Small House Movement
The Small House Movement is a countercultural rebellion against
the idea that bigger is better when it comes to homeownership.
As Americans we learned from an early age that we should get good
grades in school, attend college, get the best-paying career that
suits our talents and interests, get married, start a family of
little ones and eventually get that nice big house to live in.
The Small House Movement can mean a cool
home for you. |
|
But the problem with this is that it's no longer economically
wise to take out expensive loans to purchase a big home when job
security is becoming less certain due to the globalization of
our economy as well as the economic downturn that this country
is experiencing.
In addition, many owners of large homes are struggling to pay
for their homes while others have foreclosed on their homes. For
the young person who is starting their new career, it will be
difficult to afford a new home because if their starting salary
isn't very high, they may have to move back in with his parents
or seek out a cheap apartment in the city.
It's for these and other reasons why some people decided to consider
owning or building a smaller home and there are benefits to this.
And the other reason is a counterculture green movement of people
who want to reduce their carbon footprint, help the environment
and downsize in order to get a different perspective on life.
|
A small home can look just as attractive
as a big house. It depends on how resourceful you are in
decorating the home. The Small House Movement is fueled
by people who want more affordable housing, who want to
live simply or who want to be environmentally-friendly in
their lifestyles. According to recent articles from the
New York Times, CNN.com, and the American Institute of Architects,
the economic downturn is one of the top reasons why some
people are purchasing or building smaller homes.
|
Small House on Wheels |
And according to the Simple Dollar, living in a small home is
eco-friendly because you're using fewer resources to build and
maintain the home unlike the larger homes, and you won't have
the stress of worrying about how you're going to clean and repair
the home. In addition, smaller homes are more affordable and your
energy bill will be lower.
And living in a smaller home means you'll be more conscious of
what you'll bring and keep in your home because you'll want less
clutter around. Some Americans put wheels on their smaller homes
and place them in their backyards to be used as home offices,
studios or extra bedrooms for guests. This seems to be a trend
in sustainable living that may be around for a few years.
Other people who have been foreclosed upon choose to buy or build
small houses and place them in the backyards of their parents
or other relatives, which gives space to those who aren't used
to living together.
Small Metal House |
According to the U.S. News and World Report,
when you buy or build a big house, you're not only paying
a fortune for the house itself but also the maintenance
of that home. But when you buy a smaller home you're paying
less money for both the house itself and upkeep of that
house. The basic design of a very small home includes a
porch or deck, windows with a nice view of outside, mini
kitchen and bathroom and minimal storage space.
|
This is not to say that there aren't some disadvantages to living
in a small home. If you have a large family and you want everyone
to have their own space, then a small house may not be for you.
Or if you're a person who invites many guests over for dinner,
then you would have to develop a creative way to have enough room
for everyone to fit in your house or entertain outside where there
is more room.
Over the past 10 years the Small House Movement has picked up
steam for all of the reasons I've already listed. You don't have
to wait until you're elderly to downsize. For some people it makes
sense to do it now.
|
