Developing a plan

June 9, 2018



The big question is, where do you begin developing a plan to go tiny? How do you even start, how on Earth do you move forward? I think the answer is simple, just dive right in.
Yes, of course, there are a million and two things to consider and it may be very overwhelming to think about, but you need a starting point.  Similar, to creating a five-year plan for your life and career goals, start a plan of development. I believe this will by far be the easiest part of the entire process.
Developing the master plan may be the easy part, but planning for the unexpected, nearly impossible. From my perspective, working for a tiny home community has certainly taught me about what to possibly expect. Some of these things I like to call "growing pains".   As we grow as a community, we find tiny houses settle just like stick- built homes and things may need adjusting. Little things here and there, lots of little unexpected things can happen that you will never even think about. But, it’s OK, we adapt, we are flexible, and I think that will be key in your transition to tiny living. Patience and flexibility are a must and be prepared the unexpected.

With that being said; questions you may start off with on your plan may look a little like this:
1. What type of tiny home do I want? Do your research!  Will I travel with it? What builder will I choose, or will I do it myself?  Do I want to climb a ladder to a loft and take my chances in the middle of the night making it back down in time? Most of you will know exactly what I mean.  Tiny home builders vary widely, do lots of digging around on this, you don’t want to pay double for something you could get just as nice for half the price.  Make sure before you even begin any process, that you will have an approved site to keep and/or live in your tiny home, this is essential. Many people build homes and then have nowhere to go with them. Sometimes, I like to say we are a tiny house rescue.  That’s okay, we love them and will take good care of them.

2. How will I support myself? How will I pay for my tiny home? Financial planning is an important part of the equation. Living on the road can still require a lot of money, and again the unexpected can be costly. Do intensive research. No one wants to get out on the road and realize in the middle of Arizona, you are running low on funds. Always have a backup plan for what ifs.

3. What do you do with all your belongings? This can be a terrifying thought to some and completely liberating to others. Try to give some sentimental items to family or friends who will cherish them as much as you. Have a garage sale, use selling apps to sell larger items and consider donating some things to Salvation Army or maybe a charity that will pick up unwanted items. Free yourself from stuff!
This is just the very start of a plan; your list will be much larger. Take into consideration, your lifestyle and do you have pets? I for one, will need areas for our two fans that must run at night while we are sleeping.  For us, this is essential. There are so many factors to think about and you don’t want your tiny house to look like an afterthought. Think about what it is you want from your tiny life. I’ve changed my tiny house design four times, and now we're possibly thinking about a “skoolie”.  It’s a whole new design and new plan, but that’s OK, because we're flexible and adventure awaits us! Put your plan into motion, move forward and develop your dream. The possibilities are endless, the experiences will be priceless, and in the end, a tiny life filled with happiness.

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