Stigmatising Downsizing

Here on the East Coast of Australia, the modern, eco choice of living small has well and truly taken hold. The benefits abound. Affordability and reduced living costs, better for the environment with less energy usage, ease of maintenance and a generally simpler life. But as more people adopt this lifestyle they are noticing that there are stigmas and myths surrounding tiny home living. 

So what are these myths and is there any truth to them? We talked to small home dweller Jack Owens about his experiences. 

The Home

While tiny homes are often mobile and can be hitched caravan style to a car, not all small homes are like this. The Granny Flat boom has meant thousands of people are buying or building kit granny flats. A quick Gumtree search (check out these granny flats in Newcastle!) will land you among a gaggle of granny flats for rent in your area. And if they are not already on Airbnb, then trendy studios are available attached to Sydney city homes. The potential rental income has far outweighed the extra storage space for homeowners. 

Myth #1: Small living is for young renters only

Heck no! For many, living in small homes is a deliberate choice often with the intention to reduce your carbon footprint. Jack Owens is a home owner in Long Jetty on the Central Coast of NSW. Rather than lease out a granny flat for income he and his wife decided to live small making the main house available for rent. This means a much bigger investment return that pays his mortgage off much quicker and wither out the nine-to-five slog. 

Myth #2 You have to be young with no dependents

Again this myth is…. can I say busted? Our hero Mr Owens and his wife have two daughters aged five and one. They make use of the outdoors more often which is extremely healthy for the kids. “ For thousands of years families have lived in close quarters and it’s only been in the last hundred years or less than what is accepted as a family home as become a four-bedroom house, with three bathrooms and a games room.” Let’s face it, who doesn’t want their kids to get outside more?

Myth #3 You live like a monk

Jack Owens laughs this one off…. He admits he is the biggest Netflix/Stan junkie out there and like most parents, he and his wife are always brainstorming how to get their eldest off her device. 

While they share a bedroom and ensuite with their kids they have the luxury of a king-size bed. Their kitchen has Miele 900mm gas oven and cooktop. And their living room is easily converted into a home theatre with a data projector. It’s true you do live with less stuff, but that’s part of the appeal. You are forced to get rid of the stuff that doesn’t matter, and you are less stressed about your belongings. No, not so monk like. Although they do have chickens and grow their own veggies. “Does that count?” asks Jack.

Myth #4 You are probably pretentious, anti-establishment, anti-vaxing, vegan neo-hippies

Tiny home livers are often pegged in this category. Subcultures seem to frighten people. It can be pretty uncomfortable when people confront your way of life, even if that was never their intention. And downsizing is definitely confronting to some people. Jack Owens is no hippy with his skinny jeans, no vegan with his hibachi grill (ok, maybe a little bit hippy) and certainly not pretentious. “My parent’s may think I’m anti-establishment but my MacBook and phone say otherwise!” 

As it turns out, not all tiny home owners are quirky Wes Anderson characters.