Thoreau's cabin redux: tiny homes and happiness

Founder of the Tiny Tumbleweed House Company, Jay Shafer, explains how his small home keeps him happier and how his lifestyle differs from Thoreau's 19th century simple life.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• tiny home
• microhome
• green building
• green home
• downsizing
• home size
• tumbleweed tiny house
• thoreau
• happiness

[JayTsunDayVis]

When you use the bathroom, how you get rid of the waste?

[kirstendirksen]

@JayTsunDayVis It all depends on whether you choose to hookup to sewage services. You can either hook up to septic or sewer and use a regular flush toilet. Or try to go off the grid and use a composting or incinerating toilet.

[strafer]

What do one of these costs?

[kirstendirksen]

@strafer Built about $45,000. Or you can buy plans for about $700 and build it yourself.

[neVLOGin]

@kirstendirksen where could i find such plans? do the plans cost 700 or does the finished product cost 700

[kirstendirksen]

@neVLOGin The plans cost around $700. Finished product around $45K (tumbleweedhouses . com). Though you can do it for much cheaper. Also interviewed a woman who built her own house on wheels out of trash and craigslist finds. I call it DIY home for less than $3500 youtube.com/watch?v=UB-MhZkYVo­8 Though really she only spent for the used trailer.

[jobirgheidi]

Jay Shafer. You are an inspiration to all !!!

[jobirgheidi]

Jay Shafer. You are an inspiration to all !!!

[alemanfamily]

@MickScarborough. Then dont buy it. Why leave a stupid comment like that. No one asked you or is forcing you to buy it.

[tomificationable]

This looks fun.

[guitargeek1122]

what if i wanted to put one on a trailer but I built it on the ground?

[budlight571]

Don't think ppl are getting it.. Sucks really ... I think building it yourself is a lot better then buying it off them.. That would only cost you $20,000 less then half.. So it really is a good deal...

[alexglenny]

If he really cared about space he would buy a kindle and get rid of them books.....

[dydypig]

i want this house^^ is so great

[MrOhjok]

@MickScarborough Agree. This is a noble endeavor with an astronomical price tag. One can build a nice 2 bedroom cabin for $15,000. Way too much money.

[MrOhjok]

Building plans can be had free from sources such as libraries, internet, etc. The end price is much to high. I have immense respect for the goal here, but $45,000 is extreme. Wood is not very expensive, insulation and glass also are affordable. Too much money for an ideal that seeks to get away from much; consumerism, profit, etc. There are less expensive ways.

[MickScarborough]

45k for that is unbelievable. You can buy 2 bedroom homes for that. That size cabin is worth no more than 7k and the plans for it are worth no more than $40.

[guitargeek1122]

how can you fit a bed in or out if one breaks?