My name is Carol. I live in a suburb of Chicago where I’ve raised my four kids with my husband, Mr. Band Director.

In 2015, we sold our beloved family home—4-bedrooms, 2-baths, years of memories, a treehouse, and a porch—and did something a little crazy. We downsized to a 2-bedroom, 1-bath home across town. We cut our mortgage bill in half along with our square footage.

Our new house, the Cozy Cottage, has changed our lives in ways we never imagined. We are learning so much about the things we own and the things that own us! Stop in and read a little about how and why our family made this change. I’d love to hear from others forging a path to a simpler life!