Put Your Life on a Diet: Living the Simple Life

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Gregory Paul Johnson, with fiancee Makur Jain, lives in a tiny house. Photo By Alan Stoker

I live in a home of 140 square feet. It doesn’t have a furnace, air conditioner, refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer/dryer, vacuum cleaner, blender, disposal or other common home appliances. For most of my commuting, I walk or rely on a bicycle. My small home is completely off the electrical and water grids. Most people would say this is an impossible way to live, but the truth is, my transition to a simpler life has made me happier and healthier than I have ever been.

In 2001, I read about Jay Shafer, who at the time was living in a 10-by-14-foot home he built on a trailer. Shafer constructed the home using residential-grade materials and insulation for economical year-round habitation—something most RVs and camper trailers lack. This fusion of camper and house intrigued me.

In 2003, I needed a change. It didn’t make sense to rent a small apartment, never putting money toward owning a home. I imagined myself 30 years down the road, having spent thousands of dollars on rent with nothing to show for it. Once I stopped and thought about where my money was going, I began looking at my options for purchasing a small house or condo.

I discovered that, while efficiency apartments exist, efficiency condos are not as readily available. Local housing codes have made it illegal to build a small "efficiency house," deeming such a dwelling uninhabitable even though the same-size dwelling as an apartment is legal. Basically, I wanted the option to own a simple room like the one I was renting.

I felt strongly that it was important to be part of the small-house community and reduce my environmental footprint. I worked closely with Jay Shafer on the custom design of my house plans, and within three months I had built my home.

More time, more money

Living in my compact home for the last several years, I’ve learned that, as my living space became smaller, my freedom expanded both in terms of finances and free time. This increase in time and money has affected every area of my life.

I lost about 100 pounds, after having been overweight for almost a decade. The weight loss was the result of working less, sleeping more, having more time to exercise and replacing my car with a bike. I also now have extra money to join a gym and make healthier eating choices.