Budget

This is where my budget information will go, including goal costs as well as ACTUAL costs.

Rough goal… 12-14 months rent @ $800 per month brings costs [hopefully] between $9,600 and $11,200.  This is a learning process and I am working on getting items donated/sponsored and I really have no idea where my budget will come in at.  This is just my starting goal.

Actual Money Spent:

$20 11-17-11 – ‘Go House Go’ book from (PAD) Portland Alternative Dwellings, for details on connecting the trailer and the house as well as moisture barrier information.

$500 11-19-11 – 24’ flatbed goose-neck trailer with 5’ dovetail, 8’ wide.

$66.13 11-19-11 – Insulated work clothes and gloves

FREE 12-2-11 – Windows (2) 4’x6” sliding, (1) 3’x3’ picture (2) diffused picture 1’x5’, (1) 4’x4’ single hung, (2) 2’x3’ sliders

$375 12-11-11 – Under-floor radiant heat system

$15 12-11-11 – Shower basin

$30.00 12-23-11 – Leaf springs

$178.62 12-24-11 – Triple axle hanging kit

$52.98 12-26-11 – Jack stands

$17.89 12-26-11 – Concrete block

$56.26 12-28-11 – new blades for porta-band and saws-all

$68.90 1-11-12 – Fee for cutting axle

$194.43 1-22-12 – 2x4s and 2x8s for floor

$38.29 1-23-12 – 30’ All-thread, 150 nuts, 150 washers and 150 lock washers

$146.50 2-15-12 – Steel or loft frame

$40.00 2-17-12 – (40) Pallets

$29.12 2-20-12 – 20’ more all-thread, 100 washers, 100 lock-washers and 100 nuts

Free 2-22-12 – ~250 s.f of foam filled radiant barrier

$1,000.00 2-22-12 – (192) 2’x8’, 2” thick pieces of rigid insulation

$14.48 2-24-12 – Joist hangers and OSB clips for foundation

$73.00 2-26-12 – (4) 2x8s, (5) 2×6, foil tape, primer, 3 cans of ‘great stuff’, blade

$23.04 3-4-12 – 3 cans of ‘Great Stuff’ and a new drill bit

$12.11 3-4-12 – 50 more nuts, washers and lock washers

$21.00 3-4-12 – Welding rod

$70.00 3-12-12 – Exterior doors

$300.00 3-12-12 – 2x4s 10′ (81), 2x4s 8′ (84), 2x6s 14′ (21), 5/8″ plywood (17), 5/8″ OSB (7), nail plates, wire, electrical boxes, electrical hangers

$12.16 3-18-12 – Drill bit

$57.64 3-25-12 – ‘Great Stuff’, caulk, screws

$6.87 4-7-12 – Drill bits

$256.62 4-12-12 – hurricane ties, (25) 3/8″ sheathing, handgun nails.

Free 5-4-12 – Leftover lighting/outlet receptacles

$30.97 5-4-12 – Black and Decker Wiring book (highly recommended), lighting receptacles

$105.28 5-5-12 – Electrical panel and circuits

$21.55 5-5-12 – 2x4x12′ studs (for interior walls), wire staples and wing nuts.

$27.94 5-10-12 – nails, great stuff and breathing masks

$3.95 5-11-12 – knife to cut insulation

$26.64 5-12-12 – Light box covers and outlets

$26.10 5-18-12 – Caulking and finish nails

$10.43 5-20-12 – Joist hangers

$97.14 5-29-12 – Roof sheathing and trim boards

$188.68 6-1-12 – Pre-hanging doors

$79.47 6-3-12 – Roof felt, shims, two cans of great stuff (window), stain sample, door handle

$81.98 6-4-12 – Paint, window trim boards, brushes

$49.53 6-6-12 – window flashing, two more cans for great stuff (window)

$9.73 6-6-12 – roofing nails and staples

$2,000.00 – Composting Toilet

$45.00 – 7.7.12 – Kitchen Sink

 $317.97 – 6.17.12 – Fridge

$104.32 – 6.19.12 -Switches and outlets

$12.72 – 6.19.12 – Plumbing elbows

$46.60 – 6-28-12 – I am not sure what this is for… I found this hare on my account… I’m guessing plumbing related because of the time.

