Build a Tiny Home to Decrease Your Ecological Footprint

I have always wanted to buy a tiny home. They usually run 88 feet wide, and are approximately 12 feet high (but this differs according to the homeowner's preference). These uber small homes can fit in the size of a parking space. Most tiny homes are placed on a trailer rig. The reason why they are built this way is, so the builder does not have to be bogged down by building codes. I guess you could say this is a mobile home, but you can make it chic, and quite elegant inside. Shandalier in the sitting room? I think so.

The bathroom is like the ones on trains or boats, it has the shower head over the toilet. In mine, I make it a completely different room. While I want to be careful with how much space I am using, I will never take a shower that is directly over the toilet. A girl has to have stardards.

For cooking and heating, I will use a propane heater. It will cost me about $10 a month, and it will be my only monthly expense. I could use rainwater for bathing and the toilet. I could make a very hygienic system to ensure the water is potable, so I could use it for drinking and cooking.

I would go over my blue prints with a home contractor. I would want to know what I would do to make my mini home self-sufficient and economical.
I would buy a solar power generator. They are actually not as expensive as you may think. Plus, you can buy a really good used one from reputable pawn. My house would be capable of generating enough electricity to power my air conditioner.

It would be fun living off the grid, but I think I would only have it as a summer and vacation home in some sunny state. This project is just something I always wanted to do, and I believe I could do it for under $10,000, if I used Craig's List for buying used parts. Plus, they have a free section that every frugal shopper should use.

My biggest tips for building a tiny home are:

1. Do all your research on solar panels and how to instal them. Make sure you read the directions carefully before starting this project. Follow the directions to the T, you don't want to spend a lot of money on solar panels just for it to fall off the house and break.

2. When in doubt, hire a professional. They say pride cometh before the fall, and it's true in home building. Don't play John Wayne and just wing it, it could cause you your life if the house electrocutes, or falls down right on top of you. Not worth it, hire a professional.

3. Save the receipts since it can be a tax write off. Contact your accountant for directions on how to do this.

4. Check out you local laws concerning solar panels and mini homes.

5. Always have smart (and abled bodied) friends who are willing to help.

7. Have fun!