The world today believes that bigger is better, that the more you have and the more space you own, the better off you are. We have the mentality that every house absolutely needs a TV, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a microwave, a bathtub; we are failing to realize that we do not actually need all of those luxuries, we can live without them. The tiny house movement focuses on just that. It believes that living minimally is a huge bonus for it opens the way for more opportunities to come in life. There are numerous reasons why tiny houses are a great benefit to live in, including: saving money, saving the environment, spending less time searching for lost items, feeling cozy, building stronger relationships with those around you, and living minimally.
However, there is a trade-offs in living in a tiny house: you have less space to live in. You need to be a conscious shopper and insure that you have the space for everything you are purchasing, you need to make sure you throw away that pizza box before it takes up a large portion of your living room, you need to ask yourself whether you actually need everything you own, you need to live minimally.
Here are the two biggest benefits of living in a tiny house explained more in depth:
Economical Benefits:
There is a huge economic benefit in living in a tiny house. With the average american house priced at around $272,000 (around $130 per ft2), the average american is looking to spend about 1/3 of their income solely on the roof over their heads. On the other hand, the average tiny house is priced at $23,000 (around $123 per ft2) but this figure really depends on whether you build it yourself (decreasing the price) or have it designer made (increasing the price). You are also spending less money on mortgages, maintenance, and heating/cooling. The average tiny house owner also has more money in the bank than the average american; 55% of tiny house owners have more savings than the average american and 89% of tiny house owners have less credit card debt (with 65% having none) than the average american. [thetinylife]. Here are some more specific facts:
Environmental Benefits:
The Earth right now is in a bad state and each individual has a responsibility towards helping it, whether it just be buying food more locally or living completely off the grid. While living in a tiny house many not exactly look like a plan to help save the environment, it is. Tiny houses showcase sustainable practices and ideas: they use less wood, they use less electricity, they use less heating, they use less cooling, and overall they produce less carbon dioxide gas per year. If you want to save the environment even more, build your tiny house with recycled materials. Tiny houses are a perfect example of living sustainable without going all out.
Here are some specific facts that compare the average tiny house to the average american house in terms of ecological sustainability:
Infographics:
Citations:
Gabriella. "Why Tiny Houses Can Save the Earth Infographic." Tiny House Build. 26 Oct. 2014. <https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-houses-infographic/> Golden, Melinda. "Why Live Tiny." Golden Tiny House, Tumblr. <http://goldentinyhouse.tumblr.com/why-live-in-tiny-house> Niz, Ellen S. "60 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style." Country Living, 23 Aug. 2016. <http://www.countryliving.com/home-design/g1887/tiny-house/?slide=10>
"Tiny House Movement: Affordable Housing Revolution." Tiny House Talk, Tiny House Media. <http://tinyhousetalk.com/tiny-house-movement/>
"What is the Tiny House Movement." The Tiny Life. <http://thetinylife.com/what-is-the-tiny-house-movement/>