Anne-Marijke turned her dream of a retirement tiny house in Australia into a reality, seeking financial security for her future.
With traditional housing options too costly, she faced the prospect of delaying retirement until age 80.
Instead, she opted for a tiny house shell and, with her daughter’s help, completed the interior herself.
This DIY effort kept labor costs low, bringing the total build cost to around USD 60,000.
A financial turning point: Embracing the retirement tiny house
Anne-Marijke decided to downsize into a retirement tiny house because of a desire for financial stability.
As she approached her late 50s, it became clear that traditional housing options were out of reach.
“When COVID hit, I had a reason to review my retirement options and the financial side of that,” she said. “And I realized very quickly there’s no way I will be able to retire comfortably if I rented a house or bought a house. I would have to work until I was about at least 80.”
Traditional housing costs were too high, so she sought an alternative to make retirement more feasible.
Her previous three-bedroom rental had drained her finances, but moving into the tiny house changed that.
“As soon as I moved in, my cost of living went down and is now about a third of what I used to pay when I was still living in a house,” she explained.
This drastic cut in expenses made a comfortable retirement possible.
Building the DIY dream
Anne-Marijke initially planned to build the entire retirement tiny house herself.
“Initially, my plan was to build it completely myself. Um, which is quite funny because I had no DIY experience whatsoever,” she admitted.
But after reconsidering, she decided to have a builder construct the shell and complete the interior with her daughter’s help.
This strategy significantly reduced labor costs. The build totaled AUD 95,000, with most of the expense going toward the shell and essential services like plumbing and electricity.
Inside the retirement tiny house: Maximizing space
Anne-Marijke’s retirement tiny house is compact but efficiently designed.
It measures 7.2 meters in length, 2.4 meters in width, and 4.5 meters in height. Built on wheels, it can be easily moved if necessaryโa key factor in her decision.
Inside, every inch is utilized. The living area features an IKEA day bed with storage, while a stand-up desk serves as both a workspace and a spot for watching TV.
Storage solutions, like stacked IKEA cabinets and baskets, keep everything organized.
The kitchen is practical, with easy-to-access drawers, a portable induction cooktop, and a half-sized dining table for four.
The bathroom is compact but functional, featuring a washing machine, composting toilet, and a corner shower.
Sustainable living in the retirement tiny house
Anne-Marijke’s tiny house also focuses on sustainability.
Electricity is provided through the main property, and town water is accessed from a garden tap.
A propane-powered, on-demand hot water system offers hot water and natural ventilation through open windows, and a fan usually keeps the space comfortable.
Her kitchen gray water is filtered through a worm farm and used to irrigate a flower garden. At the same time, the composting toilet eliminates the need for traditional sewage hookups.
Finding a home in the retirement tiny house
Anne-Marijke parks her retirement tiny house in the backyard of a rural property, where she is allowed to garden and grow her own vegetables.
“I have the whole backyard which is lovely and they are happy for me to just make it my own, like gardening and growing my veggies,” she shared.
The tiny house has become her personal sanctuary.
“It’s so lovely to live in a small space. I love the coziness of it, and it felt like home from the moment I moved in,” she said.
Though she faced challenges with privacy in the small space, she and her daughter made it work, and she is already considering adjustments for the future.
Legalities and inspiring others to follow suit
Living in a tiny house on wheels isn’t always legally straightforward.
Anne-Marijke lives in an area where temporary legalization has been granted due to recent natural disasters.
“At the moment where I live the government has made it legal to live in just about any type of dwelling or caravan because we’ve had lots of floods and bushfires,” she explained.
However, this status could change, making the situation uncertain.
“But most places it’s just not legal. And so then you have to live under the radar and hopefully nobody complains.”
As a self-employed nutritionist, Anne-Marijke shares her tiny house journey on YouTube, hoping to inspire others, particularly women over 50, to take control of their financial future.
“I love sharing my tiny house experience onlineโฆ And the main reason for that is just to inspire women over 50 who worry about their future retirement and how to financially secure a comfortable future,” she said.
Encouraging others to take on projects, she adds, “I always say if I can do it, you can do it.”
For Anne-Marijke, her retirement tiny house represents more than just a place to live; it symbolizes achieving her goals and securing her future.
“The tiny house is hopefully my forever home. I hope that I can age in place and I would love to be able to just stay in this for the rest of my life,” she said.
See Anne-Marijke’s retirement tiny house in the video below:
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