Families living in very small spaces: need advice! *UPDATED* 7/2/11 - Page 2

[Smithie]

1. That's an awesome stove. 

2. Babies take up just as much room as you let them. 

3. That said, if you poured your stress into coming up with ways get $$ into a savings fund for an addition to be added to your home a year or so after you move in, that could only be a good thing. 

[coyotemist]

You can totally do 4 people in 650 sq ft.  You have the woods in the warmer months.  Someday you may have to add on, but for now it would be fine.

That cast iron stove is very cute, but maybe  you should consider something like
 

http://www.woodandheat.com/?gclid=CI_Hlau6x6UCFQoBbAod1Bhyag

or

http://www.antiquestoves.com/wood%20cook%20stoves.htm

It sounds like a beautiful life!

[GreenGranolaMama]

Originally Posted by Smithie 

3. That said, if you poured your stress into coming up with ways get $$ into a savings fund for an addition to be added to your home a year or so after you move in, that could only be a good thing. 

I'm actually stress-pouring at this very moment : ) I've got a tiny baby shoe biz and things have picked up with the holidays coming, so defiantly going to bank it. This is going in a different direction but-  It's sometimes frustrating because DH makes a nice living but sadly we've got an astounding amount of student debt that sucks our income dry. Thinking I am going to start substitute teaching as soon as I have the paperwork sorted. 

[mouso]

I think it is doable. You will be a bit cramped, possibly, but you will work it out. Babies need almost nothing at first! 

As for your student debt- if it is student loans through the Gov't you can do Income Based Repayment (IBR) now which is a whole lot more affordable than what they charged before. It is based on a percentage of your income and family size. 

My DH is doing it and it has made all the difference!

[bluebackpacks]

Originally Posted by zoebird 

i would recommend a very efficient, small stove for heating (wood burning would probably serve you well), a small kitchen with appliances that suit the space (think a small galley like on an RV). take inspiration from traditional japanese living. 

 

[emmaegbert]

we were 4 in 860sf and currently waiting to move into an apt that is somewhere between 550 and 600sf. I think its going to be a challenge in some ways but very doable. In NYC its not necessarily the norm but is not uncommon. Agree with others- simplify. 860sf was big enough that we didn't HAVE to simplify and I felt crushed by our stuff. Was such a relief really to get rid of it. Looking forward to a very streamlined life for a while in the small place. That said I think as the kids get older it might not feel like enough space. You'll have land though so at that point you can expand or build other structures for overflow...

[GreenGranolaMama]

I added some new pictures to the FB album I have : ) I tried to upload them here but it isn't letting me 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44400&id=100000124230135&l=e8d0f875b1

The foundation for the basement/addition and greenhouse are complete. The basement has been capped with sub flooring and both are wrapped up until January- we're taking a small break from the project to catch up with other bills. 

Edited by GreenGranolaMama - 4/23/11 at 5:08am

[goldenwillow]

Congrats on your maybe babe and your new nuptials. We were wed in Oct!

I don't think you are crazy one bit.   In fact, I am envious!

We lived in our van for quite some time and had a blast before DS was born.  We had been trying for a LO, found out we were pregnant and decided we needed to have a house.  We rented a cottage to have DS in and had to leave about a year in due to a really bad mold infestation.  Now renting a modular home that is way too big for us but affordable (however made of plastic which drives me crazy) and in the country.  I long for the smaller space days. 

Your family is an inspiration no doubt and is reminding me that it is possible with a LO, thank you!

Edited by goldenwillow - 12/8/10 at 1:40pm

[goldenwillow]

I wanted to ask... do you have a covered outside space planned?  In the house we are renting now does not and I find that we are limited on outside time when the weather isn't the greatest.  A friend of mine has a small home and her DH built a small covered space for her DS to play.  I have a dear friend from Maine and she says the weather is comparable to WA. 

Oh... I see... the green house.

Edited by goldenwillow - 12/8/10 at 2:54pm

[crazyms]

700 sq ft has to be at least double what we're in so I'd say it's definitely doable. We're a family of four (5 yo and 3 yo kids) with a 3rd baby due in a few months. We're hoping to buy a new camper before the baby arrives but that will still probably be around 400 sq ft max. My thoughts:  Outdoor space is necessary IMO if you're going to live in a small space. We're currently in a 32' camper and have no outdoor space right now. It drives me crazy on the bad weather days because the kids go nuts. No slide outs on this thing are killing me too since there is NO floor space. That's necessary with littles.Organize and downsize. I'm still working on this right now but it's definitely getting better. You'd be surprised what you can live without.

