Why are we doing this?

We have been asked this question a lot since we announced our plan to construct a tiny house. From my older brother, "If you have the money to build a tiny house, why don't you just put a down payment on a house?" From my dad, "Why would you even want to live in a house on a trailer? Do you realize how small it will be?" From my boss, "What, you don't have enough money to live in a real house?"

Our society has really messed up thinking in regards to thinking. In America, bigger is conceived as better. Bigger houses, bigger burgers, bigger fountain drinks, bigger trucks, bigger everything! But, is bigger really better? I don't think so. The way we are living is destroying our planet. All of the pollution going into the air and into the ground from us. We are a parasite to the earth. We take and take and never give anything back. However, that is not the only reason we decided to live tiny.

So, one part is to reduce our footprint. Yes, we are only two people, but if 1 million people did this, imagine how much pollution could be reduced. What if everyone used composting toilets? That's even more pollution gone. Instead, every person would be giving back to the earth (if done correctly). Check out the Humanure Handbook for more info on that.

Another reason is the simplicity of it. Less house means less time cleaning, less time working for the money to pay for the house, and more time doing what you love. A tiny house that is paid for completely will allow us to work part time and still live a very comfortable lifestyle. This gives us more time to read books, go on hikes, visit family in Alabama, start a family, and just enjoy each other and our dogs. Enjoy the world, and everything it has to offer. And if anything happens, we will always have

So let's review. We decided to do this to reduce our greenhouse gases and to live a simpler life, working less. But that's not all. How many people can say they built their house themselves, completely, from the framing to the siding to the cabinets inside? Not very many. That is a major accomplishment, and that is the final reason we are going to build a tiny house.

Notice that we are NOT doing this to impress anyone. We are NOT doing this because we cannot afford a "real house," and this IS a real house. We are NOT doing this to go against society (although ultimately that is what is happening). We are doing this for us. A cozy, well built, well designed, beautiful tiny home that is designed for us and our lifestyle is way better than a large house that was just thrown together to please the market and get as much money out of it as possible while building it as cheaply as possible. Large homes are built to sell. Tiny houses are built to live in.

I hope this clears up the reasoning for some people. Everyone building a tiny house has different reasons, but one this is always the same: we do this for us.

Regards,
Mollie