AN Australian couple has revealed how building a tiny home helped them achieve financial independence without sacrificing luxury.
Lisa Tranter and Matt Hobbs built their dream home in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney for just $62,000.
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With just 237 square feet, the expertly designed structure still manages to fit a full kitchen and living space on two cramped floors.
The style stands out as well, with the black walls and large covered awning draping across the beautiful mountainside.
Most people don’t think of a house standing eight feet wide, 29.5 feet long, and 15 feet high as their ideal, but the couple said it was a dream come true.
They told Insider that they’ve actually been interested in tiny homes for years, and did plenty of research before moving forward with their own mini paradise.
“I’ve been fascinated by them for a long time, following different pages on social media and watching U.S. reality TV shows about tiny homes,” Tranter said.
The couple decided to build a home together shortly after they met, and almost drew up a bizarre design made out of shipping containers.
However, Tranter said she was able to finally convince her husband that the tiny home was the way to go.
“We built the frame and the interior,” Tranter said. “But an electrician did the wiring, which would have been too complicated.”
Hobbs owns a company that renovates bathrooms and kitchens, so he had all the expertise to create a stunning white tiled bathroom with luxury marble counters.
According to Tranter, the two pay a little at $230 per quarter during the Australian summer, despite the fact that they always blast the air conditioning.
And as for water, the tiny homeowner said they shell out a mere $97 per quarter.
“Our running costs are very low,” Tranter said.
She went on to say that the design focused on insulation and energy-saving appliances.
“We save a lot because we don’t buy unnecessary things,” she told the outlet. “We keep our possessions small and question everything before we buy it.”
Despite the appearance of paradise, Tranter acknowledged the fact that it doesn’t come without struggles.
“The idea of downsizing is great in theory but hard to put into practice,” she said.
“Unlike big houses, banks often won’t give you a loan for a tiny house; you have to have the money at hand.”
And, of course, there is still the issue of space. When you have two adults in such small quarters, the lack of privacy can be an issue.
“Matt and I often get in each other’s way when cooking,” Tranter said. “And we have to clean up more often because otherwise, the tiny house seems even smaller.”
She also said she might invest in noise-canceling headphones because there’s no escaping from any loud sounds the other person is making.
Despite the struggles, she believes that living in a tiny home was a great option for them, and thanked her friends and family for the help.
In fact, she said if they had hired out all of the work, they probably would have spent upwards of $90,000.
“If the cost-of-living continues to rise like this, then the minimalist lifestyle is the best option people have,” she said.
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