Her Tiny Home on Social Security: No Loft, No Stairs, No Mortgage

Her Social Media Links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/718115571384647 Her Builder: https://bit.ly/3TK2L9X Her Community: https://bit.ly/4u4Kvs9 Check out our other social media platforms! https://linktr.ee/tinyhometours Join our newsletter for all things living tiny! https://bit.ly/THT-Newsletter Take our quiz to find what tiny is right for you - https://bit.ly/tinyhomequiz Interested In Being Featured On The Channel? : https://bit.ly/THTTourApplication VIDEO DESCRIPTION: In 2023, Sarah Montgomery had open heart surgery. It did not go as planned. She came out of it with serious complications and a clarity she did not expect: she was going to go tiny. She had already been researching it before the surgery. After it, she knew. She knew she wanted to come home to her people. Her church, her friends, her family, her safe place. She wanted something affordable, something she could manage on her own, something that fit this season of her life. She had a three-bedroom, two-bath subdivision home and she sold it. She took the proceeds, paid cash for a tiny home, kept the rest in savings, and has not had a mortgage since. Her best friend was her biggest supporter. They drove up every weekend from Temple to the Fort Worth area and walked through tiny homes. Eventually they found a company in Mansfield. Sarah stepped inside one of the homes and knew. She made a few changes, chose her upgrades, and the total came to $84,000. She was the first resident in the park she chose. The owner worked with her directly to make it right. She has been here two years. People who visit still say the same thing every time: it feels so much bigger than she said it would. The living room opens up because Sarah chose not to do a loft. No stairs was a practical decision, and it also gave her the high open ceiling that makes the room feel twice its size. The TV was already built in. She found slim-line furniture, used a file cabinet as an end table, and made it work. She has had four grown grandchildren and their families here at Christmas. It accommodates what she needs. The kitchen is her favorite room. Large island that handles eating, entertaining, and sewing without needing a separate dining table. Abundant cabinetry throughout — visitors are consistently surprised by how much storage she has. Electric stove, built-in microwave, full refrigerator. Extended counter for canning and jelly making. Upper cabinets for seasonal storage. The bathroom has a walk-in shower with a full glass door. The original build had a pony wall; Sarah had it removed. No bathtub by choice: at this stage of life, stepping over a tub is a hazard she did not want. Grab bars throughout. Extended countertop. Extra storage cabinet for towels and supplies. The bedroom is her peaceful place. A dear friend built a custom bed for her, sized exactly for her height. Two closets with barn doors she specifically asked for. A door she had added from the bedroom out to the back patio so she can step outside for coffee first thing in the morning. The community is part of why this works. Sarah did not want to be alone. She wanted people close enough to check on and to check on her. Her neighbor next door has called for help when Sarah needed it. People walk the paths and stop to talk. There is a clubhouse for Bible study and gatherings. She sits on the porch and the community comes to her. She is on social security. She knows exactly what her bills will be every month. Lot rent and electric. Nothing else. Two years in, she has not regretted a single part of it. . . . THE NUMBERS Sq ft: 399 Home price: ~$84,000 (cash, includes all upgrades) Mortgage: None Lot rent: $650/month Previous home: 3-bedroom, 2-bath subdivision home Time in home: 2 years Community: Park near Fort Worth, TX . . . HER ADVICE "You do have to look for your furniture in special places. You have to think outside the box. You're not going to want big overstuffed furniture in here. Go to a furniture store that has apartment size furniture, or pick slim line stuff. Think different for your end tables. And life is what you make it. If you make it a good day, that's what it's going to be." Check out our other social media platforms! https://linktr.ee/tinyhometours Join our newsletter for all things living tiny! https://bit.ly/THT-Newsletter Take our quiz to find what tiny is right for you - https://bit.ly/tinyhomequiz Interested In Being Featured On The Channel? : https://bit.ly/THTTourApplication SHOT BY: https://www.instagram.com/brian_bear_butler/ EDITED BY: https://www.instagram.com/filmbro_/ TINY HOME TOURS LINKS: Business Inquiries - [email protected] Subscribe - https://www.youtube.com/c/TinyHomeTours Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Tinyhome.tours/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tinyhometours/ Newsletter : https://bit.ly/THT-Newsletter Podcast : https://bit.ly/tinyhometourspodcast Apply for a tour : https://bit.ly/THTTourApplication