I'm house poor in a different way...I live like we're poor apparently... - Page 2

[Millie Ivy]

You know what? Go to Ikea, if there is one near you, and check out their display rooms. I always get SO inspired after walking through a multi person home that is 700 sq feet.

My kids do too, and that helps a lot. If I can aspire to organized, useful smaller space instead of drooling over overdone 5000 sq foot homes, we are a lot happier.

FWIW we are family of 5 in 1600 sq foot, 3 bedrooms, two bath.

[ChampagneBlossom]

If you want inspiration, we live very comfortably in a 1300 sq foot house with our two kids. We looked at bigger houses but we thought they were too big fir our purposes, too much hassle. We lived in a 900 sq foot apartment before this and we only used two out of the three bedrooms there, even!

But I grew up in 5,000 sq foot houses growing up, so I know that side of the story too. But... I just don't feel like I'm missing out on anything by having "just" a 1300 sq foot house. To us it's the perfect size. I *do* want to upgrade our land in the future, we have a tiny city lot, but other than that I could see myself living here permanently.

HGTV is just eye candy.

[freespirited]

Work hard to pay off your mortgage earlier and then when you own the house outright, upgrade. Your kids will be older then too and appreciate it a lot more. Kids don't mind little houses, in fact they will remember it as being a lot bigger than it actually was. Also, they don't care so much about their own room until later as well. We are four plus one cat in a 1450 sq foot house and we are in the process of finishing the basement, which has been slow-going due to budgetary constraints, so we've really been living in 725 sq feet - the upstairs only. I sort of like the coziness. We have a tiny dining area but we have a drop-leaf table that we fold out only during meals otherwise it would be too cramped. Our kitchen is quite large, we did miracles with re-designing it and maximizing cabinets and countertop space. Probably the small kitchen is what bothers you the most. Is there anyway to make it bigger, maybe imposing some on the dining area? New cabinets and countertops would be a pretty big investment but still much cheaper than upgrading into a bigger house.

Our house also has little storage space so we are looking for ways to put in storage cabinets above areas, and getting built-in shelves inside the closets. These things can have a big impact on your clutter factor and with reasonable costs. A patio room is another option. We'd totally do that if we has 10k or so to do it. I think the walls are some kind of plexiglass so you get a lot of natural heating from the sun depending on where it's located. I think we would be in there all the time if we had one. And during the summer I'm sure you can get special blinds and also put in a ceiling fan.

Also can you build in your attic? We were told we could out a very nice master bedroom in ours, with a view of the mountains. We won't do that because we have already over-improved for the neighborhood we are in so that is another thing you want to take into consideration before remodeling.
Cherish the closeness you have. My PC is set up in a nook in our living room so I am always hanging out with my girls if they are watching TV or coloring and I love that.

I love smaller houses to be honest. Many of those big ones have a cold, lonely feel to me and the costs to heat and cool them are atrocious. Think of your smaller home as providing you with a better quality of life and more fund to take your kids on trips and pay for more activities. Don't feel insecure about your home compared to other people. Those people may not be able to do all the things you can. 15% of your pay towards a mortgage is fantastic. I wish I could say the same.

P.S. We took down some walls too and now our living room, kitchen, breakfast nook and PC nook are all open to each other which I wouldn't have any other way. Our hallway between the living room and kitchen was just unnecessary so we took it down and a took out a linen closet on the other side and made that a computer nook. Now we want to build storage cabinets above the computer nook to make up for that storage we lost to put in the desk.

[whiddle]

Could you add on more living space? That way it would be 10-12K one time instead of every year and you'd get the space you need/want. Also, get rid of extra furniture/knick knacks. Painting the walls light colors (but not white) and having lighter colored hard floors will make the house feel larger. Also, you remove any non-load bearing walls to open up the house more.

[bluey]

Bend your house to your will That's what we've done in the past. I should qualify this by mentioning that we are handy type, However! With planning and a little time, any house can become the perfect house.


If I was closer I would totally come over and do it for you (it's a sickness I tell you!)

[gurumama]

We're 4 (soon to be 5) in a 1650 home with a full, unfinished basement. We have 4 bedrooms, but two of those are offices (we both work from home).

We think it's more than we need. Keep in mind that adding 1000 sf means you'll likely fill it with more clutter, and you pay far more to heat/cool/light that area as well.

