I think living in a very small apartment saves a lot of money
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
May 11, 2017 7:55am CST
People who live in a big house will always find things to buy to fill up the space.
They are not likely to have a room that is completely empty.
They will buy some shelves or tables or chairs or bed to fill up the room, at least to make it looks a bit more homely.
Those who live in small apartments always have space constraint problem, and that means they will not buy a piece of furniture just because they like it very much.
I have one colleague who has to think twice before buying a small pan.
She simply does not have extra space for it.
One she was careless and broke a big pot, she was very happy about it. She bought a smaller one, and saved a lot of space!
14 people like this
15 responses
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 May 17
That is because you will have to move back to your own house later on.
If you have to live in that small apartment for the rest of your life, you will sell the extra furniture.
For us here, renting a space is not the norm.
We just have to avoid buying more things that we do not need.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 May 17
@LadyDuck No wonder there is not enough space.
A small apartment is probably just nice as a residence, but not for both residence and office use.
All the office equipment takes up space, such as printer/scanner, computer, document shelf or rack plus the office desk and chair.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471498)
• Switzerland
12 May 17
@scheng1 The problem were not the furniture, it was more a matter of documents and paper. We had our office in the apartment and, due to my husband job, he has to keep some documents for 15 years. We bought all the furniture here in Switzerland when we moved, it was less expensive than to move what we had in the apartment.
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
11 May 17
I think a very small apartment can not be good for a big family 
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
11 May 17
Actually it can. When I was young, a lot of us lived in very small apartments.
Some of my classmates lived in just a big room with 7 other family members.
I lived in a larger apartment, but then we rented out rooms.
In the end, we always had 15 persons at home watching just one TV.
It is good because everyone learns to share and tolerate the habits of others.
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
12 May 17
@scheng1 ..That is nice..I visited Singapore along time..it was really a clean and quiet place :-)
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 May 17
@m_audrey6788 It seems like when we live with lesser people, we are not as happy.
Those people in the village who have many relatives and people living under the same roof usually are happier, but poorer.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 May 17
Living in a big apartment is not as good as living in a small apartment.
It takes more time to clean.
The location of the apartment is more important than the size.
if you are located near to the MRT station, next to good school and office location, and oversee the public park or sea, and you get to live on high floor, the view is worth it.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
11 May 17
Yes I no longer collect anything Scheng and living minimal is my forte
2 people like this
@Hate2Iron (15727)
• Canada
11 May 17
You are soooo right. I downsized my books before we moved and now I have a bookshelf that is half empty. Good thing that our library features an area by the door where you can take books for free that they don't want anymore!!
2 people like this
@Nawsheen (28643)
• Mauritius
13 May 17
A big house also means that more electricity will be needed. And yes more bathrooms too. This will further add to the bills. When you have a large house the maintenance costs will be high too. You will always want to redecorate the house/change funitures...
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
15 May 17
@Nawsheen Actually an apartment block is a very noisy place too.
You can always hear doors opening, closing, lift doors opening, closing, and the neighbors making all sorts of noise.
In a way, it is very comforting to hear all the activities, because you know that you are not the only one alive!
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
14 May 17
Yes, plus all the time to do the cleaning.
That is the part i hate to do very much. More area means more space to clean.
Cleaning is really a waste of time when we seldom are home. It is not as if we buy a big house and we stay at home all the time.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
12 May 17
i remember my grandparents nipa hut. it felt spacious because they only have the basic stuff.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 May 17
@hereandthere that is the problem of high rise living.
That is why people like to live as high up as possible.
When there are many short blocks, and the block that you live is one of the high blocks, you will get very good views.
The thing is that when the lifts are out of service, you have to climb all the way home.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
12 May 17
@scheng1 i wouldn't want to live in apartments so close together that you can see inside someone's house across when you look out the windows.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 May 17
Actually living in tight quarter is good, because you have the motivation to go out more.
Since housework is not going to take up a lot of time, and shopping for material goods is not ideal for small apartment, you will naturally go out to meet friends, and for other social activities.
@Marilynda1225 (82807)
• United States
11 May 17
Moving into a smaller place worked for me when I retired. My house was too big when the children all got married and moved into their own homes so now I live in a much smaller place and it was a good decision.
2 people like this
@Iam_jauntyjen (5017)
•
13 May 17
I used to live in my parents house. It was huge. Now my mom regretted having renovated that house because it is not easy to clean. it has 5 bedrooms ,two kitchens and two bathrooms , one terrace, and a large living room. They are actually thinking of selling it because it is hard to maintain.
My brother and I learned from them now, we bought our own house that is just right or us.We do not intent to renovate or have it extended like my mom did to our ancestral house.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
12 May 17
Small spaces are also easier and cheaper to heat and cool, saving more money.
