This story fascinates me, about a family of 3 in Arkansas that was struggling to make ends meet, so they sold their 2,500 square-foot home and built a “shotgun shack” to live in instead. Now they don’t have a mortgage and only have to pay $145/month for the lot it’s sitting on.
Did I mention they homeschool their 13-year old son here, too? They also have a small building next door that serves as their home office.
I’m impressed by their resourcefulness and creativity. Mom Debra gives a tour of their tiny home and explains why they decided to go to extremes when it came to simplifying their lives in this video (if it doesn’t work for you, you can watch it–and read more about it– at The Daily Mail).
I love my family, but I’m not sure I could handle this much togetherness–could you? It would feel pretty good not to have a mortgage payment, though!
They had this home custom built for about $25,000, but it reminds me of the Tumbleweed Tiny Houses.
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They seriously live here with a 13 year old boy? Impressive!
My husband and I love this idea! We’re thinking of eventually selling our 1800 sq ft house and living in our 520 sq ft condo. (It does have a 10′ x 12′ storage unit which we could set up very efficiently for rotating “stuff”). We don’t have kids, and we just feel very ready to get rid of things and free up the time that they demand. A small space is just so much more manageable.
I would LOVE to downsize too. I just helped a young couple downsize from a huge 11-room Victorian to a 7-room Greek Revival. They said the amount of stuff that they were able to get rid of was so freeing. They want to spend less time with their clutter and taking care of their house and more time playing with their kids – and this couple is in their early 30′s! LOVE it! Also loved the Tumbleweed Tiny Homes – I’ve seen that before and it’s a great idea. Simplicity at it’s best.
I could do that if it wasn’t for my ‘stuff’, but I love my ‘stuff’. Is there a 12 step program I can enroll in?
HAHA! True, Glenda!
I find it inspiring that people can de-clutter, but…..I love my stuff! It makes me feel cozy. Plus, I always assume I’m going to have a bigger house (I’m planning on owning/operating my own B&B within a few decades so I want my stuff for then to decorate a big rambling house). *le sigh*
Thank you,thank you, thank you!!!! I love it! I get so frustrated with myself when I get sucked into consuming, thinking I have to buy, buy, buy to be complete. It’s so hard to resist when you’re surrounded by modern culture fixated on cheap and plentiful instead of quality and need.
It reminds me of the opening lyric to the Shaker classic Simple Gifts-’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
I would consider it a hardship downsizing to a 2500 s.f. house! But then, I have six children.
They should be very proud of what they have been able to do.
They have chosen the life-style and working environment they want and they do not expect anyone to give them a bail out.
I wish we had more of that “American Spirit” out there.
She’s done such a wonderful job decorating the tiny space.
I wouldn’t like to live in a home that small, but it sure proves that anyone can do what they have to do to live.
I really love her concept of it is what we have not what we don’t have. We live in a large home, 3 people, and I would like to down size too. Maybe not to the size of 350 st. ft. but small then 2500. I too thought we needed more room. Bigger is not always better.
Wow! That was a huge eye opener for me, acutally. When my husband and I got married, and the economy was fantastic, we built a 5,000 sq ft home. Then the economy went south and we downsized to a 2,00 sq ft home. We got rid of so much “stuff”. It was VERY freeing. It is amazing how “stuff” can just take over your life. Especially the cleaning part. I love our 2,000 sq ft. However, I could live in less with our two small children. We have learned our lesson…more is NOT better, just more of a headache and hard on the wallet. So glad we learned this in our early 20′s!!
This actually made my day.
I so admire this family. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!!
I think it’s not much different then moving into a trailer or travel trailer. Boys (at least mine) always liked being outside, so having outside space is a plus. Congrats to the Jordans as they have reduced their financial burden and seem to be happy with their situation.
Living in so-cal, land of “mine’s bigger”, we were chastised much for rearing 5 kids (2f,3m) in 1550 sf. (A mansion compared to Debra’s.) We often heard of how their (2 kids) could NEVER share a bedroom; much more a bathroom! You know what? We managed and did just fine. All 5 in one (1 sink) bathroom as teenagers. They learned to share and time manage, how to store and clean, how respect each other and how to create. The benefits of living “together” far out weighed the inconvenience. Now as adults they have *all* chosen to live within their means, consume less, focus more on (as Debra has) what they have as opposed to what the neighbors have, and yup, live in smaller homes than what they can afford. (One says “every cent they save can be an extra day on vacation”.) They aren’t “cheap”, just frugal and smart!
It isn’t always just a matter of money saving, for some it is a convenient way of learning how to be good people. Now, after reading about Debra’s family, I am both impressed at her resolve, attitude, and creativity; and look forward 3 years when we plan on doing more to have less as we retire!
