My family of 5 traded our large home for a one-bedroom apartment. Nearly 3 years later, we're in no rush to go back.

Leaving our five-bedroom home for a one-bedroom apartment has been great for our family.

Megan Hawkins About three years ago, my family downsized from a five-bedroom house to a one-bedroom apartment.

The small space isn't easy, but we're more intentional about what we buy and how we use each corner.

We've bonded more as a family and have reduced our monthly expenses by about $900.

My husband, Emmet, and I are raising our family in a one-bedroom apartment .

Five people — three kids — all together in 800 square feet.

We used to live in a much larger five-bedroom home, approximately 2,100 square feet, believing that success meant more space and more things.

Instead, we found ourselves overwhelmed by maintenance, expenses, and the constant feeling of falling behind financially.

Plus, during this time, I was diagnosed with a brain condition, which made caring for a big house and raising three children difficult.

Downsizing was no longer just about saving money.

It became the best way to simplify our lives while I focused on healing.

So, in 2024, we rented out our house and moved into a much smaller place, planning to stay for just one year while we reset financially and prepared to build a tiny home on land we hoped to buy.

But shortly after, I had brain surgery that completely changed our timeline.

Recovery took time, and our plans had to be put on hold.