Managing debt, especially coming from your student loans, can be challenging, stressful, and debilitating.
Jocelyn and Jarvis know exactly how that feels.
View this post on Instagram
The couple had just finished college and were about to launch themselves into the world. But one day, when they tallied up the finances they need to cover, they were faced with a sobering reality.
The couple has $96,000 from student loans and credit cards.
In order to pay off their debts in 20 months, they need to change their lifestyles drastically. They had to cut off spending on leisure and move to a small one-bedroom apartment.
View this post on Instagram
They also changed jobs, shopped second-hand, and froze their credit cards. They only used cash in their transactions and followed their budget strictly.
After paying all their debts, they were struck with a realization.
They realized that spending within their means and minimizing costs on things they can afford to downsize offered them more options and possibilities.
When they had their daughter, the couple decided to move into a more permanent home. However, finally experiencing the liberating feeling of being debt-free, the couple just didn’t like the idea of getting a mortgage.
Instead, they built themselves a tiny house.
The couple knew they wanted to live small. They also considered the reality of moving away from their city in the future. They had to think creatively.
Jocelyn dreamt of living in a tiny house before but that was when she was still single.
However, when their friend sold them their tiny home, Jocelyn thought it was a sign. Jarvis wasn’t sold with the idea at first but Jocelyn was able to convince him to make the move.
With little construction experience under their belts, they started working on the tiny house. A project they thought would take 4-5 months was finished in 14 months.
Their tiny house is unbelievable.
First off, it has a porch and a deck where their family can spend quality outdoor time together. One of the things that the couple made sure of was that they’d have a separate kids’ room.
The room has a lot of storage and a fairly big bed. It also has two big windows that let in a lot of natural light. Meanwhile, the couple’s bed is a queen-sized mattress on the loft above the kitchen area.
They also employed a lot of space-saving solutions.
They use propane tanks mainly for heating and cooking. They also have a composting toilet so they wouldn’t have to fit the toilet tanks inside the bathroom.
Meanwhile, their kitchen has all the amenities they need like a stove, refrigerator, and sink. It has enough surface space to work on especially when preparing meals.
They also have access to amenities that no other houses have.
They have access to a community garden where they get to plant seeds for increased self-sufficiency. They also have a spot to place chickens in.
Finally, they have access to a pond and a tree house where the kids can play in. The couple plans to move eventually when their kids grow up and they intend to keep their off-grid lifestyle when the time comes.
Watch to see the house this couple moved into after paying $96,000 of debt.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
