There is this couple I know—Dimitri and Jacinia—and I know this sounds like a terrible made-up story, but they live in an 88-square-foot apartment. With a cat. So the three of them are living pretty much in an 88-square-foot apartment, which is the size of your average walk-in closet if it could double as a home. And they have been living this way for… what? Almost eight years? I know, weird.
For added context, they’re both originally from Puerto Rico. And they didn’t come to the whole ‘tiny living’ thing because they were dreaming about decluttering and drinking herbal tea while sitting on some random stools they created. It started because they had to, due to money, life, whatever, but then, it just clicked for them and they leaned all the way into it. They went aggressively minimalist. The kind of minimalist where if you leave a couple of spoons out, you’re like, “Whoa, we own too much.”
They don’t receive seasonal or occasional cleaning, they live in pretty much permanent decluttering mode for most of their time together. Basically, constantly editing their stuff. Can you even imagine looking around your home and saying, “I could probably lose 30% of this right now”? Now can you imagine making that statement every week? That’s them. There’s literally no more room to hoard.
Living on $300 a Month—No Joke
Here’s the even more mind-bending part: they literally spend about $300 per month. Total. Rent included. Utilities included. Laundry included. Parking spot included. Internet (yes, they have internet) included. And even some of that backyard composting stuff too. And they have access to public bathrooms. I mean, okay, it’s not great living; but, they’ve made it work. They don’t live like hermits, either. Dimitri’s day job is remote, and he’s the marketing communications director for a press in New Jersey. From this tiny space.
So, What’s In This Matchbox?
There is a video—you can look it up on Exploring Alternatives on YouTube—where they show what it’s like around the whole place. “Tour” is hilarious because there is probably more room from the entry point of the apartment. But still.
So, when you enter (which means existing inside at the same time), the wall is doing a lot of work. First shelf is books. Second shelf is jars, utensils, food stuff. Then you get to Dimitri’s workspace, which is just a desk caved in under all this. They claim they share a laptop. There’s a cooking nook, or whatever that is—Instant Pot, single burner, water filter. It is not so much a kitchen, but a pop-up booth at a farmers’ market; but, it works.
Everything Is Free, or Damn Cheap
Almost everything they have? Scavenged, restored, or bought for dirt cheap. They roll out a futon when they sleep and it magically disappears during the day—floor space found, They even have a cat! They made a custom cat tower, either out of… I don’t even know! It ends in a small basket deal. The cat seems perfectly happy with it, and that’s all that really matters.
Cozy by Design, Not by Coincidence
It also doesn’t seem sterile or boring. Jacinia put in some peel-and-stick wallpaper because sometimes the smallest of changes can invoke additional humanity into the space. It’s not just a white box now… it feels like a life, not like someone got stuck in a Pinterest board.
Also worth mentioning: Jacinia has been dealing with anxiety and she said this space, her “tiny home,” is kind of like her retreat. She even took time off of work to focus on her mental health. And somehow, although one would really never think a small space like this would actually help with anxiety, it has. There is no logic to any of this if you ever have to try to share a small room with another human being for more than 48 hours. But, I think it’s safe to say it’s mostly working for them.
It’s Not All Aesthetic Instagram Vibes
It isn’t always cute, though. Dimitri is a bigger guy—a big tall guy—and I think he would truly tell you it’s not a no-risk factor. There is a good bit of accidental bumping and some smart twisting to get through the corners. Sometimes it is like they live in a tent which happens to have drywall. That said, they make do. They adapt. It’s not always romantic. Sometimes it’s just cramped.
This Is Temporary… Maybe
They aren’t planning on doing this forever. They would like to hopefully find a bigger place in the future, something that they can own. However, they also aren’t totally not against continuing to live smaller, as long as it fits with their lifestyle. Right now they are working like mad on their YouTube channels to save up and they have also each written books. Dimitri is working on poetry. Jacinia wrote a Puerto Rican cookbook. So they are not just hiding quietly away in a shoebox, they are making things.
Minimalism… But Not in a Preachy Way
There is no tidy takeaway here. There is no “you should sell everything you own and live in a glorified closet.” It is simply: look at what they did. Look at what they are able to do. And no, it won’t be for everyone. And no, it is not always ideal. But… maybe there is something to the notion that you don’t need more space, just less stuff.
Or maybe not. I don’t know. It depends on your cat.
