Cathy’s Lusby
December 9, 2008 · Print This Article
Congratulations to Cathy from Brookings, Oregon.
“I love all the wood – the look and the smell. The owner of the RV park got a real kick out of my first month’s electric bill – $1.60! Yes, you read that correctly, one dollar and sixty cents! I keep the place lighted at night with one 60 watt bulb in a fixture pointed at the ceiling. It is a lovely, warm light. The heater works well and the water heater as well.” – Cathy
$1.60!! That’s awesome!
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Is this the Lusby that was for sale not to long ago? If it is, it looks like it found a good home. the dog seems to be enjoying the benefits of a tiny house as well.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 12th, 2008 3:58 pm:
I’m so happy she (and the dog) are happy.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on December 13th, 2008 6:14 pm:
Kent is right. She bought Jodi’s Lusby.
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Cathleen Witt reply on December 22nd, 2008 5:57 am:
I didn’t realize that Steve had gotten the pic up already! Yes, the dog, Rosebud, is enjoying the view. I also have two cats and we are all learning the daily ballet of moving around a smaller space. There simply is no “mad tearing around the house” in a hurry or for any other reason, really – more peaceful for all. I am still tweaking the storage – finding ways to most efficiently use what I have. It is a most cozy and lovely home – thanks, Jay… and Jodi!
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Donna F. reply on December 28th, 2008 4:53 am:
I’m hoping that Cathleen will answer this one: Was that $1.60 for an entire month?? Or was it for a partial month? Also, do you have a bed in the downstairs bedroom? Where do you all sit when it’s not bedtime? Did you install the gas fireplace, if so where? What size are your side windows? Have you added any shelves to the kitchen/bathroom/closets?? What about using a computer…where do you do that? I would need a desk for mine, or so I think.
Thanks,
I’m still debating on either the Lusby or the Tarleton…each has its own advantages.
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Cathleen Witt reply on December 30th, 2008 5:12 am:
The $1.60 was for about 3 weeks and the weather here is pretty mild. My December bill will be more indicative of a typical winter electric bill for the Pacific Northwest. I bought this house already built and Jodi had the electric blower heater installed, not the propane fireplace. I do not have a bed downstairs, I really enjoy sleeping in the loft and I really like having that little room downstairs to have meals in or go online or curl up on the bench and read in. Besides, my dog, Rosebud, uses the bench that conceals the heater as his bed, so it has worked out just great.
The window openings are about 22″ wide, with actual glass being a bit less. I am slowly in the process of adding storage. I put a small medicine cabinet in the bathroom, but have not, as yet built in any more shelves, although I plan to add some in the kitchen area, in the loft and more in the bath over the toilet.
I bought a lovely wooden rolling laptop desk at a local store and it works great for my computer, dining table, and general desk. It is narrow enough to fit through the office door (17.5″), but has a slide out work top as well as fold out leaves on each side and storage underneath! I have to put in a shelf in the office for my printer, but the phone and computer wireless box all fit well on the shelf that was already there. I know Jay uses a fold-out/up table for his. That is one option. I like being able to move mine around.
I added poles to the closets, but no shelves. I have a large bin on the floor in one for dog food and store my rolling cart for work on the floor in the other closet. I may try to squeeze some extra storage for small stuff between the joists in the office and closets ceilings. I think that as you live in it, you’ll discover what you need and what works for you.
Happy planning!
Jay Shafer reply on December 31st, 2008 4:36 pm:
I’m so glad it’s working out, Cathleen.
Tina Agee reply on September 22nd, 2009 5:44 pm:
Hi Cathy, Where is the Riverside RV park located in Oregon? Would you mind if I asked you how much your house taxes and trailer licensing fees are? I am so close to buying my tiny home, I just need a place to put it .I’ve lived in Eugene and just loved it. Please E-mail me at tagee24@yahoo.com Thanks TINA
YOU GO GIRL!! i’ll soon be right behind ya! i am looking forward to the look & smell of wood in my new lusby too – not to mention the untility bill! i wouldn’t even call that a ‘bill’
)
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Cathleen Witt reply on December 22nd, 2008 5:58 am:
Good for you! Keep me posted – I’d love to hear how it’s going for you.
