After her father died, Kat decided to quit her comfortable job, sell her house, and pursue a more adventurous path.
Here's what to know
In a video with Tiny Home Tours (@TinyHomeTours), Kat shows the mountain-town home she rents for $1,100 a month with her dog. Measuring 10 feet wide by 26 feet long, the rental features a main sleeping loft reached by stairs, along with a second loft for storage and overnight guests.
Most utilities are included in the rent, but her internet costs about $60 a month. Electricity adds about $120 in summer and $300 during cold winters, bringing the combined monthly expenses to roughly $1,280 or $1,460 a month, respectively.
Avoiding the furniture purchases for a two or three-bedroom house is part of the rental's appeal. Its affordability also leaves Kat room to adjust her work schedule as her project-based income changes with the seasons.
"I like the open space and high ceilings. Small space = less time cleaning. Big bonus for me," one commenter wrote.
More background
Confronting her own mortality led her to reconsider her comfortable suburban house and her decade-long city career. Her turn toward smaller spaces began after her father's sudden death at 54.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
A friend helped Kat find the tiny rental after she'd lived in a camper and spent a few months on a boat among other places.
Kat has a washer and dryer in a bathroom larger than some she's had in conventional rentals. The home as a whole feels more solid and comfortable to her than the boat or camper.
Still, the smaller space comes with compromises. There is no dishwasher, and her slanted bedroom roof has led to a few bumps on the head.
What can be done?
Renting let Kat test life in a tiny home, she explained to Tiny Home Tours, without purchasing a home, making the transition to a tiny home less of a commitment.
Kat's choice of a small table and chairs allows comfortable dining for guests without sacrificing open floor space. She measured the space before ordering furniture.
Keeping kitchen shelves exposed helps discourage the accumulation of more belongings, and the second loft keeps her outdoor gear accessible.
Even with its trade-offs, Kat's current life leaves her with little interest in returning to the old one. Runs and hikes start on the trails outside her door and end back at her own private home.
"I would not go back to that life because I feel more alive now and feeling more alive sometimes is uncomfortable, but as far as I know, we're only here one time and why not go for it, right?" Kat said.
Where can I learn more?
Other people have found success in tiny homes as well.
• A Texas woman left a $3,000 rental and bought a 399-square-foot home for $98,000.
• In North Carolina, a 21-year-old turned a $12,000 shed into housing costing $262 monthly.
• After asking for a divorce, a woman moved into her parents' garage, measuring 150 square feet.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
