Tiny houses are all the rave. There is even a television show devoted to their construction, as people everywhere are downsizing and reducing their overly large footprints. With the typical American home averaging roughly 2600 square feet, and tiny homes only providing 100-400, opting for these types of family accommodations is a total lifestyle change, and not one everyone is prepared for, or can even fathom.
In addition to environmental concerns, some have chosen the tiny home route for financial reasons. Others simply because they desired the additional freedom that comes with less upkeep. On average, Americans devote 1/3 to 1/2 of their total income to maintaining the roof over their heads. Extend this over the life of a high mortgage and upkeep costs, and it’s easy to see why so many families, a good 75%, are living paycheck-to-paycheck with no way of getting ahead.
One advantage, besides reducing a family’s carbon footprint, is in the reduction of utility bills. Heating and cooling 400 square feet is a drop in the bucket, all things considered, and the number of needed lighting fixtures is greatly reduced. Let’s get down to brass tacks and see just how much the average utility savings are.
Inclusive of every state from sea to shining sea, the average monthly utility bill is $95.66. While this may appear low to many, this is a nationwide average, which includes both apartments and sprawling square footage. The nationwide average for a well-insulated Tiny House will run you around 30 bucks, mainly because of electric company taxes, fees, and other such nonsense. Mother Earth will also thank you.
Tiny Homes can run in the range of $20,000 upwards of $50,000 depending upon features and size, so let’s assume an average of $35,000. If you already own a piece of land you are ahead of the game, but if not this cannot be left out of the equation. One must also consider setting up costs, to include hooking up utility’s, or installing a well and septic system. Even with all expenses taken into account, a Tiny House is still an inexpensive and financially sensible way to go, depending.
The real question does not lie in finances, or in a person’s conscious effort to single-handedly save the planet. The real question is would you be able to pull this off? Can you make the required adjustments? Granted, a childless couple will be more apt to adapt to one another’s close usage of the same air space, but complexities arise when you start adding to that number. Remember, infants grow into full sized people, so what works now may not be so comfortable in the future, and adding on kind of defeats the entire purpose. And unless you can comfortably become, and stay, a minimalist, you will literally have your hands full after a while.
Sure, living in a tiny house will earn you an environmental gold star, just make certain it’s for you, and that you aren’t going too far above the call of duty, before making the move.