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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsCould You Live in a 120-Square-Foot House?
By Susan Johnston | U.S.News & World Report LP 2 hours 32 minutes ago
Sage Radachowsky's 120-square foot house. (Photo: gypsyliving.org)When Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell and her husband moved from Kansas City to a 480-square-foot lake house in Northwest, Ark., they'd planned to build a larger house on the same property and use the existing house as an office and guesthouse.
Yet the recession convinced the couple to stick with the house they had and build another small space as an office and guesthouse. Fivecoat-Campbell says they're happy with a smaller footprint. "We live in an area where recreation is a big thing," she adds. "We like to be outdoors and spend time with the dogs and not have to maintain a big house. It's easier to take care of."
The constant upkeep and high expense of McMansions have made smaller homes appealing to many Americans. "People realize now if they live in a tiny house, they have more money left over to pay for other things," says Derek Diedricksen, a maker of small houses in Stoughton, Mass., and author of Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts: And Whatever the Heck Else We Could Squeeze in Here.
Costs for tiny homes can vary depending on factors like the materials and complexity of the design. "There are people who've gone out and built a modest house for $5,000 to $10,000 using Craigslist or free materials, but there are some that are more high-end, like rustic cabins," says Diedricksen.
more at link:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/could-live-120-square-foot-162708227.html
fizzgig
(24,146 posts)i'd have to dump the husband and cats and then i'd have to keep the place clean. i think i'd wind up losing what's left of my mind.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)I live in about 300 square feet and think it's just about exactly right, but could give up the guest room and get it down to about 225.
The biggest issue is access to the outside. I couldn't do it if it were crammed into a building full of small spaces and no ready access to outside spaces. As it is, I have lots of outside space.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)I have seen some nice smaller apts in the big cities, too.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)...you can just toss off the fantail and inflate
cbayer
(146,218 posts)We don't have one, but a friend has what we call the party island.
He brings it out when he comes over and it's just like putting a new room on the house!
krispos42
(49,445 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)There is no one anywhere near us and I can practice my brand new clarinet to my hearts content without anyone calling the sheriff!
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)My house is a mobile home that is 40 feet long by 10 feet wide. But that suits me just fine. It is all the less to clean and I am a lousy housekeeper.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Boxes, boxes, everywhere and not a drop to drink - well, except in the liquor cabinet.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)of course you are a Hoarder
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)hollysmom
(5,946 posts)I went though a collectible phase and have a tone of plastic Snoopy key rings and ornaments. Not to mention 13 years of fantasy and science fiction magazines from the 60/70's
That just scratches the surface, I also have everything since I was 12, I only recently gave the clothes away to my niece, teen dog walker (jeans) and cousin's daughters.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)I'm working on ramping back up my eBay sales, but I have to confirm that all the pieces are still in place including the PayPal-bank exchange.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)People are not bidding as outrageously, they don't get drawn in, they just set the auto stuff and walk away.
Now they want you to provide free shipping and are making it more buyer friendly unless you are a bulk seller. They want a 30 day return policy.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)It isn't "free shipping", it is just that they charge their commission on the final sale price WITH shipping. That makes sense because a lot of sellers were shorting on the price and inflating the shipping charges to minimize the commission hit. And yes, you have to provide a means for the buyer to regain the money for a bad deal, but PayPal qualifies for that so it's a minimal risk. That's the stuff I'm reviewing now before getting back into it and I've got a SHITLOAD of stuff to sell.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)I have already had an accident that killed me (resuscitated, thank you) and am old with several diseases, basically my family has threatened to come by with a dumpster if I die, so I have to get rid of my 5 boxes of German glass ornaments, coin collections, vintage clothes, antique furniture (was new when I bought it), and boxes and boxes of vintage magazines while I can. I have already donated all my books, except the ones I am reading to the library - 6 book cases of them and gifted the leather/gold embossed books(used to work near a book outlet and had all kinds of art books) to nieces and nephews. There are still 5 computers (have to take out the hard drives and trash already - gifted 4 to other people last year). If my niece moves into her own place, maybe I can get rid of one of my sets of dishes (2 that are used regularly, one in the attic I need to sell) and the extra set of flatware - since I don't entertain with huge dinner parties anymore.
OK, I am going to donate a lot of stuff this year, I need to do that. Thanks for getting me in shape to do that.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Seizures on my end, but another one could do me in. With the first one, the doctors were certain I wouldn't make it. I'm a stubborn bastard. I've got a lot of toys I'm saving for grandkids (if I live that long) and boxes and boxes of my writings, books, and a shitload of pure crap. I can't even lift a 22 lb dog anymore, so getting at the boxes requires help. There's a market out there, but it does take work. I won't use Craig's List because it's become a haven for scam artists on both sides of the deal. If you do go that route, insist on a highly trafficked public parking lot for the meeting. We just had an incident about six months ago where they killed a guy over $40 or so.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)Especially as an old woman living alone. I have had enough trouble with repairmen threatening me when I was younger, now I only hire after the architect next door recommends someone. .I pay more but don't feel threatened like I was when I hired a painting company and they sent excons that refused to match the pain and threatened violence when I complained.
Note: not saying all ex-cons are bad or they should not be hired, but that they should not send bullies out to customers. For weeks after that, I would find nails in my driveway, I think they threw a box out there every day. I had to sweep my over 100 foot driveway before leaving for work in the morning or coming back at night.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)That was actually my problem - I was too ethical for the business and didn't charge what I should have, but mostly because I rated my work on what I would pay for it. I WAS however good at it. One elderly woman called me to repair her kitchen screen door. All it needed was a new screw to hold the return lever in place (2 minutes, including finding the right screw). Then she spent 20 minutes talking to me (lonely) and when I refused to accept payment for putting in a single screw she wanted to give me half of the peaches she'd been peeling and cutting for probably two hours. I politely declined.
