$515 a Month and a Stronger Marriage. Their Tiny Story.
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Website: http://www.ussaccounting.com
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Facebook: / uwe.schilli.5
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VIDEO DESCRIPTION:
After 3.5 years downsizing from a 2,500 sq ft house to a one-bedroom condo, Sonya and Uwe took the final leap into tiny home living, and their lot lease (including water and property taxes) is $515/month. Less than what they used to pay in HOA alone. Their Clayton-built home sits in a welcoming South Carolina community, with a main-floor king bedroom, full-size appliances throughout, and a custom staircase Uwe built himself to replace the original metal ladder.
Sonya and Uwe didn't set out to leave Georgia. But after years of tiny home research (HGTV privileges were officially revoked), the financial case clicked. They sold off most of what they owned, held onto the bar stools and the Ninja cooker, and let the downsizing process (not without some tears) carry them into a life they now describe simply as: living, not just surviving.
The main-floor bedroom was non-negotiable. A king-sized adjustable bed with full-length under-bed storage, his-and-her closets, and a loft above for guests and the occasional solo read. Uwe rebuilt the original ladder staircase into a custom unit that doubles as a standing closet for coats, hats, and the vacuum.
The galley kitchen runs full-size throughout: stove, microwave, fridge, and an apartment-size dishwasher that pushed them to pare down storage (and, looking back, neither misses any of it). Two ottomans replace a coffee table to keep the living room open and flowing. The fireplace anchors the space. The windows, uncovered by choice, pull in natural light. The bar stools from the old apartment made the move.
The bathroom is compact and intentional: a full stand-up shower with headroom for two, a medicine cabinet, linen storage, and a custom wood-textured hamper filling dead space beside the shower entry.
The original bunk bed alcove became a pantry and Sonya's vanity, a custom layout option worked out directly with Clayton. Out back, a finished office shed (insulated, paneled, 10 steps from the back door) gave two remote-working accountants the work-life separation their condo never could.
Their front porch draws neighbors in most mornings. The propane tank hit month 10 at 45% and will last more than a year. After nearly a year of tiny living, Sonya says she forgets it's a tiny home, until she sees a regular-sized house and wonders what she'd even do with all that space.
. . .
📍 Location: Creekwalk Cottages
🏷️ Land: Leased lot (not owned)
💵 Lot lease: $515/month (includes water + property taxes)
🔥 Propane: 45% remaining at month 10, lasts 1+ year
🌐 Internet: Paid separately
⬅️ Previous HOA alone: $590/month
🏗️ Builder: Clayton Holmes
. . .
HER ADVICE
"At first it was difficult to imagine downsizing. Now it would be difficult for me to imagine upsizing again. Tiny living has been a blessing for us. It's helped us not only financially but emotionally. Having that connection, living tiny has helped us grow as a couple. It made life easier, more peaceful."
HIS ADVICE
"We can breathe now. We can live now instead of surviving. We're living."
Shot By: / abe.and.mel
Edited By: / filmbro_
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