I loved hearing your story–thanks for sharing it!
I’m trying to convince my husband to downsize a bit, too. Not to that extreme though as there are six of us plus the three dogs, the cat, and the four chickens (who do not sleep in the house).
We used to live in a 4,200 square foot home then we moved due to my husband’s work and are *cough* making do *uncough* with a 3,500 square foot rental. I think we can chip off another thousand square feet just fine but Shawn wants to add like another 2,000.
I love this post ! I’ve been truly hounding my husband to build one of these little houses. When I was a little girl I would take whatever box, refrigerator etc. and beg to have it then would go to work making my tiny home. Thanks for this wonderful post.
This is so inspiring! My husband and I are building a little house that we can add on to when we have kids. It’s 800 sq. ft. and I’m so worried about being cramped and running out of room with a baby. Even though ours is only 3 rooms(plus a bathroom), this makes me feel like we are building the taj mahal!
Here our house tour. It’s not finished yet:
http://mattandallisonkelly.blogspot.com/p/house-tour.html
Thanks for the link to your house tour, Allison. I think that’s such a smart idea, and it looks great, too. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
I love going to the library to pick out decorating books for small spaces and their idea of a small space is 2000 square feet. Our home is approximately 1000 square feet and we have everything we need here. Our girls share one bedroom, which seems to be unheard of these days. Even if we had three bedrooms, I would rather it be that way. I’m impressed by this family, because 320 is a third of what I have! I will take my 1000 square foot home and my $400 a month mortgage over a big house any day! That is not to say that I wouldn’t take a bigger home if I won it, free and clear of taxes!! ;o)
This is amazing! I could NOT do it, but I truly admire this family.
Gosh… I’m just imagining my kids in this place… just impossible!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
I couldn’t go to this extreme, but I think smaller is better. Give me a cottage anyday over some McMansion. I think good space planning and a focus on what you actually need, such as this family has done, is much better than huge rooms that cause you to buy more stuff to fill them up.
This is so awesome. my husband and I have an 1100 sq ft Cape style house. My parents sometimes say “When you have kids and move to your next house…” but I’m content to stay here. Our children can share a room. I love her attitude… Growing up in close proximity keeps you close as a family, I think.
Wow! She did a great job making use of the space. I just don’t think I could do it. I would probably go stir-crazy.
We have been living in close quarters for several years now. We live in a 14 x 70 two bedroom trailer. We are presently raising our 4 teenagers (2 boys – 18 and 17, and 2 girls – 15 and 14), and our 5 year son in that small space of 980 sq ft. It’s not by choice though or easy. We have a set of bunk beds in the living room for the older boys. The 14 year old and the 5 year old share a bunk bed in a bedroom and when the 15 year old comes to visit she sleeps in the 5 year olds bed (with the John Deere bedding) and the 5 year old sleeps with us. You do what you have to do. We have our sights set on a bigger trailer, but just cannot afford it right now. The kids may be grown by the time we can afford a bigger home.
I live in a 2500 square foot house. There’s 5 bedrooms and 3 full baths, and it’s the perfect size. I could never imagine downsizing to a smaller home like this. It would drive me crazy, but if it works for them, that’s great.
Okay, I can stop complaining now. I recently renovated my basement into a rental apartment and had to move my two daughters upstairs. They had acquired LOTS of stuff and it has been a challenge trying to find places for all of it. My four at home still each have their own bedroom, although two are very small bedrooms – three share a bathroom, and now my older daughter shares with me (both have double sinks) …. it has been an adjustment living without that extra 1300 square feet of basement space (and storage for me) but my heavens!!!! We still have 2600 on two levels for the five of us.
My lips are now sealed … this story is inspiring!
FACT: if you have the space, you WILL fill it!
Love it. We live in the first house we bought almost 20 years ago. It’s 2100 square feet, two bathrooms, nothing fancy, but perfect for our family of 4. It’s also almost paid for!! When we bought it, it was bigger than what most of our friends were buying for their first homes. Now those friends are moving to huge 5000 square foot McMansions, and while I love my home and the neighborhood and have no intention of moving, it’s sometimes hard to see what my friends are doing, especially since we could also afford a big fancy house. I start to feel left behind, or stuck in a rut, or something. It’s nice to see people embrace the simple things in life.
