Though we all know we should have a retirement plan, not everyone is able to make it happen.
In fact, “go with the flow” seems to be the norm these days. With such a rocky economy and expenses piling up left and right, it can be pretty challenging to set up a retirement fund and really commit to building it. But there are some dedicated individuals like Michelle “MJ” Boyle who refuse to waste time.
So when an opportunity to save up for an affordable place to live in presented itself, MJ took it without hesitation. As a single mother of two, things aren’t always easy for MJ. Imagine having to pull double duty while staying on top of things like running a household, paying the bills, you name it.
But, because single moms are incredible, MJ pulled through.
She even managed to build a charming home for herself, a place she calls “her empty nest”.
“My life has been a series of unfortunate events. I have been divorced twice. I have built two houses and I lost the houses basically in the carnage of my divorces.”
MJ didn’t have retirement money and her kids were going off to college. So she decided it was time to act.
Her game plan wasn’t just to build a tiny house. She decided to do things differently because of how her previous attempts worked out.
Not only that, but she also came up with a plan to generate income.
“I built my first house, this house, basically using cash and sponsorships to make sure that I have a paid-for nice, comfortable house when I retire. Now I’m building a few more tiny houses that I look forward to renting like on Airbnb or a try it tiny or other VRBO kind of platforms and create some income so, that’s next.”
A year before MJ was able to make her dream of building a tiny home for herself come true, she was actually paying $1,600 a month for a home she was renting in Sherwood, Oregon. Because of renting, she was never able to save up and lived from paycheck to paycheck. As her kids prepared to transition to college, MJ took that as her cue to make a change.
She started by cutting down on expenses and eventually joined the Tiny House Movement, an architectural and social movement aimed at encouraging more people to live a simpler life in a smaller space. Tiny house living has successfully reduced the financial and emotional burdens of people from all walks of life.
It was a great way for MJ to let her creative juices flow, too.
From paying $1,600 monthly to living in a charming house with only $75 in monthly expenses, MJ is more than happy with the change she made.
Transitioning from renting to owning a small home, and consequently being able to save up to build even more homes is definitely a bold move. Fortunately, MJ took the risk, did the work, and is now enjoying the benefits of joining the tiny house movement.
Take a tour of MJ’s home by watching the video below.
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