Living in 500 sq ft – Reasons to Live Simply
We enjoyed living a simple and minimal lifestyle in a 500 sq ft studio apartment because of many reasons.
Could you live in 500 sq ft?!
We did for over three years before moving into a small 744 sq ft fixer upper we bought in 2020, which we’re still working to renovate on our own.
When we moved to Texas we were on the hunt for a small place to live and if you haven’t heard, everything is bigger in Texas, so that posed a bit of a challenge. At the time, we moved back to the states from Korea, where we had been living for several years. We lived in about a 200 sq ft studio apartment in Korea and believe it or not, lived very comfortably.
We spent a lot of time living outdoors and yet our small studio was still cozy when we wanted to just stay at home to watch movies and relax.
Living in 500 sq ft or a small space is not for everyone and it really depends on your own personal goals. And living simply does not necessarily mean living small. It’s just the way we choose to live simple and minimal lives.
Living in 500 sq ft
Our 500 sq ft~ish studio apartment had everything we needed and even allowed us to host up to three overnight guests at one time! I suppose living overseas in small dwellings helped us to continue this journey of a simple and minimal lifestyle.
I took these photos of our studio apartment the day we were moving out. As you can see, our bedroom, office, and living room were all in one area. Then we had our kitchen including laundry area. And finally our bathroom. That’s it! That’s the full tour!
why we chose to live in such a small space (500 sq ft)
There are several reasons why we chose to live in such a small space. Let’s be real for a minute.. First of all, it’s cheaper to live in a smaller space! We wanted to save as much money as possible and decided to find the smallest place to rent to achieve that goal. And really, living in a smaller space also means having less room to fill with more stuff. Again, another way to save more money!
One saying that I know is so cliché but really resonates with me is, less is more. It’s true! Less to spend, less to clean, less to maintain, less to worry about, which can ultimately lead to more financial freedom and opportunities!
You can also watch a video about this here.
3 reasons to live simply and minimally
- More Money
- Less Worry
- More Freedom
Let’s dive into these in more detail.
1. More Money
When you live more simply, you have a better chance to save more money since you will likely have less expenses and bills. It’s essentially cheaper and more affordable to live this lifestyle.
Having more money can be a blessing for sure as you will have the ability to make more choices with it. Maybe it’s to pay off that lingering credit card or student loan debt. Perhaps you’ve been thinking it’s time to invest in a home and now you are able to start saving for a down payment.
In 2019 we challenged ourselves to live off of one income. By the end of the year, I calculated that we spent about 55% of our total combined income. At the time we didn’t know what we were saving for, but just wanted to save more money and live more simply.
One beautiful sunny day on December 15, 2019, we found ourselves driving to an open house to check out a listing on a very small house my hubby had been admiring for months. We had no serious intentions and were not even actively looking for a house. Long story short, we put in an offer and closed on the house in February 2020. Having that extra money that we purposed to save really did come in handy.
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
2. Less Worry
You will have less to worry about, such as things and debt. You will have less clutter and stuff to deal with. There is also less to clean and maintain, which is another bonus in my opinion!
I don’t know about you, but I hate to clean and I don’t like clutter. We live in a historic district and love admiring the beautiful craftsman and victorian homes in our neighborhood. We daydream about living in some of them at times, but usually what snaps me out of it is the thought of, “Who on earth would be the one to clean the house and maintain it if something were to break or needed to be replaced?”
They still are beautiful to admire, but then it’s a relief to come back to our small 744 sq ft minimal traditional house and relax.
Matthew 6:25
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
3. More Freedom
You will have the financial freedom and ability to give, travel, and bless others. The possibility of opportunities are endless when you are free. That is something we are currently aspiring to daily.
That’s why we are Journey Down The Road. We are still not sure where the road will lead us next and we want to be open to the possibilities. Ultimately, we want to be free to make spontaneous decisions where ever it makes sense.
For now, we are enjoying the journey of dwelling, but will be ready to hit the road again, when the opportunity presents itself.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Acts 20:35
I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
What do you think?
If you live in a small space and have other reasons to share why, let us know in the comments!
And if you don’t live in a small space, but also desire to live a more simple and minimal lifestyle, let us know why in the comments as well!
I hope that you are inspired to consider the benefits of living more simply.
Check out videos from Hawaii and Korea where we also lived in tiny and small spaces!
Love how you broke down all the reasons why. Very compelling.
Thank you! I’m sure there are more reasons out there as well! 😍
We lived in a 500 square foot house for awhile, and I totally agree with these points you made about the benefits of living in a small space! I especially loved that it was so easy to clean and keep up with! haha.
You did?! So awesome! That’s a really small house. We love tiny houses too! 🥰
My husband and I shared a 500 square foot living many years ago. And I agree, small space living has a lot of advantages—less space to fill with stuff, lower utility bills, less cleaning, and fewer upcoming demands were among them. All excellent points you’ve made in your post. Although I’m very thankful for our current home, I sometimes find myself reminiscing about out little old shared abode. Thanks for sharing our story and these useful tips.
Oh, I love to hear about other small space living stories! Sounds like it was a memorable experience for y’all! Thanks for sharing 😍