Wow! That is impressive. We’re in a LARGE apartment (1100sqft) by European standards but small by most American standards. We have way too much stuff. I keep trying to pare down, but somehow it keeps creeping back in.
i can relate to this!!!! my husband and i started out in 450 square feet with 1 child, a cat, and a 90 pound labrador retriever mix! now we have three kids, a cat, and a dog in 1200 square feet- and it feels like a BIG house to us! haha. i often read apartment therapy for inspiration- and it seems like a lot of people are living this way. in NYC and in coastal california, this is pretty normal. MUCH less so for arkansas, of course, where land is inexpensive and it is less expensive to build a house.
right now we rent our beach bunglaow in southern california- but we are thinking of buying, and for that we are probably going to downsize to a 600 square feet or 900 square feet, 2 bedroom home– and that is for a family of 5 plus dog and cat!
part of what made me this way is that when i was in my early 20s, i lost everything i owned in a house fire- and almost lost my life i the process. now i can really see how “stuff” can weigh you down. it is quite freeing to just have the things you need…which not surprisingly, isn’t a whole lot of “stuff.”
i think living in small spaces really forces you to be creative and become closer as a family! thanks for posting this video…i truly enjoyed it!
i meant to say- two kids and one on the way…whoops! pregnancy brain slip!
I think it’s pretty darn cool. I do think that I would feel claustrophobic in the loft bedroom, but he doesn’t seem to mind! A great testament to the fact that “more is not always more.”
This wouldn’t work for us…our home is pretty modest…I think around 2200 sf, and I like to have space for my girls to play. But I think it’s a wonderful idea for folks who want to downsize or just can’t pay their mortgages.
Whoa! Isn’t that amazing?!
Very cute house. I love the concept but I think it seems like an awful lot of work to live in such a small house! Like wearing pants that don’t fit and having to suck in your stomach all of the time.
I don’t like a lot of clutter but I love open spaces and room to move around and places within my home to go to escape.
Amazing. This makes me want to go home and purge my house of all the unnecessary things I’ve accumulated.
When I was 12, my dad died and the little trailer he’d bought for us to live in temporarily after we sold our house and planned a new house on our lake became our home for 2-3 years. It was 8 ft. wide and 37 ft. long, less than 300 sq ft. for 4 women! The beds in two bedrooms were built in and up against walls. In the winter, with no insulation, the sheets froze to the walls, our shoes to the floors and the water pipes froze every night. An experience to tell the grandkids.
I think the hardest part of living in a very small home in the winter is that you getn cabin fever. In warm temps, it’s not so bad. I think that is why houses are so big in the midwest.
I now live in 1840 sq ft with hubby and it’s probably too big, at least outside. I could so go with a tiny yard at this point.
That would definitely NOT be for me. It’s a bit to small. Maybe double the size and I would be feel comfortable enough to live on a daily basis. The house is basically like living in a motor home. I have to say, I would worry if there were ever a fire, about how my child would get down from the loft.
Now to check out the tumbleweed tiny houses!
This is really neat but I LOVE the Fig Tree Cottage. It’s a rental and may be impossible to obtain a floorplan but I really, really would love to get it. It’s an amazing house and just exactly what I’ve always wanted!!
well even though it’s small it’s nice and that is more than most people with big houses can say. it has everything they need and it’s paid for…amen to that. i admire them and what they’ve done. makes me feel a little guilty for the enormous house we have yet to pay for!
WOW I love my peeps but NO WAY could I do this……I think this family is amazing… !!!
Kathy
My husband and I have often thought how liberating it would be to not have a house payment. Health insurance aside, we work so hard just to pay a mortgage and heat/cool/maintain the roof over our heads. This family is inspiring!
Would love to do their garden. With totally rescued items.
Can see how to add ‘rooms’ to their house & add trees , deciduous trees, to save $$$ in summer/winter hvac.
Adore YOU for posting this, love them for choosing their home.
Garden & Be Well, XO tara
What an amazing story! I love the underlying message that runs throughout…focus on what you have, not on what you don’t have. Boy…wouldn’t that be a lesson for most of us to learn?
Like most, I honestly have to say I don’t think I could live in such small quarters, unless I lived alone AND lost weight. I do give two thumbs up to such an inspiring family!
I lived in a 480 square foot apartment once. That would be tough to do now with a family. I would totally do it though if it was just me. I love stories like this!
I don’t know if I could go that small. But I could definitely live in something about that size. I don’t understand people’s need for gigantic homes. It just doesn’t make sense to me why so many people’s dreams are to have some 10,000 sq ft home.
Our home is 2,100 feet, and we are expecting our #5 and #6 child. I personally think our house is a great size for our family but my hubby wants to buy a bigger house. Every time I start to think our house is too small, I do some decluttering and feels just right again. If we stay here, our house will be payed off in 6 years. Plus, I adore my house. I want the freedom over the extra space. Hoping I can convince my hubby. Have you ever read any of the Susan Susanka Not So Big House books? Love that mind set!!!
I do have the Not So Big House books, and I love her philosophy of quality over quantity!
It sounds great! I’m impress. Keep it up guys!
