"Living in a One-Bedroom with Three Kids: How We're Saving £700 a Month Despite the Critics!"

A FAMILY-of-five have revealed why they have no regrets about down-sizing to a one bedroom apartment, as it saves them £700 a month.

Megan Hawkins, 35, and her insurance worker husband Emmet, 37, moved out of their larger family home and into a one-bedroom apartment with their three children, aged seven, four and one, almost two years ago.

Megan Hawkins, 35, and husband Emmet, 37, moved out of their larger family home and into a one-bedroom apartment with their three children, aged seven, four and one Credit: Jam Press The couple sleep in the lounge, with the kids sharing the one bedroom, which is also an office Credit: Jam Press

The move started as a necessity while they “rethought” their finances and priorities, but has become a way of life for the family.

Megan said: “Making this space work requires creativity and flexibility.

“Our kids share the bedroom, where bunk beds serve double duty as sleeping space at night and a home office for my husband during the day.

“Our one-year-old plays a nightly game of musical beds, rotating between co-sleeping with us and a pull-out bed stored in the utility room.

Despite living in a one-bedroom apartment with three young children, the couple say they’re happier than ever Credit: Jam Press The kids have bunk beds which helps the family save more space Credit: Jam Press/@megshomeflow

“Our king-sized bed is in the living room, giving the apartment a studio feel. What is technically the dining room functions as our main family gathering space.

“On work-from-home days, I take the kids to library story time, playdates, or meet-ups to give Emmet quiet and keep everyone moving.

“It’s not perfect, but it works, and the closeness has brought us together in ways we did not expect.”

It started as a temporary plan to save after Megan, from , was diagnosed with a rare brain condition, an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and underwent life-changing brain surgery.

She woke up partially paralysed on her left side and had to relearn how to walk, while mounting medical and her lengthy recovery made staying in their larger home impossible.

Megan, who has a master’s degree in early childhood special education, said: “Downsizing began as a practical decision but quickly became something much deeper.

“Living in a larger home started to feel overwhelming.

“There was constant maintenance, unused rooms, and money flowing out faster than it was coming in.

“We weren’t saving, and mentally it felt like we were always behind.

“Renting out our home and moving into a one-bedroom apartment was meant to be temporary, just one year to reset financially.”

Now, despite living in a one-bedroom apartment with three young children, the couple say they’re happier than ever, saving around £700 a month and putting money aside to build a future family compound on land they have already purchased.

Megan, who is currently a stay-at-home mum, said: “The benefits have been surprisingly profound.

“The most immediate one is less maintenance.

“There are fewer rooms to clean, fewer things to manage, and far less mental clutter.

“That has freed up time and energy for what matters most to us, being together, getting outside, and making memories.

“This lifestyle also allows for more flexibility.

“Last-minute trips, adventures, and spontaneous plans are easier when we are not tied to a house that constantly needs something.

“Financially, downsizing made it possible for us to buy the land for our future home.

“Now we are focused on saving for the next steps.”

Although the arrangement isn’t always easy, Megan says it has brought the family closer together.

She said: “Our kids genuinely love it.

“At this stage of their lives, the closeness feels comforting rather than limiting.

“Our apartment complex has bike paths, a common green space, and a pool.

“They have learned how to share, problem-solve, and get creative with play.

“It’s reminded us that kids don’t need more space, they need presence, safety, and joy.”

The biggest challenge, she admits, comes during when everyone is forced indoors.

Megan said: “Being indoors with three energetic kids in a small space tests every ounce of patience and creativity we have.

“On those days, even an extra hundred square feet feels like a luxury.

“Everything has to be rotated, purged, and thought through.

“Toys, clothes, school supplies, and routines all require constant attention.

“There is very little room for spontaneous mess.

“At the same time, this lifestyle has forced us to slow down and be more mindful about how we use our space and time.

“We rely heavily on routines and multi-purpose areas.

“The one thing we truly miss is a kitchen table.

“Right now our meals usually happen at the kitchen bar, often with one of us standing, which has become the one downside for us.”

Megan – who now shares advice online for other people living in smaller spaces – says not everyone has understood their decision.

The important thing for them, however, is how life-changing the decision has been for their finances.

She said: “Reactions have been mixed.

“One person told me we were taking a step backward, which was painful to hear.

“Overall, friends and family have been supportive, curious, and even inspired.

“This decision was about what worked best for our family.

“But it makes sense for our future.

“And don’t get me wrong, living this way is not always sunshine and rainbows.

“It can be really hard.

“In fact, some days it is straight-up exhausting.

“Small space, big emotions, tight budgets, and zero privacy. Giving up comfort is hard.

“Saying no to normal life so we can say yes to long-term stability is hard.

“Watching other people upgrade while we downsize is hard. But staying stuck forever is harder.

“I never want my kids stressing about housing the way we did.

“I want them to always have a place to land, a safety net and a home base.

“Maybe one day they will not even want to live there and that is fine but they will always have land, options and something solid to fall back on.

“This lifestyle was never the dream.

“It’s the sacrifice to get there.”