I downsized from my city apartment to a tiny house in the countryside to save money – but my cost of living increased instead

• Stacie DaPonte, 31, downsized from renting an apartment in Toronto to a tiny home in the country.
• DaPonte initially wanted to save money but says her costs are higher now.
• She loves being closer to nature and will have paid off the house in three years. 

This as-told-to essay is from an interview with Stacie DaPonte, 31, about living in a tiny house outside Toronto. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always lived small, even when I was renting a 400-square-foot apartment in downtown Toronto for $1,000 a month. I love city life, but when the pandemic hit, I was stuck at home more.