I couldn’t do it either. Just to play devils advocate can you imagine all the businesses that would go under if this kind of living became the norm… Like I said just a thought.
This time, I like the story surrounding your post more than the house itself… Inspiring!
What a great story! When she said in the video, “it’s not what you don’t have…” it reminded me that Kitty Bartholomew always said, “It’s not what you don’t have…it’s what you do with what you do have.” How true. And it actually proves that a person’s mindset is how you make something like this work.
My house is not big by any means but I’m not sure if I could live in 350 square feet! Nope…don’t think I could.
I’ve featured this couple before on my blog. And after doing so, this is my goal. I’ve recently gone through some rough marital problems, and am looking to get out and on my own. I’m saving money each month toward “my little house.” I’ve been chained down to “things” for far too long. Feeling depressed and going out and buying “things” to feel better. Now I’m purging and looking toward a simple life where a big mortgage isn’t looming over my head. I’m 54: I want simple. My home would be a completely open floor plan. Maybe more like 400-450 square feet. I’m trying it out now by living in one room in my house. I took all the things “I really loved” and put in this room. And I don’t feel claustrophobic at all. I feel like my load has been lightened. Think how much cheaper your utility bills would be, your taxes. This concept is definitely for me! I’m blogging about it as I go.
Brenda
Oh, and I wanted to add. I wish you’d do a series on “Hooked On Little Houses.” That would be delightful!
Brenda
That would be fun!
To Julia:
Thanks for doing a post on such a wonderful family and their beautiful little house. Their choice to live a simple life is awesome! I love how honest Debra is about the way she felt about moving into a tiny house. We all keep reading your blog because of the variety of houses that you post and this one is extra special because unlike the beautiful mansions that you give us a glimpse of, with the economy the way it is many people are looking to downsize.
To Debra:
I came across your blog by accident and have been following ever since. It’s been great to see the progress on your tiny house since before you painted the interior. You have great taste and have managed to make your home very cozy and inviting. I love the new video! Keep up the great work and keep posting as you raise the loft. You are an inspiration to many!
Love this. She is my hero. What an awesome use of space.
Yes, they have everything BUT privacy. I think they are no different than the people who build 5000 square foot homes as they have gone too far to the extreme. A living room is not a bench against a wall.
That is pretty amazing! I think I could do it with my husband but not with hubby and kid! Interesting to think about! You’d have to really like each other!
And I thought our family of five was heroic for living in 900 sq ft! But depending on the size of the other building where the office space is, it might turn out to be the same per person!
I would do this in a flash! And I have 5 kids! Of which 4 are still at home. I have tried to convince my husband to get rid of everything (NOT the kids!) and move into a travel trailer. It could be done. I would rather have more time for family than spending my time keeping house! Less is best! I am a pack rat but I would get rid of everything quite willingly to live in that manner!
While I admire her, I think 350 sq ft would make me crazy. I would miss privacy and space. Fascinating video. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Oooo and sweet loving time must be hard to come by.
We are a family of 8 (6 kids) and live in a home that is less than 2000 sq ft. I could not imagine having a home larger than this. There are definitely days when I wish the rooms were smaller so they wouldn’t and couldn’t accumulate so much clutter. I could definitely live in a house that allowed only 100 sq ft per person, but we would HAVE to have 2 bathrooms. Lol
Somebody get them a bigger home!
I’m sorry if I offend anyone, but they are crazy. And the only way they can do this is that they don’t live in the snow belt. I’m all for down sizing if that’s what you want, but I would think you could get alot more space for $25000. For $25000 dollars I could build a 2 bedroom (small rooms) house with a bathroom, closets, laundary/mudroom, and kitchen/dining/ living space. And as for STUFF what is wrong with STUFF why is everyone trying to get rid of there stuff, recyle, reuse, stop filling the dumps.
I sold my 1700 sq foot home and moved into a 320 sq ft condo. I miss being able to walk from room to room, but that’s all I miss. The MacMansions that are being built make me physically ill to look at, what a waste of space and land.
WOW, I love this post and all the comments. My husband and I are in the process of downsizing (our house is on the market) from 3200 sq feet for three people to about 2000 sq feet, smaller if we can design the right space. Such a freeing thought to know that soon we will have less stuff and more time and money to go play as a family.
Wow! I am so honored! I LOVE your blog, I just realized you featured our tiny house! Where was I…..probably buried in 25 yards of fabric. Here is the update to our son’s room, which we were finally able to remodel: http://www.320squarefoothome.com/2012/02/when-small-rooms-go-big.html
Thank you so much!
Debra
Hi, Debra! Glad you saw the post–thanks for the link to your son’s room!
US citizens are on average size 12. Most are overwight, many more obese.
These tiny houses wont fit.
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