When Jay Shafer built his first little house on wheels in the late 1990s, he likely never imagined he would be called the godfather of the tiny house movement. His idea was simple but radical: to show that a smaller home does not mean a poorer life – on the contrary. By living small, you free yourself from much of what binds you, and instead, you can live larger.

I can relate to this deeply. For six years, I lived on a sailboat. Four square meters of floor space, a small berth, a galley that barely fit two pots – yet a sense of freedom I had never experienced in larger homes. That became my own entry point into a philosophy that Jay Shafer articulated and that I carry as my own: “If we live smaller, we can live larger.”

Jay Shafer and the Origins of the Movement

Born in 1966, Jay Shafer saw what the American dream of “bigger is better” was doing to people. More work, bigger loans, less freedom.

In 1999, he built his first tiny house on wheels, a wooden cabin of just eight square meters. It wasn’t a compromise, but a deliberate choice. He wanted to prove that a home did not need to be big to be functional, beautiful, and above all – liberating.

Shafer founded the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, selling blueprints and hosting workshops. But he wasn’t really selling houses – he was selling an idea: the freedom to shape your own life without falling into debt or overconsumption.

His philosophy rested on three pillars:

• Simplicity: stripping away the unnecessary.

• Self-reliance: building yourself, learning along the way, and taking ownership of your lifestyle.

• Sustainability: living smaller naturally means living lighter on the planet.

For Shafer, tiny houses weren’t an architectural trend – they were a life philosophy.

When Tumbleweed Became Business

But the story didn’t end there. In 2007, Jay Shafer sold Tumbleweed Tiny House Company to Steve Weissmann, an entrepreneur who saw the commercial potential of the movement. Under Weissmann’s leadership, Tumbleweed grew rapidly – shifting from selling blueprints and inspiration to prefabricated houses costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

For many, this marked the turning point:

• From a philosophy of freedom → to a marketed product.

• From DIY learning → to prefabricated solutions.

• From grassroots → to big business.

Shafer himself continued to live in tiny houses, but he stepped away from the company and watched as his original idea transformed into an industry.

The Philosophy that Became a Movement

Shafer inspired thousands to build their own tiny homes. It wasn’t about perfection – quite the opposite. Most who started had never swung a hammer before. They made mistakes, learned, redid, and improved.

Building your own tiny house was as much about shaping yourself as it was about shaping a home. It was about courage, the willingness to learn, and the joy of creating something with your own hands.

When the financial crisis hit in 2008, interest in tiny houses exploded. Suddenly, cheaper homes were not only a philosophy but also a necessity. Media caught on, TV shows were made, blogs flourished. Tiny houses became a trend.

From Freedom to Facade

With popularity came transformation. What began as simple, self-built shelters turned into glossy lifestyle products.

Architects designed tiny houses as prestige projects. Universities began offering courses. Construction companies saw a lucrative market. And soon, what had once been homes built from reclaimed wood and creativity were being sold as designer objects for the price of a suburban villa.

• From salvaged materials → to luxury hardwoods.

• From do-it-yourself → to high-end architecture.

• From affordable independence → to six-figure price tags.

The irony was striking: a movement meant to free people from debt now produced yet another consumer trap.

My Own Path – Life on the Sailboat

I know from experience that tiny living doesn’t need to be about designer furniture or architectural drawings. When I moved aboard my sailboat, it was because I was searching for something different.

The boat gave me four square meters of floor space. Everything was simple, sometimes improvised. I had to learn every day – fixing broken pumps, inventing storage solutions, living by the rhythms of nature.

It was far from luxurious, but it was real. I realized that security doesn’t come from having many rooms or expensive things. It comes from knowledge, resilience, and the confidence that you can manage life on your own terms.

On the boat, life became both simpler and larger. I felt freer than ever.

Geoarbitrage – Living Larger by Living Smarter

Today, we often speak about geoarbitrage – the ability to earn money in one country or currency and live in another with lower costs. For me, Bulgaria became that place.

The combination of tiny living and geoarbitrage is powerful. Living small and in a lower-cost environment frees up enormous resources. You can spend your money and time on what truly matters: relationships, projects, experiences.

This is exactly what Jay Shafer meant when he said tiny houses were not just about size, but about life design.

What We Have Lost

Looking at the movement today, it’s clear that much of the original spirit has been lost:

• The courage to try on your own.

• The joy of learning through mistakes.

• The philosophy of simplicity and freedom.

• The community of builders sharing experiences.

Instead, we see glossy magazines, reality TV shows, and high-priced prestige homes. The tiny house has become a consumer product – instead of a rebellion against consumerism.

Do It Again, Do It Right

But all is not lost. We can still reclaim the soul of the movement. Tiny houses don’t have to mean expensive architecture. They can still mean:

• Building yourself, even if it’s crooked.

• Using reclaimed materials instead of buying new.

• Living with fewer possessions but more freedom.

• Seeing tiny living as a journey rather than a finished product.

When I lived on my boat, I realized that the journey itself was as important as the result. Living tiny is about living consciously.

My Philosophy – If We Live Smaller, We Can Live Larger

To me, the truth is clear: we don’t need more million-dollar 25-square-meter design houses. We need more courage to live differently.

“If we live smaller, we can live larger” is not just a slogan – it’s a lived experience.

• I lived it on the sailboat.

• I live it today through simplicity and geoarbitrage.

• I see it as a path away from consumer frenzy, toward a life that is rich in what truly matters.

Jay Shafer started the movement, but he no longer owns it. When he sold Tumbleweed to Steve Weissmann in 2007, it became business. But the idea – the philosophy – lives on. And those of us who believe in it can carry it forward, not as a product, but as a way of life.

Conclusion – The Freedom We Must Reclaim

Tiny House on Wheels began as a revolt against debt and consumer traps. Today, it has been turned into a market where freedom is sold as an expensive product.

I believe we must return to its origins. Build for ourselves. Live simply. Dare to make mistakes and learn. Because tiny living has never been about the size of the house – it has always been about the courage to live life on your own terms.

And maybe it’s just that simple: if we live smaller, we can indeed live larger.