Life
She Became A Tiny Homeowner – And Life Got Larger
Life got much larger when she went tiny!
Catherine Marucci
05.25.18

Have you ever dreamed of a life free of mortgages, gossiping coworkers, knit-picky bosses, and high insurance bills? Tammy Strobel had this dream, but she made it a reality. This freelance writer decided that she was done with consumerism and its grip on her life. She is living proof material goods are not equivalent to happiness.

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Bid and Little Changes

Strobel quit her job at an investment firm, got rid of the two cars her and her husband were making payments on, and moved into a tiny house. Not a small house, a tiny house.

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Her and her husband, Logan, had the house constructed on a trailer so they could travel, but they call Portland, Oregon home. The tiny home weighs 6,000 pounds, is 16 feet long, 13 feet high, 8.5 feet wide and 128 square feet in total area. There is a sleeping loft, but it does not include a shower or flushable toilet.

Getting Ahead on Less

To make money, Tammy freelance writes, does photography, and writes the blog Rowdy Kittens. She is making much less than she used to, but she has paid off her student loans, and has less stress than ever before.

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Having a tiny house has really put things in perspective. She travels more than ever before and made a pact to only have 100 personal belongings. This makes sense given her limited space.

Live in the Moment

“I love morning views, tiny homes, reading and everyday adventures.” Says Strobel, author of You Can Buy Happiness (and it’s Cheap). She realizes before she was lying to herself about her needs and how she’d like to spend her time.

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Another great thing about the tiny home is the fact that she can still have her cats. They love the cozy interior and appreciate the fact that Tammy and her husband often find a rural place to park their home.

The Simple Life

Their house is very simple. The outside has just enough room for two people to sit and drink a cup of coffee. The inside is very organized, mostly because they do not have any clutter. The shelves are not full; the cupboards are not messy, everything has a place.

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Tammy does not have the need to acquire things as she once did. Instead, she seeks out adventures. She bikes, enjoys her pets, teaches, and spends time with Logan in her spare time. Not one of these things requires a credit card.

Powering a Tiny Home

Tammy no longer has a big electric bill to look forward to each month. Wholesale Solar donated a set of solar panels to the tiny homeowner. Now, their basic electrical needs, such as laptops, phones, and keeping the refrigerator running, are taken care of by the sun.

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You will notice they have an air conditioner. This is how they keep the home cool in hot weather. For colder weather, they use a free-standing radiant electric-oil heater. These are typically used in medium rooms and really do a good job keeping the place toasty.

A New Way to Live

Tammy is officially sold on living a minimalist lifestyle. She loves the fact that she is no longer controlled by “stuff.” This is proof living in a big, grandiose house is not the only way to feel fulfilled. Take a page from Tammy’s book and ask yourself, what makes you happy, without considering what you think should make you happy.

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