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Tina Agee reply on September 22nd, 2009 5:39 pm:
Hi Betsy, Have you found any RV parks in Oregon what will take tiny houses? I am so anxious to buy a house from Jay but have not found anyplace to put it. Thanks. TINA
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if she went solar, she wouldn’t even HAVE an electric bill at all!
peace
al
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Hi Cathy –
It’s great that you got yourself a tiny house! Congratulations! I’d love to hear more stories…
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The money thta is being charged for these Tiny houses is nuts.You can buy a double wide trailer (used) for less money and then insulate the heck out of it for a minumal yearly fuel bill.
I am sorry, but I dont see 40 k worth of materials or labor to build one of these so called Tiny houses.
You certainly could build one on your own for1/4 the cost if you wanted to live in something so small.
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Andrew J reply on December 31st, 2008 8:52 pm:
FYI
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/faq/cost/
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/build-it-yourself/house-material-costs/
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Jay Shafer reply on January 1st, 2009 1:29 am:
Please take the time to read “The cost of Frugality” and the materials list we have posted on the next page (simply click on the word “NEXT” at the bottom of this page then scroll down to said titles). Then, if you are still unclear about our “so called” pricing, write back with a clearly worded question.
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Actually, the materials themselves do not cost 40k – you can see a cost break down on the site, as Jay commented.
Yes, one can certainly “go small” more cheaply, but for me, since it will be my home for the forseeable future, I wanted a lovely HOME. I guess it’s a bit like difference between buying a paperback copy of a book, as opposed to a leatherbound first edition. It’s all about what’s important to you! There certainly isn’t a right or wrong way to simplify one’s lifestyle or only one way to do it. I only hope more people realize that we are sharing one small planet and choose to live accordingly.
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Janet reply on January 3rd, 2009 1:55 am:
I have been dreaming about building a small home for my retirement. I am thinking two bedrooms. What is the approximate cost I would be looking at? I also want a lovely home so I would upgrade where needed as far as materials are concerned.
Of course this is just a dream at this time…I need to find a piece of land I can afford and that is almost impossible in California specially the nothern coastline.
Janet
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charlotte Fuller reply on January 12th, 2009 5:18 am:
Hi Janet, it’s Charlotte in Northern Cal. also wanting to buy land maybe we should combine resources.?
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Victoria reply on February 18th, 2009 4:37 pm:
Hi, Charlotte Fuller. I also live in Northern CA and am seriously thinking of building tiny and want to live in an intentional tiny house village.
I am looking to meet others with this same dream. Please contact me at: gaia422 at yahoo
Victoria
Amanda Abel reply on January 29th, 2009 6:13 pm:
Cathy, this is awesome! I’m a documentary photographer working on a project on the small house movement (and working on my own little house with my partner) and will be in Oregon photographing Stephanie Reiley’s houseboat soon and would love to come talk to you and photograph your Lusby. Let me know if you have any interest. Thanks!
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Dear Jay-
Why do your workshops cost so much? I’ve been bone achingly poor my whole life; every time I try to improve my situation through training in something, I get shot down in flames because everyone wants such huge amounts of money for their time. What’s up with that? And why would house plans cost such an absolutely staggering sum of money? I may not have had the priveledged access to higher education you’ve enjoyed, but I am intelligent enough to know that house plans include elevations, dimentions, materials lists, etc…all of which don’t have to cost almost a thousand dollars! That’s so wrong in so many ways I don’t have room (or the time) to list it here; but please educate me– why so much? I was going to go to one of your building workshops as a 50th birthday present to myself in 2009 and with that aquired information, find a way to scrounge materials to make a Lusby as my retirement home no one could take away from me; but I fear the final product won’t be as spiffy as yours, since I’ll have to extrapolate from observation and library research. So why the mind-boggleing costs?
Respectfully,
Athena
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Mary reply on January 12th, 2009 11:09 am:
Athena,
Don’t let the costs of the workshops or the materials scare you. I myself am LIVING in my little cabin I’m still finishing out in the mountains of Oregon where it’s colder than a frog’s butt and me and the dogs are toasty warm with the wood stove I built.
This cabin I am working on is really no more than a fancy shed really and you can get a book on “shed” building at the library or Home Depot etc. very cheap. Easy directions too!! No need for a workshop and no need for expensive materials. You can live in it as you go along once you have a dry roof on the thing. Just like I’m doing. I can email you pics if you like.
I made this one with a barn style roof as it gives you much more head room upstairs than the regular roof line.
