{"id":7456,"date":"2019-01-31T16:55:57","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T00:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=7456"},"modified":"2024-03-15T07:45:28","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T14:45:28","slug":"living-in-a-small-house-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/living-in-a-small-house-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Living In a Small House with Kids? How to Trade Up Without Busting Your Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hiding out in the attic crawlspace for a little \u201cme\u201d time. Running late because you had to wait in line to use the bathroom. Constant jockeying for prime seating on the tiny sofa in the TV room during your family\u2019s favorite shows.<\/p>\n

Sounds like your life living in a small house with kids, huh? Well, it\u2019s time for a fresh start in a larger home, but one thing is holding you back: money.<\/p>\n

Raising a family is expensive. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, \u201ca family will spend approximately $12,980 annually per child in a middle-income ($59,200-$107,400), two-child, married-couple family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Infographic<\/a>
Source: (usda.gov<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And the average household spends just under $20,000<\/a> on housing expenses annually\u2014which means a family of four is spending around $45,000 a year on their home and kids. Adding several hundred dollars a month in mortgage payments (not to mention the increase in property taxes, home maintenance expenses, and monthly utilities) might sound too expensive for your already tight finances.<\/p>\n

But it doesn\u2019t have to be\u2014if you approach the process with a solid plan and a sound financial strategy. Let\u2019s get you out of cramped quarters and into a more manageable living space. In 4 basic steps we\u2019ll cover how to:<\/p>\n