Living in a tiny house is cheaper than buying a full-sized home or renting a huge apartment. However, the cost that comes with building a tiny house doesn’t always come cheap, given that it needs a sizeable investment on material, labor, and tools.
Fortunately, there are many ways to save money while building a small house, and that includes reducing the expenses on materials through the following:
1. Polish the planning
Before setting out to well-known door manufacturers and hardware stores in Melbourne, check your tiny house plans twice. Write down details as completely as you can, particularly measurements and how much material you need. In this way, you can buy an accurate amount of materials, including the buffer so you don’t have to go back to the store to buy more.
2. Look for discounts
When you buy materials in bulk, stores and suppliers are likely to give you a discount. However, don’t just go for the first seemingly good deal you stumble upon. Shop around. Look for better discounts and deals. As a rule of thumb, consider at least three options before deciding on your final one.
3. Use recycled materials
One of the best ways to keep material costs low is to use recycled materials. You can try finding recycled timber, furniture, and fixtures at junkyards, yard sales, flea markets, demolition sites, and even neighbors. Aside from saving money, you can also contribute to the recycling efforts of your community, which is one of the main goals of tiny house living that is to reduce waste.
4. Visit construction sites
Construction sites have a lot of building waste that can still be put to good use, such as plywood, cement, and bricks, just to name a few. The next time you see one, talk to the person in charge and ask if you can take some of their waste. Keep in mind that you would need you would likely have to transport the materials yourself, so bring a vehicle large enough and maybe a buddy to help you load and unload.
5. Measure twice
Cutting materials inaccurately leads to waste. To avoid this, measure twice before cutting each and every piece of material, including wood, plaster, and tiles.
6. Use cheaper material
Do you really need Brazilian walnut floorboards in your tiny house? Or marble tiles on your kitchen counter? These luxuries can make your tiny house look like a mansion, but they can also rack up your budget significantly. Therefore, it’s better to go with more affordable, yet good-quality options for materials that will do the job without blowing your budget.
7. Keep things simple
The key to making a tiny house comfortable is to keep things minimalist. By having a simple design and floor plan, you can make your tiny house feel spacious enough and save money on materials, as well as furniture, labor, fixtures, and other building costs.
Cutting costs and reducing waste are two key points in tiny house living, which is why it’s important to keep expenses low from the get-go. When building your tiny house, keep these things in mind to save money and make room for other expenses.
