Going Tiny: Living Simpler and the Benefits for Military Families

By: Jason M. Jowers, M.S. MFT

When searching for our first home, my wife and I made a list of “must haves” and established a budget. It was important for us to have a house that fit our short term needs, while honoring our long term goals. Having always viewed our parents’ homes as our “home base,” we considered what it would look like to go “tiny.”

So what makes a house considered “tiny”? A tiny home can be described as any home smaller than 500 square feet. This trend has been going on for several years now and has been a great alternative for those who want both personal and financial freedom.

Families across the globe are going tiny and it may benefit some military families to get in on the action! Imagine for a moment, your family just received orders to PCS. Your next adventure is about to begin, in a new city a couple hundred miles away. In true seasoned home-makers fashion, your family prepares for the big transition. Indulge me in imagining a “move” where you can take your house with you.

Tiny living is not avant-garde for military families. This blog, from military spouse Lauren Lomsdale, describes the adventure of trading in 4,500 square feet for a micro home and embracing military-family-friendly-tiny living. Lauren shares, “Although I loved our beautiful 4,500-square-foot home nestled in the backwoods of Virginia, I can say for certain now that I wouldn’t go back. Bigger doesn’t always mean better, and in military life I feel like having less stuff is the way to go. After all, that means you just have less boxes to unpack at your next duty station.”

Decreasing your unpacking time isn’t the only advantage to going tiny. Going “tiny” could help military families:

• Save money
• Cultivate togetherness
• Have more time for all the little things

The tiny house movement has not only caught on for active duty military families, but also for veteran communities looking for stable housing.

One tiny house nation that has caught the attention of many, is the community built by the Veterans Community Project, offering stability for more than fifty unhoused veterans in Kansas City, MO.

While my wife and I found a home that is not technically considered “tiny,” we are still pursuing an intentionally simpler life.  Tiny living may not be feasible for everyone – but the essence of tiny living can bring families closer together no matter where you live or how much square footage you have. The “tiny” movement has gained quite a bit of traction in the United States, particularly for individuals and families, looking to downsize. Many tiny homes pack a punch and include all the modern conveniences and even the aesthetic of a regular home. The possibilities are endless for military families looking to go tiny.

For more info on life events, such as home-buying and relocation, tune into our archived webinar,  “Financial Planning for Life Events.” This webinar is part our OneOp Family Finances Series in which CEU opportunities are still available.

Also, you can watch the recording for “Home Is Where Your Heart Is“, another OneOp webinar related to relocation transitions for military families with kids. This webinar is part of our larger Kids Serve Too Series, in collaboration with Sesame Street for Military Families. CEUs are available for this programming as well.