Could You Live in 500 Square Feet? Um, Yes!

With the financial crisis hitting everyone and every budget, tiny homes are looking better with every passing moment. According to Jay Shafer, founder of Tumblewood Tiny House Company, his 100 square foot home costs just $65 in utilities each year. Although 100 square feet is a bit of an extreme, there are quite a few spatially sound options for smaller families.

My favorite? This origami-inspired apartment in Barcelona. At just 49 square meters (which totals around 527 square feet), the futuristic space houses just one wall to divide the space. With minimalist decor and diagonal elements, the space feels much bigger than it is.

There are tremendous benefits to living small, both for the budget and the mind. According to NPR, the average American home has more than doubled since 1950, now boasting 2,349 square feet. Says John Halsey, president of the Peconic Land Trust, "I worry about the future of a culture and a society that has this extent of excess in it. I think there is a disconnect, and we are in a bubble."

I couldn't agree more. My husband and I moved from a sprawling townhome in Los Angeles to a tiny Midwest bungalow a little over six months ago. Although there were many adjustments to be made, we both noted that leaving the excess behind was the best decision we had made in our lives thus far. Our blood pressures has dropped, commitments have been simplified and priorities immediately came into perspective.

In other words, living within our means has, in some respects, improved our relationship with each other and the world around us. And if that means tiny homes forever, I say, "Yes, please."