It's no secret that we're pretty new to this tiny living thing. In the last few months, we have learned that it pays to be creative in how you use space, where you store things and how to keep warm in the wintertime.
Here are a few tips that you can add to your Tiny Tips Jar:
Use Your Car as Your Second Home
It doesn't matter how big your car is, it's a great resource for storing items that may not fit in your tiny home.
She's called Smokey because she's not so good for the environment but she also can smoke most cars her size on mountain drives.
(This photo was taken a few years ago when I moved from Chicago to Denver and only brought with me what could fit in this car.)
Since I am using a local gym or yoga studio as my shower and dressing room, it's been nice to have extra towels and toiletries in my car in case I forget something.
Pat yourself on the back when you find an extra pair of shoes or some snack items in your car when you don't have time to run home.
Toiletry Refills
Running out of shampoo, conditioner or body wash? Taking a drop-in yoga or other workout class may work in your favor.
I go to a yoga studio a few times a week to refill liquids for my toiletry bottles, stock up on Q-tips or mouthwash. I try to use organic or biodegradable products, so I only try to do this when I may not have time to run to the store.
Don't Become the Bag Lady Or Bag Man
On an everyday basis, having everything you need in one spot will most likely lower your stress level in the long run.
Who is that crazy bag lady? Yeah, I'm not with her.
Before purchasing a new gym bag, I would sometimes carry three or four bags with me just to go to shower. Instead of working harder to make sure you grabbed everything you need, let the bag do the work for you.
For me, I knew I needed a bag with several compartments (one that separated workout clothes from professional clothes), a place for my yoga mat and water bottle and one that could also double as a traveling bag for road trips.
After extensive research, I found a great one at REI. Now that I don't use my backpacking pack anymore as my storage bag, I no longer look like I'm taking an epic hike to work in the morning.
Store Everyday Items in your Purse or Bag
It's hard to see (but that's kind of the point!). A few jewelry pieces are stored inside my purse. You may think they'd get tangled up in there, but so far so good!
Every night before I go to bed, I take off my jewelry that I wore that day. I used to put it in the bathroom, but what I found was that I would forget it because I wasn't getting ready in there in the mornings. Now I place my jewelry in a zipper in my purse and put it on when I get to work.
I also keep phone chargers and extra hair ties in my purse as well.
Live Like a God/Goddess for a Day
Along those lines, a yoga studio or a nicer gym for a day can feel like you're on cloud 9. That may seem crazy, I know, but when you don't use high-pressurized showers or have access to toiletries and amenities, it can feel luxurious. It's nice to leave some of your toiletries at home because the local gym or studio will provide it all for you.
Coolers are Great Temporary Refrigerators/Freezers
We have a mini fridge/freezer in the camper trailer and often we run out of room for food storage. The fall is a perfect time to use a cooler as food storage. Place it outside your home at night and grab it in the morning. Just make sure to remember to refreeze the ice packs between long uses.
Water + Rocks = Warmth
I thought Greg was a tad bit crazy for this one. One day I walked into the camper trailer and there were piles of rocks and jugs of water placed all over the floor. One hundred and forty square feet is tight enough and now we have all this other stuff to step over? Are you kidding me?
Turns out rocks and water absorb heat from an area and will release it slowly when they cool down. Who knew?
Sleeping Bags and Furry friends can Double as Blankets
Blaize is the best little spoon around. Sorry Greg!
The coolest part about this trick is that you can feel like you're camping, but instead of being too cold, you're tucked inside your tiny home. Use a sleeping bag for some extra padding or as a blanket on colder nights.
Pets make great electric blankets. Grab your furry friend and cuddle up. It's much cheaper than buying an electric blanket.
Use Electric Timers for Lights and/or Space Heaters
You may not want to run a space heater all day to keep your tiny house warm while you're gone. Schedule an electric timer to turn on a heater for you while you're gone so that your house gets toasty just a few hours before you return.
If you have more than one space heater, timers are a great way to coordinate different heaters so they distribute the temperature in different areas and keep your pipes from freezing.
With extra insulation, it can be quite dark in the mornings. Trying to wake up can be rough. Setting a timer for lights to go on when your alarm goes off is a great way to help wake yourself up.
Greg's Bonus Tip: Tie your Socks in Knots
Yep, you heard the guy. Apparently, he has a sock problem. After wearing a pair of socks to the gym, he sometimes can't remember if it's fresh pair or if it's a pair that needs to be washed. So what does he do? He ties his socks in "knots" to indicate that he should not wear them until he washes them. That way if he stumbles across a few socks in his gym bag, he knows which ones are clean.
To this I say, just toss your dirty pairs in the laundry hamper! But, I have to say I laugh every time I stumble across a pair of socks tied in a knot. It's about the same humor to me as finding a sock on the door. Greg, you win for your crazy sock tip!