Moving into a 97-square-foot micro-apartment in Paris was supposed to be temporary, but I've found that I love the unexpected benefits of tiny living.
Feliz Hebert moved to Connecticut to be near her kids and grandkids, but loneliness and boredom led her back to Cape Cod instead.
Priscila Barros wanted a fresh start and a lower cost of living. She thought moving to Houston would solve her problems — it just made her life worse.
Dottie Turnbull left her one-bedroom cottage and bought a narrowboat for about $40,000. Five years later, she says it saves her money every month.
Brent Phillips bought a Texas ranch for himself and his family. When he lost millions in a stock crash, he began renting it out on Airbnb.
Guadalupe Galindo-Nevarez and her family moved from California to Texas for a fresh start, but high heat and property taxes pushed them to leave.
A woman transformed her Jamaican villa and pool house into a healing retreat after losing her husband. Now, others can benefit from the property, too.
A couple could only afford a smaller home in their ideal location. With little equity, they borrowed money based on the home's future value to renovate.
Jacob Watson, 84, shares his home with tenants who provide a limited amount of caring in exchange for a reduced rent. He said the arrangement works.
Shalini Karnani Bonjour knew moving her mom from Michigan to California would be hard. She didn't expect building her mom an ADU in her backyard would be even harder.
I've lived in Japan for several months. Many aspects of life here surprised me, including the public transit, cost of groceries, and trash sorting.
We set out in our camper van in hopes of finding a place in the country to settle down long-term. Our timeline was sped up when I got pregnant.
Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Peter Millard said he and his wife, Rita, want to stay independent, so they prepare their own meals and do their own housework.
Raghav and Ansh Kumar quit the chaos of city life and moved to Rishikesh, India, to build a house with natural materials.
Our family scored a low, historically good 30-year mortgage rate on our home in 2019. We had more kids and have outgrown it, but we feel stuck.
We sold our house in Connecticut to move into a rental apartment in Spain. It's smaller for our family, but the perks of downsizing outweigh the cons.
Living in a multigenerational home, with my mother in the basement apartment, helped my family care for her, pay off loans, and buy a vacation house.
A decade ago, Bradley Krae left the United States to teach English in Shenzhen, China. He spends less money and says the has found his own version of the American Dream there.
I temporarily moved into a camper van on my parents' property. The living situation has brought us closer and helped me save money while I job-hunt.
Sharing a one-bedroom apartment in a great neighborhood isn't always easy for our family of four, but the arrangement has surprising benefits.
A new report from Global Citizen Solutions ranks the best countries for Americans who want their savings to go further and their quality of life to go up.
Cassandra Tresl and Alex Ninman moved in with Tresl's grandfather in the Czech Republic in 2020 and closed on a house in Abruzzo, Italy, in 2022.
"We fill every day. There's really not a lot of downtime, yet we never feel rushed or pushed or stressed," Andrew Rappaport told BI about life in Costa Rica.
A retiree moved back to Canada from the US after about 30 years. She enjoyed her career in the US but wishes she had moved back sooner.
Families have decided the best way to cope with an economy that makes it harder to raise kids, care for parents, and buy homes is to move in together.
Rei Onoda bought a $50,000 abandoned home in rural Japan while pregnant — she and her husband quit their jobs.
Annie Nicol, 76, is homeschooling her grandson, who lives with her son in a tiny home on her property to live frugally.
Moving to Madrid was my dream, but I dealt with unexpected struggles in Spain. I decided to leave and head to New York City, and I'm so happy I did.
My multigenerational house has four generations all living under one roof. I sleep on the couch so everyone can live together and save money.
Ohio resident Jim McElwain built a tiny home as a DIY hobby. He plans to list it on Airbnb.
The modern family compound is becoming one of real estate’s more strategic plays all across the globe.
From lights to patio sets, here's what interior designers, gardeners, landscapers say is in and out of style in yards and outdoor spaces this year.
In a Cornish village called Nansledan, sixteen homes just went to people who were sleeping rough. Designed with them. Indistinguishable from every other house on the street. A front door that doesn't announce your circumstances.
Paying a professional organizer to help declutter and organize my home and kids' toys was mostly worth it. Here are the best tips I learned.
Texan Angie Smith quit her well-paid job to move to Tuscany. A quieter lifestyle has left her calmer and healthier, leading to her losing 42 pounds.
Childless, single, and in my 40s, I moved from London to a small town in the Highlands years ago. It's nice but hard to make friends in the community.
After moving to Italy, Linda Meyer started a Facebook group, inviting women stuck in the same midlife rut to visit and experience her village.
My mom built an addition onto my house so she could live with us and remain independent. Our multigenerational setup even boosted our home's value.
American dad Derek Laan says that in Korea, he makes less money in exchange for a more interesting life.
It took Ruth Barry three years to get a US green card. Then she moved her family back to Berlin.
My husband and I retired to our Oregon farm and now share the home with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild.
Jessica Rust and her husband bought a tiny home outside New Orleans for $37,500. Thirteen years later, they love the financial freedom it gives them.
Our family moved abroad twice to different countries. We were surprised the biggest challenges involved housing and healthcare, not making friends.
Plus, Kristen Wiig dropped the price on a house she is selling in Pasadena, Calif., and Joe Jonas is selling a Brooklyn condo.
From artificial turf to terracotta pots, here's what interior designers, gardeners, and landscapers would never put in a backyard or outdoor space.
I moved from New York City to Toronto for love. It wasn't easy to build a new social life in Canada, but with time, I made long-lasting friendships.
David Ellis' wife had spent years living far from her family for his career. When she wanted to return to Japan, it was his turn to follow.
Ryan Courtnage quit the tech company he cofounded and bought 22 acres of land in Creston, British Columbia.
Denver had everything I wanted, including a strong group of friends. Now that prices are going up, many of those friends are moving away.
We've lived in a van for over three years, and some of the most frequent questions we're asked involve hygiene, space, and our long-term plans.
