Greenimalist

Self-sufficiency is about taking care of your basic needs all by yourself. As with any lifestyle, there’s a broad spectrum of what it means to be self-sufficient. Some people are content to simply grow their own vegetables and cook their meals from scratch. Others generate their own electricity, collect their own rainwater, and live without gasoline. The totally self-sufficient person, however, can survive entirely apart from human civilization. He does everything himself, from building his own shelter to making his own furniture to growing his own wheat. (more…)

Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions of life. So it’s odd that we usually approach this weighty issue, not with sound financial logic, but with human emotion and pride. All too often, home ownership has less to do with our need for shelter than it does with our need to keep up with the Joneses. Houses become status symbols of stability, success, and prestige. (more…)

Tiny houses save you money and simplify your life. (Photo by Tumbleweed Tiny House Company)

I’ve been dreaming about purchasing a Tumbleweed house (1) for about 4 months now.  My interest in small homes began last year, after I quit college to start my own company.  I wasn’t wealthy, so I had to be creative in saving money.  By far, rent was the greatest expense in my budget, using about 60% of my income each year.  I quickly realized that the smaller my house, the smaller my bill, and the more time and energy that I could spend on starting my business. (more…)