In 2018, Jen Gressett faced the end of her 18-year marriage, prompting her to relocate from her 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 3,000-square-foot house. The search for a new residence proved challenging as the options within her budget were limited.
However, Jen’s ingenuity came into play when she noticed a growing trend of tiny houses on social media. Recognizing the potential to attain the luxury space she had always desired at an affordable price, she decided to explore this option.
Eventually, Jen settled on the idea of constructing her own tiny home on wheels, which spanned 520 square feet and cost her $175,000 to build. By embracing this lifestyle, she now enjoys the benefits of living in a space that perfectly suits her needs and comes at a significantly reduced monthly expense.
For just $725 a month, Jen covers her housing costs, encompassing the fees for parking her tiny home in someone’s backyard, as well as internet, water, and electricity services.
Initially, Jen Gressett’s primary concern revolved around parting with a substantial portion of her belongings as they simply wouldn’t fit into her new, compact living space.
Nevertheless, this worry soon dissipated, leading to an unexpected revelation – it turned out to be the foremost reason behind her heightened happiness, surpassing any previous levels of contentment she had experienced.
The limited space in Jen Gressett’s new tiny home brought about a profound realization: it fostered a genuine appreciation for the possessions she already owned.
Following the sale of her previous home in April 2019, she faced the necessity of purging her belongings. Despite having a walk-in closet brimming with clothes and shoes, she soon recognized that she only regularly used around 30% of them.
In response, Jen embarked on a thorough assessment of her wardrobe and managed to fill eight large trash bags with items she no longer needed. These surplus possessions were then graciously donated to Goodwill.
Surprisingly, the act of decluttering immediately provided her with a sense of relief, and even today, she can’t precisely recall the specific items she decided to part with.
This newfound appreciation for her possessions brought clarity and a deeper understanding of what truly mattered to her.
In her previous larger house, Jen Gressett had a habit of buying things she never ended up using. Many of these items were kept for years, just in case they might come in handy someday.
As a result, her drawers, spare closets, and basement were filled with accumulated belongings, resembling a cluttered junk yard.
With the shift to a smaller living space, Jen Gressett has experienced a transformation in her shopping habits. She no longer impulsively tosses items into her shopping cart, knowing there’s limited room to store them in her tiny home.
This change in mindset has not only led to significant savings but has also cultivated a deeper sense of gratitude and improved care for the possessions she owns.
Since embracing a minimalist lifestyle in her tiny home, Jen Gressett has adopted a more intentional approach to her shopping habits.
While she used to enjoy shopping on Amazon, she now considers the excessive packaging that comes with each item, taking up unnecessary space in her home and contributing to increased trash volume.
In the past, she used to dispose of a large dumpster-sized trash can weekly, but her new lifestyle has reduced waste significantly.
Currently, she relies on just a 13-gallon kitchen trash can and a 13-gallon recycling bin, reflecting her commitment to a more eco-friendly and clutter-free living.
She consciously prioritizes buying small items locally, despite the potential higher cost, in order to minimize packaging waste. Supporting small businesses brings her a sense of fulfillment while also contributing to a reduction in wasteful packaging.
In instances where she must purchase items from Amazon, she exercises patience and waits until she has accumulated several items in her cart before placing the order.
This practice allows her to consolidate shipments, further reducing unnecessary packaging and its impact on the environment.
She thoroughly enjoyed hosting guests in her spacious 3,000-square-foot home with its impressive open floor plan. However, the larger space also came with a downside, as it required endless hours of cleaning, including mopping, vacuuming, and constantly tidying things up after each gathering.
In her tiny home, She relishes the benefits of having less space, resulting in reduced cleaning and maintenance tasks. She specifically designed her kitchen to be the largest part of the home, ensuring it accommodates up to five guests comfortably during gatherings.
Cleaning now requires minimal effort and takes no more than an hour, making it a manageable and enjoyable task in her simplified living environment.
At the outset of her tiny home journey, She grappled with the challenge of downsizing. However, as time passed, she gradually detached herself from material possessions, leading to an unexpected sense of freedom.
Through this process, Jen has learned to value and appreciate the truly meaningful aspects of life, such as spending time with her children, having space to meditate and breathe, and the joy of owning a uniquely personalized home.
Beyond her tiny home adventure, Jen Gressett is a multi-talented professional based in Colorado, excelling in graphic design, copywriting, photo styling, and content creation. Her leisure activities involve trail running, hiking, and participating in races. For insights into her tiny house living experience, you can follow her on Instagram.
Original post: cnbc.com
This website uses cookies.