[goldenwillow]

I hear you on being surprised with what you can live without.  I do see a need for covered outdoor space though for both myself and DS just for a change of pace and some fresh air  !Maybe it would help not driving you nuts!

[GreenGranolaMama]

We're fortunate to have plenty of outdoor space- We're situated half way up a mountain (so we are currently debating running water/pump house/ or neither) as we are surrounded by natural springs. We are buying 3 acres and our friends own 500 acres of forest right next to us so we are all set for outdoor roaming! I'm really excited for winter as there are miles and miles of xc ski trails and the mountain is perfect for backcountry skiing.

We're going to have chickens and (maybe?) a few goats so we are defiantly going to eventually have a few out buildings, but a covered play area is a beautiful idea! 

[34me]

What an awesome piece of property! We are a family of 5 (16, 14 and 12), 2 mostly indoor dogs and one really smelly hockey bag in 960 sq feet. So totally doable.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by kimmom 

I dont think 700 square feet is that small
We are a family of 6 who has been living in 220 square feet for 2 years while we build our 1000 square foot home.. It is what you make it. We got rid of ALOT of crap and stored only what we really wanted to keep, beautiful kitchen table and wooden kids toys, photos, memorabilia etc
We have 5 acres so our 4 sometimes 5 kids are outside ALL the time! We also built a greenhouse over our 5th wheel that gives us outside living space even int he rain and also covered storage area.
My advice is SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY

That sounds so cool!  Would you mind to post a pic sometime?  when you say greenhouse, do you mean you grow things in there?
 

[GreenGranolaMama]

Originally Posted by 34me 

What an awesome piece of property! We are a family of 5 (16, 14 and 12), 2 mostly indoor dogs and one really smelly hockey bag in 960 sq feet. So totally doable.

Hehe this made me laugh : ) When I played sports in high school my Dad made my sports bags ride in the trunk : P 

[GreenGranolaMama]

Originally Posted by vbactivist 

Originally Posted by kimmom 

I dont think 700 square feet is that small
We are a family of 6 who has been living in 220 square feet for 2 years while we build our 1000 square foot home.. It is what you make it. We got rid of ALOT of crap and stored only what we really wanted to keep, beautiful kitchen table and wooden kids toys, photos, memorabilia etc
We have 5 acres so our 4 sometimes 5 kids are outside ALL the time! We also built a greenhouse over our 5th wheel that gives us outside living space even int he rain and also covered storage area.
My advice is SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY

That sounds so cool!  Would you mind to post a pic sometime?  when you say greenhouse, do you mean you grow things in there?
 

I agree, a picture would be amazing! 

[kimmom]

I have to look back for a picture!

There are some way back on our website www.canadianfamilyrobinson.com

Right now we have the ends open on the greenhouse we are parked under cause of venting of the propane heater, fridge etc.. Safer that way with all of us living in here! Once we are in the house we will sell the 5th wheel and be closing it in and will have a HUGE greenhouse! We did grow tomatoes, peas, beans etc in here this summer but this past spring and summer main focus was the house, next year ;) The greenhouse cover has been so amazing for us, we built a cob bench in there so there is a sitting area also we store our tools, bikes, animal feed etc out under cover too!

We are about a month away from moving into our home, so so so excited! 2.5 years in 220 square feet while we travelled and then settled on our land and built our cob home. I am READY for more space!

[kimmom]

Here is the greenhouse cover pic

And also the last pic is of our passive solar cob home we built and will be moving into in the next few months!!

Edited by kimmom - 12/23/10 at 10:58pm

[homestyle]

Originally Posted by GreenGranolaMama 

WWe're situated half way up a mountain (so we are currently debating running water/pump house/ or neither) as we are surrounded by natural springs. We are buying 3 acres and our friends own 500 acres of forest right next to us so we are all set for outdoor roaming! 

How completely wonderful! Like a dream come to life. I hope you continue to share how the adventure progresses with us!

[HeckedyPeg]

nak

this is a very cool idea! subbing cos i want to see what happens after the thaw :)

what are you going to do for washing/drying of clothes?