I built my tiny home on my own for under $12k

SETTLING down in your first home can be an expensive endeavor, but one tiny house enthusiast found a way to build her own for just under $12,000.

In 2011, Macy Miller started designing and constructing her 196 square foot tiny house that would soon become home to her husband, two children, and Great Dane.

While she had only planned on living inside the tiny house for two years, Miller and her family have lived in the well-planned Idaho home ever since.

Built on a 24-foot-long gooseneck trailer, the home features a galley kitchen with a burner stovetop and oven as well as a double sink.

The bedroom fits a queen-sized bed with the stairs leading up to it doubling as storage for the family.

There is plenty of room for a living area in the tiny house, as the Miller family installed a bookshelf and television.

The home also features a large pantry and washer and dryer combo space for easy access to food and laundry.

While the original design only featured one bedroom, the porch is able to close and create a second bedroom for children or guests.

By the time she finished construction in May 2013, Miller spent a total of $11,416.16 on the original home.

This accounted for everything between work clothes, concrete, drill bits, paint, appliances, electrical tools, lights, a ceiling fan, plumbing fixtures, and more.

Since moving in, costs have remained fairly constant and low.

During colder winter months, the family typically spends around $50 on utility bills and only $8 per month during warmer seasons, according to TinyHousePlans.

Miller, a teacher and architectural designer, has her entire budget listed with item descriptions and the dates she made the purchases on her website.

However, if other tiny home enthusiasts are looking to model their own house after hers, they should expect to spend at least another $10,000.

Miller revealed that her family saved approximately $5,940 on construction costs due to donated and discounted materials, and other sponsors.

If someone were to replicate her exact home purchasing all of the used items, she estimated it would cost around $22,000 to 25,000.

"My lumber was essentially donated, it was left overs from a job site that I asked about, all of it cost me ~ $300," Miller revealed on her website. "Killer deal!"

Ultimately, Miller and her family added an addition to the tiny home, bringing their final costs to just under $13,000.

"Indeed, this space has been a powerful part of my life in the recent years, and it continues to inspire me to live a life of adventure and family," Miller has said about the home.

In 2017 and 2018, the Miller family temporarily downsized to an 84 square foot camper to travel across the United States.

Then in May 2019, the family purchased a plot of land in North Idaho to settle down and start a little homestead.