While many people typically wait until they are at least 30 years old to build their dream home, the thrill of hand-crafting your ideal living space is unmatched.
Imagine the journey of creating a plan, putting your heart and soul into it, and finally seeing your vision come to life. That’s exactly what Tom did. At just 17 years old, he used his skill, creativity, and determination to make his dream a reality.
Driven by rising housing costs and a desire for independence, Tom set out to build a modest home using recycled materials. He discovered he could create something completely from scratch while staying within a budget.
“My vision for the cabin was to keep things simple and provide a stress-free lifestyle. Everything I have is mine; I paid for everything”, Tom explained.
Now, at 20, Tom is relieved knowing he won’t have to spend his hard-earned money on rent. “It’s a no-brainer life and once you’ve built something, it really is yours”, he added.
Tom’s house is located on his grandfather’s extensive property and retains a charming English country aesthetic, complete with a side window. At 17, he bought a caravan and immediately began building it while working and completing his carpentry apprenticeship, which he completed in December.
The front of his house is made of larch wood, sourced cheaply from a local sawmill, while the side walls are made of fence boards. All the windows are recycled, sourced from a website that specializes in used materials. He recently added a porch, using boards from a scaffolding company and other scrap and reclaimed wood he recovered from the job.
Upon entering Tom’s home, visitors are greeted by beautiful reclaimed wood and a tranquil poster of a seascape. “My goal was to use only reclaimed wood for the build because it’s budget-friendly,” Tom noted. Much of the wood in his home was salvaged from old homes that he personally stripped down, sanded and repurposed.
The living area includes a compact workspace for his work and meals, a standard sofa, and a wall-mounted TV. In the future, he hopes to upgrade to a multifunctional sofa with built-in storage.
Tom especially loves his kitchen, where he made a fully functional worktop out of recycled scaffolding boards and spent hours sanding and painting it. The kitchen is equipped with essential appliances such as a fridge, stove and toaster.
Opposite the kitchen is a compact bathroom with a small chemical toilet with electric flush. The shower area has corrugated iron walls and copper fittings, evoking a rustic farmhouse feel. Back in the living room, a ladder leads to the loft, which leads to Tom’s cozy bedroom with double mattress.
Tom began building his dream home at age 17 with a budget of $8,200 and an hourly wage of $5.50 and managed to save most of his income to finance the construction of his home using recycled materials.
Imagine how his home will evolve as he completes the various upgrades he has in mind! For a full tour of Tom’s home, check out the video below
Woman Suspected Her Husband of Cheating with Their Cleaning Lady – The Reality Left Her Shocked
John and Sarah don’t have much time for housework because they are so focused on their careers. John decides to hire a cleaner in order to ease their lives. However, the pair quickly discovers that drama has entered their house.
John, my spouse, and I have always placed a high value on our careers. However, our careers have taken off so much that we hardly have time to maintain our house.
As an architect, I have to travel frequently between locations, but John works remotely as long as he has access to a computer.
I have a close friendship with John. The motto “work hard, play harder” has always been appealing to us. We put in a lot of work, and when we can, we take the nicest vacations.
–Promotion–
But lately, I’ve started to doubt John despite my better judgment.
He made a big decision around six months ago when he hired Vanessa, a cleaner who was referred to him by a nearby organization.
One morning as he was drinking his coffee, he commented, “It’s just to help us around the house, Sarah.”
I wasn’t sure whether I wanted a stranger to search our house when we weren’t there, but I answered, “I think we can manage.”
John remarked, “We’ve been so behind on laundry.” “Our hours are insane.” We can carry on as usual at least with the cleaner, and having a clean house will be a plus.
In the end, I caved. I was sick of doing laundry at night and then forgetting about it, I had to admit.
Then, though, things changed.
John was a home worker, as far as I knew.
I’m just in my comfort zone, so it’s easier. Additionally, I can think more clearly when my coworkers aren’t talking,” he remarked.
Vanessa came to live with us as a cleaner, and I saw that John spent more time working from home. I dismissed it at first, figuring it was just a coincidence, but I also knew Vanessa was a really beautiful woman.
I would obsess on John’s actions at home, convinced that he was having an affair with Vanessa, rather than focusing at work.
I completed the task at hand.
One day, I left work early, knowing that John had chosen to work from home and that Vanessa would be spending the day at our house.
Silently driving back to our home, I wondered what I would do if I discovered them in compromised positions.
I told myself, You’re going to leave him. After you depart, you’ll begin a new life.
When I entered the house, I expected to see John at his desk, but his home office was unoccupied.
I assumed Vanessa would be in the kitchen when I stepped in, but it was also empty.
There was laughter coming from my room as I ascended the stairs, and there were garments all over my bedroom door threshold.
Heart thumping from the impending sight, I stormed into our bedroom. Even though it was a gut punch, it was a man I had never seen before, not John, who was sleeping on the bed with Vanessa.
I was so angry because I couldn’t believe my own family had betrayed me.
“What’s happening here?” With a voice quivering from anger and amazement, I demanded. The fact that the man wasn’t John relieved me. But why did Vanessa think it was acceptable to let someone else sleep in our bed?
Vanessa was stunned, her eyes bulging with shame, as the unidentified man struggled to put on his clothes.
“We… “Ma’am, I didn’t mean for this to happen,” she stumbled and shook her head, trying to defend her conduct.
I ordered them to leave my house or face the repercussions of their behavior, but her words were ignored.
I resisted, threatening to call the cops. After telling her partner to leave the house, Vanessa stayed back.
“Allow me to clarify,” she said.
I couldn’t think of the right words to describe why I didn’t want to look at her for another second as I gazed at her.
“All I wanted was a job,” she declared. And I was really appreciative that the agency paired me up with John and you. However, as I got to know this guy, I started to feel something for him.
“For what duration has this been ongoing?” Not wanting to hear more, I asked.
“Just a few weeks, tops,” she remarked. However, I’ve been dating Julian for some time. I asked him over as soon as I realized I would be alone at home today.
Calmly, I told her to get outside. “Just get out of my house.”
John was at the grocery store when I called him.
He said, “I just came to get some stuff for dinner.”
When I informed him what had happened, he promised to come home right away.
I made John replace our dirty bedding as soon as he got home from Vanessa and Julian’s afternoon activities.
It seems that John had naively trusted Vanessa without realizing her true intentions.
John remarked, “She became a companion.” Nothing more than someone to flirt with. Furthermore, I was unaware that she was entertaining guests.
“Why do you work from home on the days that she shows up for work? To make out? I insisted.
Sarah, not at all. Not initially. I wanted to be here while she worked since I knew you were hesitant to have a stranger in our house. However, it evolved into something a bit more,” he said, running his fingers through his hair.
“So what?” he enquired.
I said, “We report her.”
I went down to the agency the next day and reported Vanessa. Thankfully, they acknowledged the betrayal of confidence and professionalism and handled our issue with diligence.
Vanessa’s employment with the agency ended, and she was cut off from our house.
Following the entire incident, John and I reduced our work hours. We came to the conclusion that spending time together and mending our relationship’s fissures was the only way to get it back together.
I made a promise to myself that I would leave if I even suspected adultery, but eventually I came to the conclusion that I didn’t want to face life without John.
We’re determined to come out stronger, so we’re starting therapy soon.
Do you have any comparable tales?
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