It’s been a very long time since our last post, which is a bit embarrassing. Embarrassing because, since the last post, out master bedroom has been located in our living room.
We’ve learned a few things:
1) We love having access to Netflix via our Wii from bed.
2) We really want to get this project done!
The reason it has taken so long, is that Home Depot had our bamboo floor on back order. Our floor was to take two weeks. It took four, arriving Wednesday evening.
The good part: for our suffering, they credited us 10 boxes. That totalled just over $600 back in our pockets!
So Andi’s parents came down today and gave us a tutorial on flooring. We’re now set to finish the house. And her dad and I finished the master bedroom.
Here’s the finished product (sans furniture, which we plan to move in tomorrow). Bear with me, the photos aren’t that great and I’ll take some more professional looking shots when the room is all set up.
Yesterday Andi and I visited Home Depot and picked out a few things for the house, officially kicking off the first big project of the year. We selected a nice rich brown natural hardwood floor, which will replace all carpet throughout the house, and we selected paint for the master bedroom, hallway, and living room.
So today I thought it would be neat to reminisce on the recent past. The past that was once our Master Bedroom.
We set up a little photo shoot last weekend so we could get a good before and after shot. Here’s the before:
Tonight we put down the first layer of paint on the walls and Andi painted the trim around the window and the door frames. We pulled off what trim we could along the floor.
The only hiccup was losing a tiny shard of glass in my thumb, which bled like crazy. Took me a while to realize it was still in there, and it hurt until I got it out.
The plan is as such: our new room will have a more subtle wall color, offset nicely by white trim and a strong brown floor. The bed will be replaced with an ancient-looking one that’s been painted a robin’s egg blue. The theme: old farmhouse.
Thus far, we’ve gotten rid of the following:
• Old bed frame
• Headboard (it’s actually a room divider)
• A few more books and DVDs
• Selections of clothes from the closet
Andi and I visited my childhood home in Vancouver over Christmas for a holiday with my family. This typically includes lots of cooking, loud meals, and plenty of laughing.
That an very early mornings.
To sleep in a little, we had the pleasure of staying in my parents’ Holiday Rambler, a 32-foot travel trailer with a dated floral interior.
As an experience, it was good. We found that we really didn’t need much space, that even trailers such as this come with plenty of storage, and that it wasn’t all that bad an arrangement.
Of course, the plumbing wasn’t connected so we could not experience the use of the facility or the kitchen; we just had power. Still, it seemed very doable.
With all the talk of tiny houses, one thing people fail to remember is that if you cannot afford to build it yourself at first, a quick and easy solution would be to start out in a travel trailer such as this.
It’s something I wouldn’t mind were I to have the adequate property to park it.
I am not one for New Years Resolutions. I would rather spend my time and efforts improving myself and my life year-round, as so many Resolutions go wayward once February hits.
But what I will say is that I have a few projects planned for 2012.
Since deciding to put off building our tiny house for a year or two, we’ve debated over whether to go as tiny as the previously planned 8 by 24 or buy an old small place to fix up (ideally under 700 square feet).
Either way, a big part of getting there will be selling the house we have, and in advance of doing that the place needs a bit of work.
Here are five projects we plan to tackle in 2012. As amateur handy-folk, we’ll surely cover the projects here as they will cover preparing a current home for downsizing into something smaller, as well as budgeting for self-completed home projects.
The list begins…
1. Interior Retrofit
The first and most extensive project will be the interior retrofitting. This will be time consuming and fairly costly, as it includes several elements. The plan is to go room to room, pulling off framing to paint it from the fake light wood it is to white, re-painting the walls with a fresh color palette, pulling up carpet, laying down bamboo floors and reinstalling the framing.
Note that as we hit each room, it will need to be emptied of stuff. What an opportune time to go through every single item we own and analyse its existence as an object we own!
2. Basement Door
As soon as spring hits and the weather becomes nice, we will add a door to the “basement.” No, we don’t really have a basement, but the house sits on a slope and the back comes off on what appears to be a second story. There is room to stand up under that part of the house and it’s already wired for electricity. It makes sense to put a secure (i.e. rodent proof) access point where the existing crawl space is located. This will also allow for yard equipment storage so we can fit both cars in the garage.
3. Yard Work
Our yard is a disaster. We have’t done anything with it other than mow the lawn. The previous owners did the same. So our steep slope continues to be covered in horsetails and weeds, and the area where we pulled out the previous owners’ poorly constructed deck and hot tub remains baren. To sell this place for a profit, we will need to make the yard at least presentable.
4. Stain the Fence
After ripping out that awful deck the previous owners built, we decided to move the fence up along the side of the house. Prior to this, it had enclosed only the back yard, making the side yard virtually unusable. Now, with much of the side hard enclosed, we have given the back yard a much more open appearance. But we never stained it, so it’s mis-matched. Giving it a single tone of stain and/or paint will help bring this project to a close.
5. Finish the Deck
When we removed the previous owners’ deck, remaining was a gaping hole left from the stairway down. We gave it a temporary fix, but it needs attention before we put the house on the market. The entire west side will need a new railing. Other than that we have all the parts needed to complete this project and my hope is that we can do so in advance of Project 4; it would be nice to re-stain the deck when we do the fence.
