With San Diego’s housing prices among the many highest within the nation, downsizing for financial savings helped Melissa discover a extra inexpensive strategy to dwell.
She turned to a 240-square-foot tiny home, the Salty Chalet, which proves that dwelling small doesn’t imply giving up consolation or model.
By means of an in depth tour, Melissa presents sensible ideas for anybody contemplating tiny house dwelling—displaying how solar energy, propane cooking, and recycled supplies can help a low-cost, self-sufficient life-style.
Downsizing for financial savings: From hire shock to daring transfer
Melissa shifted to a tiny home after her hire in Arizona doubled in only one yr. Working in social companies, she knew her paycheck couldn’t sustain.
“This isn’t sustainable,” she recalled considering.
That monetary pressure pushed her to begin researching options—and he or she explored 25 totally different choices earlier than touchdown on a tiny home.
She noticed {a partially} constructed tiny house on Fb Market that felt proper.
“‘Bought that’s the one which’s what I’m going to do,’” she stated.
She purchased it for $69,000—greater than she needed, however the connection felt price it.
Remarkably, she made the acquisition earlier than figuring out the place she would park it, displaying how dedicated she was to this new lifestyle.
Contained in the Salty Chalet: Good design in a small house
Strolling into the Salty Chalet, it’s clear that each inch has a function. Melissa prioritized excessive ceilings to make the house really feel open.
“I like how open it feels right here as a result of when you find yourself hanging out on the sofa studying or no matter it appears like an enormous home cuz it’s very open,” she stated.
The lounge presents sufficient house for indoor exercises and lounging. A big, secondhand sofa—simply $80—provides consolation and even works as an additional mattress for company.
Melissa generally sleeps in her camper van or on an air mattress to make room for guests. Her expertise proves that downsizing for financial savings doesn’t should imply giving up high quality or hospitality.
Downsizing for financial savings: A kitchen that works arduous
Within the kitchen, Melissa retains issues easy and environment friendly.
“I do really feel just like the kitchen is ample for my kitchen wants and my cooking model. I prepare dinner fairly just so I don’t want too many cooking devices,” she stated.
She parted methods with unused home equipment and centered on what issues most.
The kitchen runs on propane and features a repurposed farmhouse sink and a fridge that’s simply the proper measurement for one or two individuals.
Painted inexperienced cupboards and artistic storage assist hold every little thing organized—together with provides for her soap-making enterprise.
The kitchen additionally serves as her work-from-home station, providing a peaceable, Wi-Fi-equipped house.
“I don’t assume I’d change something about it truthfully,” she stated.
Compact lavatory, large performance
Behind the house, Melissa’s lavatory makes use of restricted house well.
A small extension on the rear of the home provides storage with out increasing the general footprint.
“This counter house is gorgeous tons of storage beneath,” she stated.
The lavatory options an ordinary rest room, a bathe, and a unusual “pig trough” sink for a country contact.
Reclaimed wooden and a stained-glass window convey appeal to the house. Whereas there’s no full-length mirror, Melissa doesn’t thoughts.
“it’s nice truthfully I don’t actually gown to impress… your outfit’s cute like don’t fear about it.”
General, the toilet checks each field for consolation and practicality.
Loft dwelling: A comfy and calm retreat
Upstairs, the loft serves as Melissa’s cozy sleeping space. She upgraded to a queen-size mattress and added a headboard for consolation.
“It’s so snug and yeah I like it,” she stated.
There’s additionally a dresser, nightstand, and intelligent thrifted storage bins.
She retains her wardrobe minimal, guided by a easy philosophy: “my relationship to possessions is already fairly disconnected. I don’t really feel too hooked up… in the event you aren’t utilizing one thing and it’s not bringing you pleasure do away with it.”
The loft features a quiet meditation nook with views of palm bushes and a small studying nook—turning the house into greater than only a bed room.
Financial savings and sustainability: A life-style that works
Melissa’s option to downsize has paid off. In Arizona, she was paying as much as $2,000 month-to-month hire.
However after shifting into the tiny home, she paid simply $500 for lot hire over three years.
In San Diego, the place one-bedroom flats common $2,500, her present land hire is simply $1,000.
“When you personal the tiny house you understand you’re spending a lot much less of this type of disposable cash that you just’re by no means going to see again while you’re paying it in hire so yeah positively lots cheaper in that regard,” she defined.
Past saving cash, Melissa lives a extra sustainable life. Her house runs on solar energy and propane, and he or she used reclaimed supplies all through the constructing.
She hopes extra individuals contemplate downsizing for financial savings and sees tiny house communities as an actual reply to the housing disaster.
“Upon getting the land you may simply construct it and so they’ll come… I believe that may be such a great possibility for inexpensive housing.”
For Melissa, tiny house dwelling boils down to at least one phrase: “easy.”
She provides, “every little thing in right here I can see I can clear simply nothing’s difficult or complicated… every little thing you want in a single small house.”
Her journey reveals how downsizing for financial savings can result in monetary reduction and a extra peaceable and fulfilling lifestyle.
Tour Melissa’s tiny house and see her design concepts you’ll wish to steal:
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