I had an amazing convo with a client/ friend Kimberly with Go to Girls (she’s out of Lethbridge Alberta), about this feeling of euphoria that I'm experiencing.
Living tiny & being in the mountains is filling my soul. I'm not just saying that because this is my journal - I mean it. I feel so happy.
There's about 100 reasons I could list, but when her and I were chatting one of the big things that came up was money, and I thought geesus I should share some of the immediate MONEY things that are coming up for us.
I wanted to give a quick money chat, even though I’m not quite in the after, let’s call it a current money chat. I think that saving money is a big reason why a lot of people go tiny.
We are definitely doing it for that reason too - and when we sat down a few months ago to make a "pro and con" chart -- money kept coming up. Money wasn't the DRIVING factor for our shift....but we did think on it so ...here it is...
Our living in the city costs as of September 2021:
Rent: $2200
Electricity: $300
Internet: $180
Security system: $50
Renters Insurance: $35
Water: $200
Uber Eats /Skip dishes eating out: $400 a month
Gas: $500 a month
Tiny mortgage: $800
Tiny Internet: $80
Random Amazon orders because I can get next day delivery: $400
School fees (private school) : $250
Groceries: $1500
$6800 city living cost per month *approximately
Tiny home living in the mountains:
Electricity: $100
Internet: $80
Security system: $0 - we have the dogs.
Renters Insurance: $0
Home Insurance: $88
Water: $0
Uber Eats/ Eating out: $80 no uber eats here and we order pizza once a month
Gas: $200
Tiny Mortgage: $800
Amazon orders: $100 (it takes forever to get here)
Groceries: $1800 (a little more expensive)
School fees: $0 (no private schools here)
$3200 tiny living costs per month
$6800-$3200= $3600 savings.
Holy shit.
Math is NOT my strength, but just by being here, in the tiny home -- we are seeing a $3600 difference in the cost of living.
We don't eat out -- there just isn't a reason too and we're teaching the kids to cook and eat homemade foods more often. Gas - well we aren't in a city so getting places aren't as far and I'm running the business virtually. Groceries - we do pay more here....so I increased it by a few hundred. We didn't necessarily say lets go tiny to save money, but we did say lets go tiny and move to Golden to live a DIFFERENT lifestyle. And here we are.
But - there are some costs we just didn't expect this month - extra water cables & mishaps from the pipes freezing ($300), cargo trailer ($8000), my car battery died the day we got here ($800 later!), new ski boots ($700). Those things were just non-negotiable. I'll explain the ski boots - I am "cheap". I've been wearing the wrong size ski boots for 10 years, as well as a used jacket, a used pair of snow pants & a helmet that is from the 1980's. I just would rather get the kids stuff.
I will pay for a lot of things when it comes to the kids, or for gifts for others or ....whatever. But when it comes to myself I will literally kill my feet, be cold, do without to save $10. SO Neil - just said no Megan I'm buying your boots. What a man ;) Now I ski and don't complain -- so I think that money was well spent.
I hope this helps - for us, this will put us WAY closer to saving for a home and not having to get a 25+ year mortgage. I like being honest on here - so don't leave shitty comments and ruin it - k?
As usual - thanks for being here, ask questions and don't be afraid to say YES to making a big change my going tiny xo
- Megan
