some woods, near a place called Concord.
“Go out upon that, build yourself a hut, and there begin the grand process of devouring yourself alive. I see no other alternative, no other hope for you.”
Walden, baby!
And in a move akin to Alex Trebek answering his own questions on Jeopardy – “What is…Walden?” – Wringham wins the New Escapologist trivia game and takes home the prize money.