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Today’s interview is with Amy Randolph, who is currently in the process of building a 160 sq ft tiny house on wheels! Amy has been downsizing and preparing herself for tiny house living for 3 years! Now she is just months away from being able to fully move into her new tiny house. Read on to learn more about her journey and building process!
What is your sq. ft.?
The home is a tiny house on wheels. 160 sq ft with a loft.
What is the layout like? (Any lofts, bedrooms, office, living space, etc.?)
The bathroom (composting toilet and shower) is located in the back of the home. Underneath the loft the kitchen is scheduled to be placed on the passenger side of the home and closet / storage area on the driver side of the home. There will be a desk-like area which will be an extension of the kitchen counter space. The grand room is aprox 7×7 with a vaulted ceiling. I hope to build an L-shaped couch with storage next to the large front window. There are 11 windows total in the home so it feels spacious and open. The loft is a dormer style with four windows. I took two feet of the loft and it still feels huge as a result of the windows. Very good for keeping claustrophobia at bay.
How long have you lived tiny?
I decided to embark on building a tiny house last November after dreaming about one for two years. A roommate situation led me to throw up my hands and say “enough is enough” I’m building my house whether I’m ready or not. At the end of March I took the leap, did away with rent and lived out of my car and tent during the cold / snowy month of April. I never felt so much liberation and freedom as I did during that time albeit not exactly the safest way to live. A friend decided to “rescued” me and offered to let me live in the horse arena on their farm. While I have a “studio” inside the old arena, I have opted to continue sleeping in my tent outside. Since the house has gone up I’ve been camping out, sleeping in the unfinished loft as I continue to build. It’s not exactly a tiny house lifestyle yet, however I have learned to live with the bare minimum the past six months. Having good backpacking gear has allowed for this. While there have been challenges, overall it hasn’t been bad, more of an adventure than anything. I don’t feel homeless or out of place and there is nothing I really miss. The thing I find most interesting however, is taking a shower in an actual house feels like a novelty as I’ve been showering at the gym the past six months. Other than that, my life hasn’t changed all that much. I’m still constantly on the go as I run my new biz and try to build. The only thing that has really changed is where I sleep each night. Once the house is built I’m sure I will be spending a little less time working and a little more time doing the things I enjoy. I hope for the house to be done by summer. I’m planning to go on a cruise soon after I have my open house.
What made you decide to live tiny?
I lost everything in the Great Recession. My design business, retirement, etc. The list goes on. I felt stagnant in life and needed something more. I downsized and decided to go back to school to pursue a medical career. In doing so I chose to live with roommates as to reduce living expenses while trying to pay tuition. But living with others has it’s challenges. I wanted my own space again, one that was mine to do with what I wanted. I also wanted ultimate financial freedom so I can do the things I’ve wanted to do. Its also a means of security for me should another recession hit.
What has the journey been like transitioning to tiny?
It took three years to downsize all my belongings. Two of those years were spent dreaming of living in a Tiny while going through the downsizing process. I would often think to myself “this won’t fit in that tiny house I’m going to have someday” and I would get rid of it. At first downsizing was easy. We all have things we can get rid of without attachment. It’s when you get down to the minimum you find there are things you do not want to let go of but you know you have to. I still have a few of those things but my final move into my tiny will dictate what I ultimately keep and what I won’t. The final “downsize” will be the most painful. Aside from that, I now make a game out of how minimal I can go.
How have friends and family reacted to your tiny place?
At first nobody believed me or took me seriously. Now, some are excited to watch the process of the home being built while others have silenced themselves. Either way, I do what I want regardless of what others think. Life’s too short.
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to downsize?
Start with the big stuff first. Take your time but continue being proactive. It gets easier. Ask yourself “do I really need this” and be honest about it. That’s the thing, you have to be brutally honest with yourself. After a while you will find that it gets easier, you detach from things faster and you lose the desire to shop or acquire stuff. Sometimes I would get rid of things in order to replace it with a higher quality item I know I will have for a very long time. It allows me to enjoy high quality items without worry of replacing it again any time soon.
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Visit Amy on Facebook (facebook.com/montanatinyhouse) to see more photos and keep up to date with her progress. She’s also available if you have any questions for her about her process!
For tips on how to begin your decluttering journey, you can Start Here, or snag a copy of the 30 Day Challenge (our Minimalism and Decluttering eBook).
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