The average size of the American home is shrinking -- it dropped in both 2008 and 2009 after 15 straight years of growth -- but most of us are still living larger than people in the Big Apple. Home size in Manhattan is about half the national average.

One New Yorker has taken her love of frugal living to the extreme. Felice Cohen’s apartment measures just 90 square feet, but she doesn’t see it as a sacrifice. With such a small space, she pays just $700 to live in a part of town where rents average $3,600 per month.

Her kitchen consists of a toaster oven, hot pot, and mini fridge, but she claims her backyard is larger than average: “I look out my window, and it’s New York City. I mean, that’s my backyard. Central Park is a block away. I can go into the park. I have Lincoln Center. I have libraries. I have gyms all over the place. Sometimes, I feel like you’re in college, and it’s a huge campus, and you can take advantage of everything you want to take advantage of.” Learn how Felice organizes her 90-square-foot home.

Granted, Cohen had a bit of a panic attack the first night in her apartment when she woke up in the loft bed with the ceiling 23 inches from her face, but she’s grown accustomed to the small space. Now when she goes back to her childhood home, she misses her apartment’s coziness:

“I think a lot of people have a lot of space that they’re not using. I grew up in a place where my bedroom was 17 feet by 17 feet with two walk-in closets that combined were almost the size of this apartment ... when I go home now, I go in the closet just to feel like I’m back in New York.”

That is pretty extreme. I think I could do that for a little while, but it would get old FAST. I wouldn't have minded that in college, if it was my only option, I could definitely make do. But yea, that's crazy.

I know folk will go to all lengths to be able to be in NYC. I lived there when I went to college and unless you're a Broadway actor or some sort of occupation that requires you actually reside there, if all u can afford is a grossly overpriced closet...I just don't get it.

I love having space(s) and a yard where our dogs can run. And if I had to get dressed and in an elevator every damn time Lola wanted to pee or shit I'd have to shoot myself.

how can you fuck properly in that bed?

Wow. I genuinely know monks who live in bigger personal quarters than that.

As a younger single guy -- or if I had no other choice -- I could do it, but probably for only a year or two. Beyond that, while big living spaces have never quite turned me on, I'm thinking a good roommate or a commute from the other four burroughs might be a reasonable compromise for a wee bit more elbow room.

[Edited 4/7/11 2:52am]

ZombieKitten said:

how can you fuck properly in that bed?

The Japanese got closet living right we should take notes.

ZombieKitten said:

how can you fuck properly in that bed?

I thought the same thing! I was like "I'd have to find a new place just for that alone."

Eh, I get it. I get wanting to live affordably alone in a fabulous NYC location. I'd do it. Or would have, when I was younger.

I've had quite small apartments and I'm not partial to "things" so I don't need a lot to be happy.

These days I'd need space for my man and my kitties and there's no need to find something that small and still be affordable in Minneapolis.

PurpleRighteous1 said:

ZombieKitten said:

how can you fuck properly in that bed?

I thought the same thing! I was like "I'd have to find a new place just for that alone."

lets hope HIS ceiling isn't so low

johnart said:

I know folk will go to all lengths to be able to be in NYC. I lived there when I went to college and unless you're a Broadway actor or some sort of occupation that requires you actually reside there, if all u can afford is a grossly overpriced closet...I just don't get it.

I love having space(s) and a yard where our dogs can run. And if I had to get dressed and in an elevator every damn time Lola wanted to pee or shit I'd have to shoot myself.

I agree that its silly, but her location is beautiful for $700 a month. Other than not having a full kitchen, the way she has it organized, it really isn't lacking much.

Now, if she was coupled, that would change everything. Two people in there ALL THE TIME? No way.

ZK, very carfefully. Ya know, short strokes. Or you just use the ladder, or the office chair, or the other chair, or the shower... or the floor...

And yes, I could totally live that way. I would have to pay for a storage space to keep my books, comics and records, because I'm not getting rid of those. But I could easily live in that space with access to so much in walking distance of my front door.

she has more desk space than anything!

she doesn't utilize the space well

Cerebus said:

ZK, very carfefully. Ya know, short strokes. Or you just use the ladder, or the office chair, or the other chair, or the shower... or the floor...

bruised elbows and knees!!!

it's worse than camping

formallypickles said:

she has more desk space than anything!

she doesn't utilize the space well

I'm often at my desk for 18 hours out of the day. Maybe that's why her space looked livable to me.

I know exactly where that building is -- I used to live a few blocks away! I really miss that neighborhood; even though I'm only 17 blocks north, it's not the same. The average of $3600 seems a little high to me -- they must be average all apartment sizes, not just studios/pied a terres, which is what hers would be. One bedrooms in that 'hood are probably $2200+.

I could not live in an apartment that small -- I have too many art history books that I need. I'm also sort of a home body and I could not relax in that tiny of a space. I also cook a lot so I need a "real" kitchen. (It doesn't have to be huge, but it has to have more than a mini-fridge and two-burner stove.)

OH and I know it sounds all romantic and shit but NO, Central Park is NOT your backyard.

It's a fuckin park.