Hopefully we’ll be able to tackle these projects in 2012. Much will depend on funding; we certainly can afford all of them, it’s just a matter of feeling comfortable spending the money as frugal people don’t like to part with cash.
Here’s to a wonderful 2011 and a more prosperous, even happier 2012.
Side note, I’ve classified this post as both “Budgeting and Investing” (putting sweat equity into your home is a great way to increase its value, even in today’s housing market) and “Downsizing and Frugality” (as the bamboo floor project will continue this trend for us).
I’m not sure about you, but I’ve become a bit complacent about the wild ups and downs in the market of late. If you haven’t been paying attention over the last year, it’s just as apt to drop 2% as it is to do the opposite, and after experiencing this trend for seeral months, well, it’s just something I have come to expect. I tend to think, Well, here we go again when it drops, and feel less excited than I used to when it heads up.
So how can you take advantage of this?
I can see advantages here, if you play your cards right.
But first, a bit of a disclaimer. I am not a professional financial planner, nor have I been doing this for a long time. I invest for fun and for my future. I invest for the long-term. I also enjoy dividend stocks.
Last week I picked up shares of Church & Dwight Company (CHD) and General Electric (GE). I have limit orders on hand for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Steel Dynamics (STLD), and ArcelorMittal (MT).
So what’s my advice for anyone looking to enter the market in a position such as mine? Make sure to base your order on a limit, and set it at a reasonably low price.
I’d wager that, with the turbulent market, the selected stock will eventually hit that point. And if not, raise your limit a little.
The goal is to catch the stock on a down-market day, one of those wild 2 to 3 percent drops, and enjoy a little extra reward as the economy, and market, head north.
With the two limit orders that hit last Wednesday, followed by a rebound in the market on Thursday and a stagnant Friday, I am just about break even when considering the trade fee. Still, I’m in it for the long haul with companies I feel strongly about, and companies that also provide a solid track record for good dividends (all to be reinvested, of course).
What are your investment strategies? Any favorite picks of late? I’d like to know!
Andi and I were a bit concerned about making the trek down to Vancouver, WA for the Christmas holiday, in part because my parents can be a bit intense personality-wise, and partly because my family is very much about giving gifts.
With our goal of a reduced, minimized lifestyle, it was difficult to communicate to them that we didn’t really want much of anything, if anything at all. We made it clear that we were coming for the company, to enjoy family and each other.
It’s hard to get out of the habit of giving gifts for the holidays. We too brought down more for those around us, but we kept it simple. All the shopping was done at a single local place, and all of it was consumable goods. Having shopped at Rosabella’s Garden Bakery before, I found this a great local spot to introduce to the family.
And we received a few items, as well. They were targeted, geared toward our upcoming projects, what we really desired, and focused on things that we could actually use.
Among the list:
1. Gift Certificates.
From the brother and his fiance, my aunt, and father, we received gift cards for Lowe’s, Home Depot and Joann Fabric respectively. These are places we frequent for house projects and for Andi’s tailoring and alterations. Great and useful gifts.
2. 9″ Fiestaware Plates.
We recently decided to switch from the full-size 12″ dinner plates to Fiestaware’s 9″ lunch plates with the goal of eating less in mind. Having only a few at this size, asking for and receiving these was a great gift and gift idea.
3. Tool Bag.
Andi received a tool bag from my aunt. Knowing we were on the verge of building a tiny house, and now that we’ve put it off redoing the floors in our current house, this gift will definitely come in handy.
4. DVD Series.
Andi and I are quite particular about what we watch. We have a few TV series’ that we view over and over. For Christmas, I got her the third season of True Blood and she got me the sixth season of It’s Always Sunny. These will be watched several times over the next few years.
5. Bike Gear.
In honor of our STP bike ride, my dad got me a few bike attire items including handkerchiefs and a bike hat. Both will come in handy on long rides when sweat meets with sun block and the two make a beeline for my eyes.
Recap.
What we learned is that it’s good to have a few small things in mind, and make it clear that our changing lifestyle doesn’t make room for added trinkets and unnecessary stuff.
It was important to communicate to my family about our process of purging, unloading, and minimizing. Just as it was important for them to understand why that process is important to us and what it means to reduce our belongings.
But for those who enjoy shopping, having a desired item or two that they could give makes them feel as though they’re providing that holiday cheer. It’s just as important for them to give us something as it is for us to downsize.
(The above photo is of my dad in his chef outfit, ready to cook a tasty roast.)
What we’re learning of late is that living tiny doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a tiny house. It means not bringing things into the house you have. And it means thinking of alternate ways to save money.
The other week we made homemade laundry detergent, which has fared us quite well. That batch will last us ’til summer.
Last night we made hand soap.
If the laundry detergent recipe sounded easy, hand soap was simpler yet. All it took was four cups of water and a shredded bar of soap.
Add the two together and boil it on the stove until soap melts, then let it cool.
That’s about it. Super simple and it makes a decent supply for about $0.33!