The home repair business is nasty to begin with. There are too many people looking to scam you, and one of the best is the two-man job where the first gets you involved in something while the second raids the house in another area. Then there's the "I was doing (whatever) for a neighbor and have some leftover (whatever, but usually diluted driveway sealant) scam.
Even when we picked up our two free kittens, we met the owner in a public place. It's just good practice. If you do use Craig's List, have someone go with you and definitely make it a public location.
As for ex-cons, not all are bad by any means. A lot of time they just got picked up for drug offenses and cleaned out in prison. There are far more non-violent offenders in jail than violent ones. But yes, the bully technique is way out of line.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)They will be gone within a week!
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)so there is plenty of room for storage.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)There's a 24" radial arm saw, a scroll saw, a router table, a 96" bandsaw, a full-size drill press, and a shitload of smaller power tools along with work benches and storage shelving for (mostly) the tool accessories. And then there's the refrigerator (mostly used for beer, wine, extra milk, and auxiliary storage. Toss in the rolling mechanics tool chest, all of my stock wood, all of the bicycles, the garden tools and equipment, and well, it's full.
Incitatus
(5,317 posts)But I wouldn't
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)I know, right.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)you can not stop there!!
nolabear
(41,963 posts)Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)is that bedroom part of a house? or is the bedroom all there is - door leads to outside.
tavernier
(12,388 posts)ElboRuum
(4,717 posts)Yeah, just no.
NJCher
(35,669 posts)Hell no.
I would hate having to pick up after myself after every single thing I did, which is a requirement when living in a space like that.
I have way too many interests and stuff that is needed to indulge those interests.
Cher
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)I have a spare bedroom in my trailer, which doubles as a computer room. So I stuff everything in there that I do not know what to do with.
nolabear
(41,963 posts)Cute, though. I'd love it for a writing studio. Btw where are the kitchen and bath?
ellaydubya
(354 posts)It would be tight- I would prefer another couple of hundred square feet but I do know I need much less space than I always thought I did. Simplify, simplify, simplify!
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)I live in an apartment in New York City. Small spaces are not a problem.
ThoughtCriminal
(14,047 posts)I've been looking at eventually downsizing to a small RV.
It's actually easier than it used to be. Portable devices, good camping equipment and improved solar are making it more practical every year.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)when it rains I get severe cabin fever. When anyone stays with me, I have claustrophobia attacks. The dog has no "space" for herself, so had declared ownership of the bed, sand and all.
Maybe a medium sized RV would be better.
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)A border collie and two cats. Way more space than we really need. Nobody feels crowded at all. Perhaps that's due to a huge window wall, a huge lawn and a spectacular view.
ThoughtCriminal
(14,047 posts)For those who are wondering there are more pictures and video here:
http://gypsyliving.org/
Trajan
(19,089 posts)This is their FB page
https://www.facebook.com/TinyHouseBlog
Patiod
(11,816 posts)We are two large people (both about 6') and lived in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in a carriage house attic for about 15 years. It had a little deck that was like an extra room in warm weather. Tiny bathroom, small galley kitchen. We were happy as pie, and very comfortable. People were shocked that we lived somewhere so small (we did have a lot of under-rafter storage which the average city or Small House dweller wouldn't have)
I just inherited my parents' average-sized 1960s split level, and we're still not used to all the room. And how tough it is to keep clean!
sarge43
(28,941 posts)With spousal unit, King of the Pack Rats? Extremely unlikely, violence could ensue.
Baitball Blogger
(46,705 posts)I need a room just for the books.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)geardaddy
(24,931 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)But four of us, one 4.5 and one 1.5, no.
Speaking of the little one's, here is lil AA's newest job:
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)That's the question San Franciscans are asking themselves as The City cosiders allowing apartments that small.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SF-could-OK-among-tiniest-apartments-in-US-3889766.php
The micro-units, in contrast, are expected to rent for $1,200 to $1,700 a month, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener told the Los Angeles Times. Wiener drafted the legislation for the smaller apartments....
"This has to be a pilot project and allow for further study before we end up like Singapore," said Sara Shortt, executive director of the tenants' rights group, Human Rights Committee of San Francisco.
Singapore authorities recently raised minimum dwelling sizes because of concerns about congestion. Some critics want San Francisco to follow the example of New York City and first test a small number of the units. New York City's micro-units also have a higher minimum-size requirement.
Also, for sloppy reporting. There is no place called Northwest, Ark. Northwest Arkansas is the region of the state centered around Fayetteville.
Hayabusa
(2,135 posts)So, I'm going to have to say "No".
Bertha Venation
(21,484 posts)with us currently living in 1400 sq ft upstairs, and six cat boxes downstairs (for ten cats), I don't think it's plausible.
But I do like the idea.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)That's a bit too small. And lived for 6 months in an RV with a husband and 3 kids (32 ft 5th wheel) while our house was being built so I don't have issues with small spaces. I've looked at all those cute little houses from 60 to 150 sq ft ( http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ ) and I'm not sure I could deal with one THAT small. I think, for me, when my kids are gone (I'm now single) 400 sq feet would be plenty, but 120 sq ft I'm not sure I could deal with it. I need a regular size bath tub and room in the living area to do yoga or work out. I like to stretch out once in awhile. Maybe if I lived in a more temperate climate but when you are stuck inside 5 months out of the year, yeesh.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)LWolf
(46,179 posts)and were willing to transition my entire library to digital.