My family of 5 traded our large home for a one-bedroom apartment. Nearly 3 years later, we're in no rush to go back.

• About three years ago, my family downsized from a five-bedroom house to a one-bedroom apartment.
• The small space isn't easy, but we're more intentional about what we buy and how we use each corner.
• We've bonded more as a family and have reduced our monthly expenses by about $900.

My husband, Emmet, and I are raising our family in a one-bedroom apartment. Five people — three kids — all together in 800 square feet.

We used to live in a much larger five-bedroom home, approximately 2,100 square feet, believing that success meant more space and more things. Instead, we found ourselves overwhelmed by maintenance, expenses, and the constant feeling of falling behind financially.

Plus, during this time, I was diagnosed with a brain condition, which made caring for a big house and raising three children difficult. Downsizing was no longer just about saving money. It became the best way to simplify our lives while I focused on healing.

So, in 2024, we rented out our house and moved into a much smaller place, planning to stay for just one year while we reset financially and prepared to build a tiny home on land we hoped to buy.

But shortly after, I had brain surgery that completely changed our timeline. Recovery took time, and our plans had to be put on hold.

Almost three years later, we're still in the same apartment, saving hundreds, and in no rush to leave.

Now, we're saving money and every inch of our home has a purpose

Most people are surprised when they see how we manage to use every single corner of our apartment.

Not only is the bedroom occupied by my daughters' bunk beds, but it also transforms into my husband's office during the day for his remote job. Our king-sized bed is in the living room, and our dining area doubles as our family room and playroom.

After living this way for nearly three years, these arrangements no longer feel particularly unusual to us. We've learned what we actually need — and what we can live without.

We've learned to rotate toys between my kids, donate often, and think carefully before bringing anything new into our home. Our kids have learned to share, solve problems, and create their own fun.

Plus, living small has encouraged us to spend more time outside our home. When my husband is working, and the weather is nice, I like to take the kids to the pool in our apartment complex, or we'll venture out to the library or to playgrounds.

Additionally, since the space is smaller, we spend less time cleaning and spend more time bonding as a family.

The cherry on top is that we've also reduced our monthly living expenses by about $900, nearly half of what we were spending in our home before. For the first time in years, we've been able to save money, cover unexpected medical expenses, and buy land for our future.

Downsizing might seem like a step back to some, but it works for us

Living this way isn't always sunshine and rainbows. There are days when our home feels impossibly small, privacy is nonexistent, and emotions run high.

When the kids are playing, there's nowhere to escape the noise. A little bit of clutter can make the whole apartment feel chaotic.

Despite the challenges, though, it's brought us physically — and emotionally — closer than we've ever been before. We know this isn't our forever home, but the experience has taught us to live with less, be intentional about what we keep, and give each other a lot of grace.

I think our culture often measures success by bigger houses and more possessions. However, for my family, downsizing brought something we'd been missing for a long time: peace.

Overall, I've learned that a home isn't defined by square footage. Instead, it's defined by the people inside it, the peace everyone creates together, and the future we're building — even if it starts in just one bedroom.