Mary
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Athena reply on January 13th, 2009 8:05 am:
Thank you for your encouragement, Mary. I would love to see your pics.
redcale@yahoo.com
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betsy reply on February 18th, 2009 2:06 pm:
mary, i would LOVE to see some photos of your little cabin! my email is: bmccullen1@nycap.rr.com – please mention ‘tiny house’ in the subject line. i am also interested in corresponding with you about oregon itself as that is one of my places of interest to live when i retire. would you be willing to tell me about your experiences? hope to hear from you soon…betsy
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Jay Shafer reply on January 13th, 2009 7:05 pm:
I’m sorry about your financial situation, Athena. I’ve spent the vast majority of my adult life below the poverty line too… but then, with a small house I could live very well on even less.
I get your question about prices a lot.
I charge what I do to sustain the business, employees and myself. Every set of plans takes hundreds of hours to produce. I work to educate others about how they can live as well as I do with so little by designing and building their own homes, and I’m always striving to improve that education thru research. Then, of course there are the daily tasks of answering emails, building houses, website and book design and mailings. All of this adds up to a lot of time and money being spent at my end. My prices used to be lower, and I nearly went out of business.
I charge what I do for plans and workshops because if I didn’t there wouldn’t be any plans or workshops. I offer people the chance to live for less, but I cannot do it for free.
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Donna F. reply on February 18th, 2009 4:20 pm:
He cannot do it for free because the airports don’t let him travel for free, the gas stations don’t give him free gas to drive his house to show, etc. There are expenses to putting on these events that we don’t think about, and, knowing how businesses are run, I’m sure Jay doesn’t get to keep very much of a percentage of it, because there are also taxes to pay. I’m just so glad that he has this business that is so inspirational to all of us.
“Where there is a will, there is a way. ” …so the old saying goes. Perhaps you could put the money on a credit card, take out a payday loan, ask for an advance on your salary, ask a couple of friends for a loan, sell a seldom used piece of furniture or jewelry. These are just some ideas I’ve come up with on ways to scrape up some money to go to one of the workshops. I’m sure if you put your mind to it, you can do it! I once sold a couch to have the money to put into a distributorship (that I won’t mention here). You can do it if you put your mind to it!
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betsy mccullen reply on February 18th, 2009 9:19 pm:
i agree with donna. just because its tiny, it doesn’t mean that all the expenses & time of doing all that jay does is tiny!! i, for one, would rather pay jay – whether it be for his workshop, a set of plans or have him actually build it for me – than pay some money-sucking contractor that only wants to do a fast job for the most money and give me way LESS quality! i have worked with alot of contractors in my life and i know how a huge amount of them work, so don’t think that i am making this up! to think of what i will be saving myself once i commit to it will be nothing compared to renting or owning a big house. if i pay rent (JUST rent!) where i am living right now for the next 4 years until i can retire, i could build 2 tiny houses or have jay built 1 for me…THEN i am basically rent & mortgage free! and if his cost of building these houses was too low, he would have a line of people at his door forever and it would take months or even years for him to keep up with the orders. what he has developed here is very unique and i love it. i have looked at hundreds of ‘tiny house’ sites online in the last 6 months and i still haven’t found one that i like better than jay’s. and i like his attitude too…he’s humble and easy going. my money is on jay one way or another…LITERALLY!! and when i think POOR, i am poor…
Having done some reasearch into the cost of building one of these homes, I can tell you that the raw materials alone cost $12000 – $15000. Thats not to mention the cost of buidling it correctly. A new utility trailer in itself costs more than the $2000 you suggest for the final price of the home.
Designing these homes is Jay’s career, and my understanding is that he left a more secure job to do it.
When you purchase the plans, doesn’t it include consultation time with Jay (or someone from Tumbleweed) and entrance to the workshops? When you take that into consideration, its not so bad.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 13th, 2009 7:18 pm:
Thanks, Megan.
I had to delete the comment your responding to as we have a policy against posting uninformed or misleading assertions. Uninformed questions are, of course welcome as are informed comments like yours.
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Debra,
Where’s the greed in trying to pay your own bills and provide for your family? This is how he makes his living! The surgeon who saves a life in the operating room gets tons more than this! Jay is like a surgeon as he is helping us to cut away the energy draining clutter from our lives and turning us on to the fact that less is more. If you will compare his house plan costs to ordering blueprints from any other company, you will see that they are reasonable. I’ve seen some on the internet for up to $1400!! Go ahead and do a Google on it and see for yourself!
