Contemplating Living in a Van

[Cylenchar]

Good idea. I'll ask if they need help for cheaper rent. What's the going price for a camper? I can actually use my Nissan Xterra to tow the thing.

You can get a used camper for anywhere from a few Thousand for a fifth wheel, to $20-30k for some of the larger a-class campers

[PetMom]

Cheaprvliving.com
has a lot of stuff about the basics of living in a van or camper - covers a lot of stuff.

Also: many 'mobile homeless' know how to park - a super Wal Mart (wal mart is always there for folks) tend to let people park overnight - but there could be certain ones that don't or permission to park may be on the whim of the overnight manager.

Sleeping at a rest stop in a van should not be illegal unless you are there nightly for more than a few days. Doing so could attract the unwanted attention of patroling police. Mobile people learn to keep low profiles and avoid attention.

Maybe truck stops might be good.

Many cities have passed ordinances to prevent mobile homeless from parking.

One city in CA adopted the 'safe parking lot' program - places where people could safely sleep.

There was a guy who did this a few years ago and actually had a blog - he just wanted to graduate college without a huge student loan.

Much more people have resorted to doing this and some, like you, are interested in doing so to gain financial ground rapidly.

[tripods68]

How about moving back with your parents or siblings?

[Ima saver]

We bought a used camper for $3000 and lived in it for almost a year while building our new house. That would be a lot more room than a van. Of course, we owned the land, so that helped.

[arthurb999]

Rent a cheaper place and cut out the cable, intenet and phone. You could also save on utilities by adjusting the thermastat and taking advantage of your gym like you would if you didn't have a house.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I'd rent a room in a house for nothing. You can eat at work but have a place to shower and sleep without worries. You can usually find these deals dirt cheap.

[wincrasher]

For God's sake have some dignity.

Buying a home outright with no mortgage is an admirable goal, but at what cost? Living like a bum for a number of years? Cleaning up with handi-wipes? How long do you think you'll keep that $50k a year job showing up for work with wrinkled up clothes, a handi-wipe shower, etc? I'm sure dates will be impressed when you take them down to your van "down by the river".

How many times do you want to take a crap in a public toilet?

Just get another roomate and economize where you can. And you guys encourage this knucklehead!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

If you live in a city big enough to sort of anonymously disappear in your van, then you probably live in a city big enough to have some really low rent apartments.

Lots of people who are out of work or underemployed right now are looking for roommates. Perhaps you can find something much less expensive than your current arrangements.

[Broken Arrow]

And you guys encourage this knucklehead!

But why not? If he is able to find a way to live legally and hygienically, what would be the harm then? What is the going price for dignity and pride nowadays? And what is dignity anyway? Is it to maintain a certain level of material standards? Or is it a moral boundary?

I don't encourage it per se, but if it can be done cleanly and legally, then I am not going to judge another man's way of life. Quite the contrary, I believe such thinking requires the ability to break out of conventions and think outside the box. Even as a mere thought experiment, it defines the very spirit of frugality: To use your intellect and creativity to solve problems, rather than just throw more money at it.

Well, that's my personal opinion anyway.

[frito833]

Some good advice here. As for relationships, I don't plan on having one any time soon because I'll be too busy working 80 hrs a week. Besides, going on dates cost money. If I did find "the one" and she didn't support my van dwelling ways, I would consider moving back into a cheaper apartment.

I'm willing to make the sacrifice of living like a bum for couple of years so I can win later in life. Like someone mentioned, I want to gain financial ground rapidly. As for work, my coworkers and boss are doing a pool on how long I can live in a "Van down by the River" LOL. I'm a Software Engineer so they don't care what I wear as long as I don't stink up the place. I think I can get away with doing the handi-wipe showers.

The RV/campground looks like a bust. They want $500 per month not including electricity and that was the cheapest. I asked about working on the side to cut down the rent and said they already have several campground helpers.

Staying with family is out of the question because the job market is terrible where they live. I have no siblings and just moved out here a little over a year ago and don't have any friends that will lend me a couch or a place to park.

Most I want to spend on a room is $200. I do live in a college town and wouldn't mind sharing with other students even if it's a small 10x10 room. If I find a room for that much, I'll scrap the van living idea. I have 1 month left on my lease.

Like I mentioned, I want to try this once . You never know, I might start a blog on my van dwelling experiences. If it doesn't work out, I can move back into an apartment or rent a room.

[frito833]

Cheaprvliving.com
has a lot of stuff about the basics of living in a van or camper - covers a lot of stuff.

Also: many 'mobile homeless' know how to park - a super Wal Mart (wal mart is always there for folks) tend to let people park overnight - but there could be certain ones that don't or permission to park may be on the whim of the overnight manager.

Sleeping at a rest stop in a van should not be illegal unless you are there nightly for more than a few days. Doing so could attract the unwanted attention of patroling police. Mobile people learn to keep low profiles and avoid attention.

Maybe truck stops might be good.

Many cities have passed ordinances to prevent mobile homeless from parking.

One city in CA adopted the 'safe parking lot' program - places where people could safely sleep.

There was a guy who did this a few years ago and actually had a blog - he just wanted to graduate college without a huge student loan.

Much more people have resorted to doing this and some, like you, are interested in doing so to gain financial ground rapidly.

Thanks petmom. Very informative.

[frito833]

This is quite a bit extreme...are there really no opportunities to couch hop with friends etc? Maybe you could cook dinner in exchange for a place to sleep and a shower? Obviously a friend will wonder why you need a couch to sleep on when you're making a decent living--but theyll probably be equally curious as to why you're living out of a car. I think you just need to head over to sharkee strest or airport drive and see if you can find anyone who'll take $200 bucks a month to fill an empty room. Good luck!

What do you mean sharkee strest or airport drive? Websites?

[project15]

Live anywhere near Chicago?

[frito833]

Live in Tallahassee FL.

[cptacek]

I rented a room from a divorced woman I used to work with for $100 a month. Got my own bathroom, got to use the kitchen, etc., but was only there three nights a week. That might be an alternative.

An RV would fit the bill better, imho. Of course, with the gym membership, you could go there and shower every night, watch their tv, etc. You would need to have a place to do laundry. It would be hard to cook out of a van, but easier in an RV...even just a popup camper or something. As the summer comes to an end, I'm sure there will be some great used campers around.

Maybe put an ad on Craigslist (or just word of mouth) that you would like to "rent" someone's back yard so you can hook up electricity and water? If someone wanted to park in our side yard for $150 a month, I would let them.

Have you thought about needing a gun for protection?