Recently, I have been obsessed with tiny houses. I constantly watch videos on YouTube that take you on a tour inside these homes. Some of these homes are really tiny. Some houses are luxurious, with various additions that make you go, “Why do you have that big-ass refrigerator in such a tiny kitchen?!”

Living in Japan, though, makes you realize that you are living in a tiny home. Currently, we live in an apartment that is 50 meters squared. We have two bedrooms, a small, but workable kitchen, a bathroom and a small living room. When I first got to Japan, I hated our small space. It felt too cramped. However, I’ve grown to absolutely love our small, cosy home. It is just right. I can fit all the things that I need and want in the spaces. You also learn to make do with things that you don’t need. A lot of tiny home owners feel this way about their houses. All the homes are filled with essentials, and every space has a purpose.

I love this idea of maximizing what you have. This skill of being able to determine what you really need versus what you think you want is critical on your path to wealth and financial freedom. When you know what you really want and need, you learn to curate your things and just live with the necessities and don’t waste time and money on things that you don’t need.

But the common theme about these homes is that they are affordable.  I am in love with the idea of paying for a house up front without having to worry about recurring mortgage payments. When you have a house that is already paid for, you don’t really need to stress too much about the money to pay for this month’s mortgage. I think this is why I am drawn to these videos because it gets to the core of financial freedom. When you can buy things without worry and you have the freedom to do what you want with your time, then you are a success. You spend less time working and chasing the dollars (or yen) just so you can pay for stuff. Instead, you can focus your time and energy doing the things you love. You also get to spend more time with the people who enrich your life.

A lot of the people also mention they love the freedom of uprooting and traveling to different places. That is also one of my dreams. I would love to travel to different countries and different areas just to explore new experiences and new things. While most people want the stability of the familiar, I am drawn to new places because I am always curious about things I don’t know about. With a tiny house, you can do both. You can have a place to call home in the physical house, but you can also move to a new location to satisfy your curiosity. That is amazing, and I want to explore this alternative lifestyle.

Right now, though, as I write this post in my cosy apartment, I dream of a small place that I own free and clear. And since I don’t have to worry about a home, I now have a lifestyle free of work obligations. I’m only working on the things that give me joy. With that goal in mind, I am more than ever determined to achieve financial freedom