Consider getting your house "ready" to sell--act "as if" you're selling it. We've always been amazed by how nice our houses were when we really were selling, and wished we'd done those improvements for OURSELVES all along, rather than just for a buyer

[Usually Curious]

Originally Posted by phatchristy

You know, that's a good point. If I moved, wouldn't I have to declutter anyhow?

I mean, I know I'd be the one packing everything.

It is weird thinking about an actual move. I HATE moving!

You could incorporate some of the 'game room' into the kitchen couldn't you? If you lined one wall with built ins or bought an armoire off craiglist, you could move pantry items and seldom used equipment in there. You could make a small play area in there and then make the guest room the 'game room' w/a futon instead of a bed. How often do you have guests anyway?

We down sized from a 3000 sq ft house to a 1400 sq ft house w/an unfinished basement when we moved from TX to MO. I could see what was coming down the pipe (economically). I say stay lean and mean. You have negligable(sp?) commuting costs and your housing expenses are very low. Take advantage of it - you will need all of that wiggle room over the next few years.

FYI - We have five kids, ages 18 - 1 and adult disabled cousin living with us. It's still worth living in a tiny house! Our utilities and everything dropped like a rock when we moved.

[MPsSweetie]

Well, we just closed on a smaller by 400sqft house yesterday . And we didn't have a large house to begin with! From 1280 to 860!

[amyamanda]

Just think about what it will cost to heat/cool/maintain a larger house.

That thought has me totally convinced small is the way to go. LOL!

[KatWrangler]

It all depends on the house layout. We are in a 1700 sq ft townhouse without a basement. It feels way smaller than the 1740 sq ft townhouse we rented in Montana.

The thing I didn't realize prior to moving in is there is way less cabinet space. The counters in the kitchen and baths are shorter than in Montana. That makes less storage room underneat. They are also less deep.

[Think of Winter]

My house is about the same size as yours. I catch myself daydreaming about a bigger home or larger lot (we have 0.19 acres!) but I don't want to spend more time or money maintaining any of it. My dh also works only a few miles from home and having him here for lunch every day is priceless.

I've been spending lots of time getting rid of clutter lately, and it's really opened things up. I look around for things or spaces that aren't used, and see it as a chance to find some space that we can use. We eat in our kitchen, even though it's really tight, so we put our dining table in the attic and changed the small dining area into a workspace for the kids.

I can't think of any of my family or friends who don't have a bigger house. But you know, I kind of take pride in our "littleness." My mom has 4 siblings, and they were raised in a house much smaller than mine. They always seemed to feel well-off, too. The house was always immaculate, and one of my nanny's trademark sayings was "There's a place for everything, and everything in it's place." She also took pride in her Scottish frugality. She's my inspiration for housekeeping.

[Blucactus]

OP,
We live in a >1200 with two adults and 2 kids and a cat and there is room for another couple of people (prob 1 adult or 2 kids) still.

I am still figuring out storage solutions to stuff (we moved at the end of summer) and wish our kitchen was bigger, but, some people CHOOSE to have a smaller home. Most of the people I know with children and large houses have kids in school/daycare and both parents work full time to make ends meet. I wanted to stay home with my kids and raise them myself (no offense to to WOHMS if that's what you want), so we choose to have a smaller house then may be the 'norm' (I'd say it's small for the area we live in...BUT...it's about the same size as the one I grew up in, in a fam of 5, so I think that makes a diff too).

We could have bought a bigger house and a much smaller yard, but we wanted that place for the kids to play and run and build and climb and explore. We could have bought a bigger house with the acre we have now, but it would have been stretching it. I like knowing that we are not in danger of not being able to pay our bills. I like not fighting about money, not having any debt besides our mortgage. We don't like spending every single last penny each month, or living beyond our means & wracking up debt just to have a huge, new, lavish home. Our home is a good size for our family, even a bit roomy (and I'm sure we'll have more kids), and it's clean and sometimes tidy, and warm and cozy and full of love and happy parents who can pay the bills and still put some into savings.

Reading your post, I wonder if you chose the house you're living in now, or if you feel like it was your only option at the time? And also if YOU'RE ok with it, but you are feeling sensitive to what other people may think of you, incl your children... Your motives may help clarify what the best step from here is.

I see three options: Stay in your current home and make it your project to make sure you are using each space wisely (I second the suggestions about things such as futons, which can pull double duty--or a storage chest you use for a bench at the kitchen table (double duty) etc ) and making it the homeiest home you can with things as streamlined as possible (we are still very much getting there ourselves). Or, move to a larger house. Or move to a house a similar size as your current one, but with a better layout or that you just personally 'like' better.