Though our personal tiny house plans have been shelved for the time being, it does not mean we have lost our passion for the movement of frugality and minimalism.
And by no means have we let up on our desire for tiny budget living.
We as consumers spend a great deal of money each year on simple household items that are actually quite easy to make. Andi and I set out to discover this first-hand.
Over the next several months, I’m hoping to experiment with various recipes found online for the following products:
Last weekend, Andi and I tackled the first bullet: Homemade Laundry Detergent.
The recipe is simple, super inexpensive, and doesn’t take much time. I completed it in about 30 minutes and enjoyed a nice cup of tea in the process.
Homemade Laundry Detergent Ingredients
First, let me say this. You can use these ingredients to make either a powder detergent, or a liquid soap. We opted for the latter, and used a variation of the directions noted on The Family Homestead.
For powder, the ingredients are the same but recipe process is even simpler. Head over to DIY Natural for that process.
What you’ll need:
• 1 bar Ivory Soap
• 1 cup Borax Powder
• 1 cup Washing Soda
• 1 bucket (5 gallon)
• Approximately 3 gallons of water
Making Laundry Detergent
The directions, as noted above, are identical to what can be found on The Family Homestead. Thanks to them for the recipe!
1. Grate your soap.
2. Place 12 cups of water on the stove. Add soap shavings and heat until melted.
3. Add borax and washing soda and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.
4. Add 8 cups of hot water to your 5-gallon bucket, then add your soap mixture and stir. Add 2 gallons plus 12 cups of water and stir.
5. Let sit overnight to solidify.
Results
We deviated slightly from the above recipe and only added a single gallon plus 12 cups of water in step 4. This was a mistake, but not one that cost us the entire batch. It just solidified a lot more than we anticipated given its liquid state when we originally finished.
So we recommend following the steps we list above exactly. Still, the detergent works great and it costs a mere fraction of what you’d otherwise spend on generic detergent (not to mention brand name)!
Last weekend we visited Ferndale and checked out another trailer. Home-built from an RV, this one also had issues and it ultimately led to a tough decision. We will be putting off our tiny house plans for a year until a few things happen:
1. Until the housing market picks up.
Putting off the tiny house will allow us to do maintenance and work on our current house, which in all actuality isn’t large to begin with. Far from tiny, our 1100 square foot house is still well below average for a post year 2000 home.
We’ll give this place a good makeover with bamboo flooring, newly painted trim and walls, and a yard that isn’t nearly as painful to the eye.
It will also allow us to sell this house when the time comes for a profit. Big plus.
2. Until we have minimized enough.
Over the past six months, Andi and I have purged about 1/3 of our belongings. That may not seem like much, but it’s a significant chunk from what was once in this house.
We’re finding that as you continue to get rid of things, deciding what should go becomes a little harder. The stuff that remains is all stuff that has more attachments, emotional and monetary.
3. Until we have saved enough.
This has been a big year for us. We have saved a lot. And it feels good. What doesn’t feel good is the notion of dipping into that, even for the tiny house. It would be nice to feel comfortable enough with our finances to fund the project outright rather than piecemeal as we go.
There’s no way we will even consider getting a loan for it.
Conclusion
So what does this mean for Tiny Northwest? Well, the Our Tiny House category will probably be a bit vacant for a while, but we’ll try our best to keep up with posts about living frugally and budgeting smartly. I personally home to explore more of the Tiny House movement as it appears throughout the Northwest.
And we’re also planning to blog a bit on other money-saving, green ways of living. For one: in the next few weeks we plan to make our own laundry detergent for well under half the price of regular detergent. Expect to see coverage on that at some point.
Flipping through some photos from earlier this year, I stumbled across a few winter shots. The above shot is of our cozy home in the height of last year’s winter. Word is, it’s supposed to snow tomorrow. Makes me excited to walk to work…
The Tiny Life posted an article last week about Richard Heinberg, who in a video they post talks about peak oil and the coming economic localization.
He also shows the camera crew around his property, which is about 1/4 acre of sustainable living — Bermuda Grass has all been replaced with little gardens, a tiny house, and a chicken coup.
Here’s the video:
You may already know, but the concept of peak oil was one of many reasons I am choosing to downsize and join the tiny house movement.
Films like End of Surburbia and Collapse paint very different pictures of our future as it relates to what we currently view as the norm. Heinberg is featured in End of Surburbia talking about peak oil and sustainability.
In the above video, something Heinberg said struck me as precisely why a more frugal, sustainable lifestyle appeals to me:
“We’ve gotten used to levels of consumption that are not only environmentally unsustainable, they also don’t make us happy. They’ve, in fact, hollowed out our lives.
We’ve given up things that actually do give us satisfaction and pleasure so that we can work more and more hours to get more and more money with which to buy more and more stuff… more flat screen TVs, bigger SUVs, bigger houses. And it’s not making us happier.
Well guess what, it’s possible to downsize. It’s possible to use less, become more self sufficient, grow more of your own food, have chickens in your back yard, and become a happier person.”
Those three paragraphs sum up why I look forward to building our tiny house, moving in, and starting a new style of life that is so very different from that with which we are all so accustomed.