I don't walk to my backyard. I open the door and I'm there.

johnart said:

OH and I know it sounds all romantic and shit but NO, Central Park is NOT your backyard.

It's a fuckin park.

I don't walk to my backyard. I open the door and I'm there.

Not to mention the fact that there is actually, ya know, PEOPLE in Central Park. I agree with your sentiment, but it would still be nice to be that close (depending on which part of the park you were close to).

I hated Manhattan, btw. I wasn't/isn't my kind of place at all.

Cerebus said:

johnart said:

OH and I know it sounds all romantic and shit but NO, Central Park is NOT your backyard.

It's a fuckin park.

I don't walk to my backyard. I open the door and I'm there.

Not to mention the fact that there is actually, ya know, PEOPLE in Central Park. I agree with your sentiment, but it would still be nice to be that close (depending on which part of the park you were close to).

I hated Manhattan, btw. I wasn't/isn't my kind of place at all.

During college, The Ramble was my backyard. Look it up.

[Edited 4/6/11 21:28pm]

i can see if i didnt stay home a lot have just enough space, but for someone who spends most of their time at home.......i shudder to think.

johnart said:

Cerebus said:

Not to mention the fact that there is actually, ya know, PEOPLE in Central Park. I agree with your sentiment, but it would still be nice to be that close (depending on which part of the park you were close to).

I hated Manhattan, btw. I wasn't/isn't my kind of place at all.

During college, The Ramble was my backyard. Look it up.

[Edited 4/6/11 21:28pm]

OK, just read parts and pieces of about ten different articles/stories. It was alternately described as acres of rustic nature, a good place to bird watch, a common place for gay men to have random sexual encounters in the outdoors and at one time a favorite spot for gay bashers to look for prey. I couldn't really find anything that gave me a real feel for the area over any particular timeframe, either. Saw that it was becoming a problem area in the 60s and wasn't really cleaned up until the last decade, so I'm guessing it wasn't the safest place when you were living there.

Might find out soon if the government buys back this land we're on to build an expressway and gives my wife's family a pittance for it.

Cerebus said:

johnart said:

During college, The Ramble was my backyard. Look it up.

[Edited 4/6/11 21:28pm]

OK, just read parts and pieces of about ten different articles/stories. It was alternately described as acres of rustic nature, a good place to bird watch, a common place for gay men to have random sexual encounters in the outdoors and at one time a favorite spot for gay bashers to look for prey. I couldn't really find anything that gave me a real feel for the area over any particular timeframe, either. Saw that it was becoming a problem area in the 60s and wasn't really cleaned up until the last decade, so I'm guessing it wasn't the safest place when you were living there.

I was on 79th and Amsterdam. Hotel Fauchere (back then college students and a few assisted older folk, now a fancy hotel, as I imagine it started out as). The neighborhood was great and safe. Horny late teen who did not do a whole lot of bird watchin'. Get me?

EDIT:

Damn I keep trynna post without edits

[Edited 4/6/11 21:38pm]

johnart said:

Cerebus said:

OK, just read parts and pieces of about ten different articles/stories. It was alternately described as acres of rustic nature, a good place to bird watch, a common place for gay men to have random sexual encounters in the outdoors and at one time a favorite spot for gay bashers to look for prey. I couldn't really find anything that gave me a real feel for the area over any particular timeframe, either. Saw that it was becoming a problem area in the 60s and wasn't really cleaned up until the last decade, so I'm guessing it wasn't the safest place when you were living there.

I was on 79th and Amsterdam. Hotel Fauchere (back then college students and a few assisted older folk, now a fancy hotel, as I imagine it started out as). The neighborhood was great and safe. Horny late teen who did not do a whole lot of bird watchin'. Get me?

EDIT:

Damn I keep trynna post without edits

Totally get you.

And I'm having the same edit problems you are. But did you notice that I always take out your edit timestamps when I quote you?

Cerebus said:

johnart said:

I was on 79th and Amsterdam. Hotel Fauchere (back then college students and a few assisted older folk, now a fancy hotel, as I imagine it started out as). The neighborhood was great and safe. Horny late teen who did not do a whole lot of bird watchin'. Get me?

EDIT:

Damn I keep trynna post without edits

Totally get you.

And I'm having the same edit problems you are. But did you notice that I always take out your edit timestamps when I quote you?

OOOOH!!! U slick.

I could live that way-If I was putting bank away for a real home some place else in the future.

Although, I have an extensive wardrobe that I need access to.

Plus, the sexing has to be done down below or on the ladder, or the roof.

Is there a toilet and a shower? cause really if there is I could do it. Granted you would have to have a very active lifestyle where you basically just needed a place to sleep and clean yourself.

lazycrockett said:

Is there a toilet and a shower? cause really if there is I could do it. Granted you would have to have a very active lifestyle where you basically just needed a place to sleep and clean yourself.

yes-if you watch the video, they show it.

^Didnt watch the video, but then its totally doable.

ZombieKitten said:

how can you fuck properly in that bed?

challenges can bring out the best in us!

NDRU said:

ZombieKitten said:

how can you fuck properly in that bed?

challenges can bring out the best in us!

or kill you