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by Think of Winter

My house is about the same size as yours. I catch myself daydreaming about a bigger home or larger lot (we have 0.19 acres!) but I don't want to spend more time or money maintaining any of it. My dh also works only a few miles from home and having him here for lunch every day is priceless.

Yeah, I really don't want to spend more money. I'm just a little frustrated with everyone and their 'when are you moving up and out' comments.

I think part of it is my issue with space. I am admitting it to myself, I've gone from being streamlined and clutter free to having a lot of kids stuff around here. I usually spend a lot of time getting rid of stuff, but I haven't gotten rid of stuff really (donated) since right before my first DS was born (3 years ago). We also don't have a lot of storage for clothes. Right now we're swimming in kids clothes. I have one dresser for four kids. It's just not working. Now I have a pile of spillover clothes for DS. And, it's not like he has a lot of clothes either. I know I need another dresser or chest to store things. I'm also so darn picky. It seems like all the stuff at IKEA is so modern. I'm not modern, I'm a traditional queen anne sort of girl!

And, I don't have a lot of time, which doesn't help. I pretty much am doing something everytime I'm here even (might as well be on MDC if I'm nursing!).

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by phatchristy

I know I need another dresser or chest to store things. I'm also so darn picky. It seems like all the stuff at IKEA is so modern. I'm not modern, I'm a traditional queen anne sort of girl!

And, I don't have a lot of time, which doesn't help. I pretty much am doing something everytime I'm here even (might as well be on MDC if I'm nursing!).

Are there any good junk shops around? I saw a gorgeous cedar chest for $100 last week, and thought it would be awesome for a seat and for storing things. I like old furniture that's well made, and am pretty shameless at stopping to take a closer look at stuff on the side of the road! All of our good furniture is from junk shops and antique markets, and the most I've ever spent is $300 for a tall mahogany chest of drawers. It fits all of my table linens, candles, party supplies, yarn, batteries, and stationery!

[Kidsndog]

OP, I can understand your dilema. We have four children aged six and under and number five is coming in May. Our home is a 2 1/2 story (the 1/2 story being our master bed loft) with three bedrooms for the kids to share. But our mortgage is HUGE and I am going back to school in a couple of years which means we have to come up with 70k for tuition and daycare for the kids.

So, we know we have to move to reduce our mortgage to free up the money for my school, but to stay in Toronto we would have to get a much smaller house - or we move to Oakville and get a large home for less money. Everytime I look at the smaller homes I feel overwhelmed at how to fit five kids into a three bedroom house - on their own they are so-so sleepers but when they have shared it becomes a waking nightmare for DH and I as one will wake the others during the night or early morning. For pure health reasons, I fantasize about getting a five bedroom house in Oakville just for the sleep I would hopefully get a night, but I shudder when I think about the cleaning and maintenance involved. And five kids carry a lot of stuff (clothes, bikes, knapsacks, shoes, etc) which means the smaller the house the quicker it becomes messy. Yet, conversely, the smaller the house the quicker it is to tidy...

[mammastar2]

Try to think of different storage solutions - neat cupboards and chests, that kind of thing. 5,500 square feet is crazy, I can't imagine one family needing that much space! But then the kind of places that are marketed as 'starter homes' these days to be shed after a second child are the places that people raised six children in fifty years ago.

I'm not a fan of knocking out walls. When we were looking, soooo many places were all proud of now being 'open plan', but we would have had no place for bookshelves, or a piano!

We're in a 800 sq or so plus partially unfinished basement. I think that sometimes the huge places in the suburbs are to compensate for the fact that people spend their lives in their houses and cars (when they're not at the mall). If there's no community around you, you try to make the house the be-all and end-all.

[lolar2]

Originally Posted by phatchristy

Yeah, I really don't want to spend more money. I'm just a little frustrated with everyone and their 'when are you moving up and out' comments.

Are these people trying to sell you their house? Or are they trying to buy your house? Are they living with you or hoping to move in with you?

And if none of the above, how is that their business and what gives them the right to comment? Sounds like what you need is to drop the rude friends.

ETA: JC Penney used to have some good Queen Anne style storage units, the last time I shopped for furniture. I don't know if they still do, but it would be worth a look through their website.