Most middle schoolers aren’t thinking about building houses — but 13-year-old Luke Thill from Dubuque, Iowa, is an exception.
He built his own tiny house in his parents’ backyard for about $1,500, funded through lawn-mowing, odd jobs, and a small fundraiser. With help from friends and family — including an electrician who traded work for garage cleaning — Luke gathered mostly recycled materials, many from his grandma’s home.
The finished 89-square-foot house has electricity, a lofted bed, a TV, and a microwave, though no plumbing yet. Luke often does homework there and sometimes spends the night.
His dad made sure Luke handled most of the work and costs himself, believing the project would teach life lessons. Luke has since shared his journey on YouTube, hoping to inspire other kids to follow their dreams.
He even plans to build a slightly bigger house when he goes to college.