Can I get advice on how to convince my wife to live in a small place?

My wife and I have been looking at the perfect location in a downtown that we love. The problem is, the only affordable condos are around 500 square feet. My wife gets very defensive whenever we start to look at anything that size. She says she feels like it would be a shoebox and the walls will be closing in around her. She also complains about lack of closets space. Does anybody have any suggestions about how to slowly bring her around to embrace small living? It's our only hope of living where we want. Can I get advice on how to convince my wife to live in a small place?
well i don't know your situation and details but i know that the cost of living is increasing and renting a larger apartment to accommodate our belongings, can become expensive. if you are the only one who works maybe you need to remind her that renting a place outside of your means, would not be a wise choice. my husband and i went from a 905 to 600 sq ft when we moved. at first i was hesitant but as i started living there, it gave me a reason to give away all the junk i was hording!! i had no need of it and i realized how selfish i was for wanting a bigger apartment. it just wasn't in our budget. so now i do with what we have and i love our small apt. If i had wanted a bigger apt, i would have have to find a job but then that would have meant me not being at home with our newborn. i didn't want that. marriage is about compromise and understanding. maybe you need to be straight with her and tell her no and make the final decision. if she insists on this bigger apartment, then tell her to foot the bill, meaning have her get a job or put up the extra money for rent. that will change her mind much faster. I know its your responsibility as a husband to provide a home for your wife and your family but not at the cost of getting into debt!! then you won't have any home to live in! tell her that! hope all works well for you two, take careCan I get advice on how to convince my wife to live in a small place?
I think if it's your only hope then she will eventually come round herself.


She is probably like me...I dream too big and want the perfect place that I've always pictured myself in but inside I know I won't get that at all...It's still nice to have a little bit of hope though.


Let her have her look around and she will come to soon enough. She probably has her heart set on a bigger place and doesn't want to let that go just yet.


We have our ideas of the perfect place with our perfect plans but it rarely works out that way. No matter what it's never enough.


She just needs time I think.


Good Luck, I'm sure you'll be great together in a small or big place.
I think that your wife has a point. 500 square feet is a very small space. I understand that you want to live in the downtown area but I would hold out. Maybe you can live on the edge of the downtown scene you might be able to find something bigger and in your price range.


I think you should listen to your wife, and try to compromise.
I just had this problem and I convinced my wife by showing her the money that we would save and we could do many more things. And I also told her how I enjoyed the coziness of the smaller place. We've saved money on all utilities and the rent. It worked out fine since it's just the two of us. We are saving an additional $600 a month. Ching Ching!
making a pros and cons list always helps


for every negative thing she comes up with, counter it with a solution. not enough closet space? maybe you should down size your ';stuff'; or look at storage containers.


another idea would be to tell her if you live here for a few years, save money and manage it well, then you can move out to a bigger place.





good luck!
This is a serious problem and often a relationship breaker...





I recommend you give her the budget (make sure it is fair), and let her do the search on her own. You have to be strong and NOT let that budget change or you will forever be a doormat
tell her you will get a larger house when its more affordable but in the meantime she'll have to wait on the plus side a smaller place less work will need doing to it ... it will be easier to keep on top of it. if she don't like it tough :D


Good luck
Say it is just too much work to live in the house u r in now,


besides,if you sell your house now and buy the smaller one,the smaller one would not be much money so you would save a bit of money from when you sold your old house.
I agree with your wife just choose somewhere else where you can afford a bigger place. Why is she wrong and you sre right?





who will spend most time in the house? Are you going to have kids or do you have kids?





Compromise!
Try shrinking her. Putting her in a washing machine on a high temperature or else some kind of '; Honey i shrunk my wife '; style shrinking ray would be your best bet.
Don't convince her into a place she doesn't like or she'll be unhappy %26amp; blame you %26amp; the small condo for it.
Sorry but I agree with your wife its to small.
What you describe would be my idea of what hell is like. If I were your wife, there would be no convincing me.






Is there some reason that you absolutely MUST live in that downtown location? If it isn't 100% necessary then you are going to have to compromise. She has already made it clear to you that she cannot live in such a small space. Instead of listening to her you are trying to find a way to manipulating her into agreeing to do something she knows will make her unhappy.





Lets say you win. She agrees and you two move into a condo that is too small for her to be comfortable in. Since physical space is a very important part of someone's happiness, and she is clearly not going to be happy living in that small space, you will be living in VERY close quarters with a very unhappy wife. That sounds like the average guy's idea of hell. All this because you really want to live in a very specific area of downtown.





I think you really need to take stock of why you like that particular area of downtown. Is it a major status area? Is it close to cultural events you enjoy or your workplace? Why is it so important to you that you are willing to sacrifice your wife's happiness and purchase a microscopic condo just to live there? You do realize that in a good market a teeny, impractical condo is actually harder to sell, not easier, even if it is in a good location. If this area you would love to live in has parking or is close to public transportation, then it might just be that it is a nice place to visit, but you can't afford to live there.





I think it is time for the two of you to find someplace cheaper but roomier. Scout out areas that are convenient to that particular downtown area, yet are more up-and-coming than already arrived. That way you will know that your choice is not just a good compromise but also a good investment.





Later on, as you save more money you may someday be able to afford the downtown location that you wish to live in, but right now it is all about being realistic.





Happy wife, happy life, man. Don't try to convince her to do something that will make her unhappy. It will fly back in your face when you are living in a cramped little condo with a perpetually unhappy woman.