AND, I’m just glad he is even selling the plans since I cannot EVER afford the price of a ready-built Tumbleweed. So, Jay is the opposite of Greedy..he is ALTRUISTIC in helping those of us who cannot afford the ready-built by selling the plans and allowing us to fulfill our dreams of home ownership sans mortgage! He doesn’t have to do that, ya know. How could someone with 7 and 1/2 years of college not see this?
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Jay Shafer reply on January 13th, 2009 7:30 pm:
Thanks, Donna. I had to delete Debrra’s comment due to company policy on posting misleading information, but you’re right on the mark. I only delete about one comment per month, and I’ll only do it if misinformation is given.
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I just interviewed this person for an upcoming magazine article in Voice of the Angels.com Magazine for Multi-Dimensional Living. Jay Shafer isn’t a greedy person. He’s someone who is trying to make the world a better place in many ways. He’s providing plans. Did he not spend his valuable time putting those together? Should he give those away to the “poor?” What we need to begin to understand about money is the concept of exchange. Those that feel they are entitled to free, free, free, do not understand that this attitude of entitlement is what keeps them stuck. That’s the problem with this country. When did we become Socialists?
Dyan
http://www.voiceoftheangels.com
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Jay Shafer reply on January 13th, 2009 7:47 pm:
With friends like you, defending myself has become almost unnecessary, Dyan.
Sorry I had to delete the comment you are responding to for not sticking to the rules… no misinformation please, folks.
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Dyan Garris reply on January 13th, 2009 8:06 pm:
I’m sorry. I’m confused and don’t it. My point is that Jay is not a greedy person. I was responding to the comment that said Jay was greedy. I do not believe it is so. There isn’t anything to defend oneself about here because there is no attack on anyone. That was not my intention. I think the man is a saint. When someone comes up with something, or makes plans, or whatever, they are entitled to have an exchange. And in our society, that exchange right now is money. I don’t think that Jay should be lambasted for selling his plans. I do not think he should be expected to give them away for free. I don’t think anyone should be expected to work for free. I love what he’s done here and what he’s doing and I hope he continues to do it, because it’s something that is very badly needed in the world. That’s my point, so sorry if it’s been misconstrued. And it is also my point that there are a lot of people that firmly believe that things should be free. We simply need to begin to understand the concept of fair exchange.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 15th, 2009 4:53 pm:
I think you’ve made yourself abundantly clear, Dyan, and you’re absolutely right (especially about that saint part).
Jay Shafer reply on January 13th, 2009 7:52 pm:
Oh. I see now. You’re responding to first Athena’s comment, and I did leave that one up.
Thanks all the same.
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Jay operates a small business against a troika of unconstitutional zoning laws, competition and uncertain economic times. He does not run a charity service. His designs have been the result of years of drafting, refining, research, trial-and-error and committment. In other words, his designs are his intellectual property or his asset.
Assuming you can understand this concept in the Free Markets, you should be thrilled that Jay is selling his plans at a reasonable price which includes personal consultation and workshop offerings.
I have all the respect in the world for our fighting Men and Women in the Armed Services. Please don’t use the “sacrafice card” or the “victim of circumstances card” to haggle over prices. Think about how absurd that sounds.
There’s a world of difference between what you think something is worth and what something is actually priced and valued at in everyday world of commerce.
Do some research on the basic building materials required for any of Jay’s designs. Dee Williams built her Tiny House for chump change with a little digging and bartering.
Wouldn’t you agree that this is a more productive way of getting started on your Tiny House than channeling out our frustrations on random strangers here?
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Jay Shafer reply on January 13th, 2009 8:10 pm:
Thanks, Drew. I’m sorry that I had to delete the comment you are responding to. That’s more censorship in one hour than I found necessary in the previous four months.
Let’s keep this forum as intelligent as it has generally been up until now, folks. No misinformation and no assaults on character. Ignorance is fine, so long as it’s presented in the form of a sincere question.