$11.63 – 7.3.12 – Plumbing valve

$7.93 – 7.5.12 – Wood Putty

$701.83 – 7.5.12 – TPO roofing and roofing glue

$37.24 – 7.12.12 – Elastomeric paint and brushes

$12.54– 7.24.12 – Brushes, electrical boxes and utility knives

$207.95 – 7.29.12 – Rain gutter [planter] parts, trim boards paint

$7.50 – 8.8.12 – White duct tape

+$420.00+  – Sale of some excess insulation

+$324.00+ – Sale of some excess insulation

$27.97 – 9.9.12 – Electrical tools

$6.97 – 9.9.12 – Electrical tools

$83.79 – 9.16.12 – Exterior electrical hookups and a secondary fuse box

$101.21 – 9-30-12 – deck boards, trim boards, caulk, eye-hooks and chord

+$550.00 – 9-30-12 – Money from the sale of the insulation

$579.09 – 10-2-12 – All plumbing supplies including a $203 bathroom sink and $53 shower drain

$26.10 – 9-29-12 – Flashing for roof

$45.56 – 10-01-12 – Shower head

$23.74 – 10-04-12 – 2×2 window trim and paint

$23.29 – 10-10-12 – Screws

$354.06 – 10-25-12 – Drywall, screws, corner metal, nails, mud, paper tape

$21.15 – 10-26-12 -Batt insulation

$16.92 – 10-27-12 – Keyhole saw, compass

$9.67 – 10-31-12 – Caulk x4

$73.98 – 11-18-12 – Hardie Backer Board for shower

$31.78 – 11-18-12 – Finish nails

$88.06 – 11.23.12 – Drywall mud, thin-set for the shower, sanding blocks

$10.99 – 12-08-12 – Hardie Backer Board

$4.22 – 12-9-12 – Plastic Hopper

$139.80 – 11-24-12 – Hardi Backer Board, masks, trowl, thinset

$24.11 – 12-12-12 – 3 more boxes of mud

-$100.00 12-12-12 – sale of insulation

$518.21 – 12-13-12 – floor and shower tile

$80.93 -12-23-12 – Window trim (poplar/pine)

$23.47 -12-23-12 – Paint

$47.60 -12-23-12 – Paint

$148.84 -12-28-12 – Steel for Dresser and Kitchen + grinding wheel

$23.28 – 1-1-13 – Light bulbs

$58.27 – 1-1-13 – Light Fixture (bathroom)

$53.38 – 1-1-13 – Craft stones for the shower floor

$55.52 – 3-22-13 – 1x2s for millwork and hinges

$74.14 – 3-23-13 – (2) porch lights

$228.71 – 3-23-13 – 11/32″ fir plywood for millwork

$11.83 – 3-24-13 – 3/4″ Screws for millwork

$20.73 – 3-30-13 – paint and concrete board fasteners

$25.75 – 3-30-13 – Epoxy and clamps

$40.06 – 3-31-13 – Trimboard

$101.74 – 4-8-13 – Concrete backerboard for floor

$28.82 – 4-8-13 – seeds and twine for trellis

$124.92 – 4-10-13 – ceiling fan and mortar

-$25.62 – 4-10-13 – return screws and mortar

$37.88 – 4-10-13 – tile spacers and eye screws for trellis

$886.00 – 4-16-13 – Washer Dryer

$359.98 – 4-16-13 – tankless hot water heater

$170.80 – 5-7-13 – Plumbing fixtures

$51.80 – 5.15.13 – Water heater vent pipe extenders

Total = $11,416.16


Estimated Savings from Sponsors

$5,940


§ 17 Responses to Budget

  • cxdyer says:

    Great idea to show your budget, I have ours on a spreadsheet. If I can figure out how to add another page, I might borrow your idea and add that to my blog. Okay to borrow your idea?

