Comments on: Extreme Personal Finance: Homeless By Choice

By: A.

A. — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:47:39 +0000

From the article: “He had racked up more than $10,000 in credit card debt and was struggling to pay for school and save money for a three-month road trip. So on July 29, 2005, he started living in his truck, with the goal of lasting one year.”

I’m not sure I would call this homeless BY CHOICE… This is homeless by being able to afford it.

By: Extreme Personal Finance: America on $10 a Day ? Get Rich Slowly

Extreme Personal Finance: America on $10 a Day ? Get Rich Slowly — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:00:54 +0000

[...] love stories of extreme personal finance. In the past I’ve written about a guy who was homeless by choice, how to pay off your mortgage in three years, and about the most fuel-efficient driver in the [...]

By: m

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:59:30 +0000

In response to Judy’s comment, my guess is he prefers a share over a studio due to the lower cost, not because space is an issue for him.

By: Extreme Personal Finance: Living on $12,000 a Year ? Get Rich Slowly

Extreme Personal Finance: Living on $12,000 a Year ? Get Rich Slowly — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:01:14 +0000

[...] Homeless by choice [...]

By: Judy

Judy — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:54:49 +0000

If he really wants an apartment without roommates, he could find a small studio most likely and not have to deal with people in his space. If he can live in a truck for 18 months, I’m sure he could stand living in a small studio apartment!

By: tolak

tolak — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 07:30:52 +0000

It’s very easy to fall into this way of living, and very hard to bounce back. I very much doubt it’s just temporary.

I’ve known a couple of types in similar situations, they start with a reasonable plan, but they get used to it and drift far from the norm. I hope the interest he’s generating will not give anyone ideas.

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:36:21 +0000

Wow. Sounds like Andy might have other issues if he has succeeded and now claims a hatred of people.

Interesting story…

By: Kitty

Kitty — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 20:19:09 +0000

Norman, that reminds me of my father-in-law, who lived in a mail truck for a couple of years while attending college for free by sitting in on classes. He’s actually been immortalized in one of those humorous anecdotes that “Reader’s Digest” publishes.

Me, I lived in a Honda Civic for a month and a half to save up for a security deposit. It sucked ass, and I would never have dreamed of blogging about the experience because I was deeply ashamed.

Once I found a place to rent, a friend of mine lived in a tent in the backyard for a year to save up money to go back to school. Honestly, I don’t think this kind of thing is so terribly uncommon.

By: Norman

Norman — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:20:55 +0000

I have a friend who has lived in a truck or a van (and a little while in a cave) for the last 20 years by choice. He is now in his first year of law school in the Bay Area and is still homeless.