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if you would get a LCD lightbulb youre hydro bill would have been 1 cent
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sorry i meant led
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Do you think you could use a mini windmill like the ones they use on small boats and solar panels to make the houses completely self contained? I think the tiny house concept is outstanding. We were actually going to build a dutch shed and trick it out with all the amenities…glad to see it’s been done and we don’t have to re-invent the wheel.
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Sandy Graham reply on January 31st, 2009 5:22 am:
I am in a wheelchair would the doors be large enough to accomadate the wideness of doors and stairways an still be comfortable??
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Jay Shafer reply on January 31st, 2009 6:54 pm:
I would recommend the Z-Glass or the Harbinger or Whidbey. I designed those for such access. I think I could also widen the doors a bit in the Lusby to make it work comfortably.
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Hey All,
Thanks for all of your very informative comments! I was wondering if it is true that if you buy the plans then you could attend the workshop for free? Either way I will be attending I was just curious. I was also wondering if any of the tiny houses can be bought with a woodstove? I have an abundance of broken down pallets always coming my way and it would be nice to use them if I could. Any comments or info would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on March 1st, 2009 1:22 am:
It’s the other way around. Buy plans, and the workshop’s free. We can put in a wood stove. See you there.
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[...] Cathy’s Lusby | Tumbleweed Tiny House Company [...]
I would like to see a great room on wheels with only the bathroom as its own room. That way a small couch that culd double as a bed or you could unfold a table in front of it so that you could eat, sleep and lounge in the same space. I was looking at the Lusby; I can’t seem to find a bed shorter than 74″ in length. the plans say 6′ in length……..Also are there any used Lusby’s I could buy?
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DIFFERENT WAYS TO LIVE IN A SMALL SPACE:
If everything is stored away, the interior will appear spacious. Try two curtains on a round, spring-loaded curtain rod rather than a cupboard, closet or bathroom door. Recycle your favorite fabric – curtains are easy to make, clean and change.
LIVING ROOM: Create a daybed with a plywood shelf and twin mattress. Use pull-out cardboard boxes to store your wardrobe and possessions beneath the bed. Cover the daybed with an over-sized quilt or cover the storage area with a small curtain. Store extra blankets in pillowcases on top of the bed. Try a computer notebook for all media.
For a limited wardrobe, recombine several two-piece outfits. Use a hooded jacket rather than a hat or umbrella. Add a simple coat hook near the front door. To iron clothes, use a thick towel on the counter. Iron the night before and use one hanger.
KITCHEN: Eliminate upper shelving and add more windows.
Some fridges are small enough to fit under the sink. Try an under-counter combination washer/dryer.
A corner, double-layered carousel cupboard provides plenty of storage space and easy access for dry goods, a portable stove top, pot, bowl, mug, fork, spoon and large knife – as well as any additional items beyond these basics.
Try a narrow shelf to store dishes and glasses vertically – add mug hooks to the lower shelf – hang the shelf on an inner wall and leave the outer walls for windows.
Store additional kitchen items under the daybed as well.
Try one-pot recipes. Use a pan as a mixing bowl, a spoon or mug to measure, a fork as a whisk and a mug as a ladle. Reuse a jar for utensils, to store food or as a vase for wildflowers. Dry dishes on a dish towel. Add simple dish towel hooks.
Eliminate a table – it’s okay to eat and entertain with your plate in your lap.
For more counter space, try a large cutting board over the entire sink as well as a pull-out cutting board. A cutting board also works well as a lapdesk or to serve/dine.
WET BATH: Use a circular shower curtain rod and water-proof the lower half of the walls. Try a towel cupboard over the toilet. Try a tiny, 12-inch-depth, corner sink. Add simple bath towel hooks.
ADDITIONAL SPACIOUSNESS: Eliminate the wall between a kitchen and living room. Eliminate a loft. Try recessed lighting. Try skylights for longer-lasting daylight and summer ventilation. Try arched windows at the peaks of the house and a glass front door. Try more windows with deep bay window sills. Try a heater that does not stick out from the wall.
CONVENIENCE: Try an entry near the kitchen/bathroom. Try a large, single kitchen sink. Try an open storage area over the bathroom for decorative boxes/baskets.
With certain designs, a full porch is optional – a portable screen house may be more practical. Use the trunk of your car for additional storage, such as a couple of indoor/outdoor folding chairs.
Try an outdoor clothesline at the back of the house.
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Tumbleweed Houses reply on August 7th, 2010 8:36 pm:
thanks for this!
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