    • Macy M says:

      Borrow anything you like! I have added you under my ‘tinyhousers’ link, I hope that’s ok. I am going to enjoy combing through your blog!

  • Alex Gore says:

    Was the “‘Go House Go” book worth the money would you recommend it?

  • hello and greetings- finding your project interesting. – Love the idea of radient floor heating- I am drawn to the rain screen idea- are the planters for ivy a gray water system? the rain screen will also help keep the house cool in summer by shading the house. the climate you expect to live in your house on wheels also really affects the design- are there such things as co-op camp grounds for tiny homes? Have a communal. laundry/bathhouse building- well interesting to look at your progress- did you really break your back?

    • Macy M says:

      Hi Curt! I’m so glad you find my site interesting, I’m sorry for being so pokey getting back to you, big week! I’m glad the systems I am using are intriguing. The ivy set-up is only a grey water system in the fact that I have located them (intentionally) where they will be watered by the roof run-off, in theory I won’t have to water them. I am collecting my grey water from my sinks and showers for use in my garden though, that is a little more in depth grey water system. My thoughts with the plants on the house and the rain-screen was that it will lessen the cooling load by basically keeping it in shade constantly. I am not aware of any co-ops but that is a stellar idea! There are a couple people locally (Boise Idaho) that I know who are looking into the idea, and I know Jay Shafer (formally of Tumbleweed Tiny Homes) has some ideas on the boards for his new company (Four Lights). I am sure there are others, Boneyard Studios is trying to do something like that I suppose but not quite the same, I like your idea much better! I am actually looking into how to go about doing a tiny house development, turns out there is quite a bit to it and they are so specialized that I am not sure how viable it really is. That and it seems like a lot of people build them to in part get away from people makes me wonder if it is really viable… I hope it is!
      Thank you so much for your questions and your kind words, I did actually break my back, in two places… not fun though the foot almost sucks worse, sometimes I just really want to go for a run but I cant! Life goes on… some day soon I will be able to 🙂

  • Cameron says:

    I love your design sooooooooo much, I’m going to be building a house similar looking (I like the idea of box for more room) And the vine idea is perfect for this style too because it rounds off the corners making it seem less industrial. How did you snag a tripple axel trailer so cheap? How did you go about getting sponsors? Just e-mailing companies?

    • Macy M says:

      I apologize Cameron, this comment slipped through the cracks! I just lucked out on the trailer. As far as sponsors it is surprisingly easy, I wrote a little thing on it a bit ago here, basically just be confident and persistent! Thank you for the kind words and dropping me a line, I am sorry to be so pokey getting back!

    • Macy M says:

      Oh, I should also add… the trailer was a duel axle when I got it… I added the third one.

  • Cameron says:

    Thanks for the reply getting my trailer this week! Thinking about starting one of these for adding sponsors thank you so much great advice!

    • Macy M says:

      CONGRATULATIONS! That is awesome news!
      Definitely do! and when you do, send me the link so I can put you on my tiny houses list and follow along! 🙂

  • Ron says:

    Wait. Really?! Less than $12,000 on the entire build?

    • Macy M says:

      Yes sir! Budget was a main issue, I was very fortunate to get some amazing deals from some local people who liked the project. It came in at the upper end of my initial budget but it came in under budget with appliances!

  • William says:

    So the “True Cost” without sponsors and that absolute steal of a trailer would be $25-30k? That’s what I came up with when I priced out a project like this, but based on Clotheslinetinyhomes.com They also used a Gooseneck trailer.

    I much prefer this idea over RV style trailer. This looks to be much more substantial and efficient.

  • […] How awesome is Macy Miller’s tiny house? As of December, 2013, she has been living in it for six months, just over two years since implementing her project. All told, her tiny house cost $11,416.16, according to her budget. […]

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