General Discussion

ChisolmTrailDem

(9,463 posts) Sun Jun 7, 2015, 12:31 AM Jun 2015

Alternative lifestyles...Which would you choose? [View all]

I spend 1/2 of my income per month on living expense related to rent and utilities. I've been wondering about alternative ways to live and not be a burden on friend/family but also not be homeless.

I've looked on Craigslist for a room for rent and you can find some decent accomodations but most are still comparable to renting an apartment - without the privacy.

I work online so I can work from anywhere. I've been thinking about an RV or a tiny house on a trailer.

What I'm wondering is: What would be your suggestion for alternative ways to live life that are different than the traditional rent/mortgage and utilities model we currently conform to - and which costs less than half a month's income?

36 replies

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Alternative lifestyles...Which would you choose? [View all] ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 OP

Tiny houses are a good way to go. An RV or trailer can Exilednight Jun 2015 #1

Tiny house or container are the frontrunners, I think... ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #11

eventually they start to wear and tear like a house, but you can't really Exilednight Jun 2015 #22

Added to the fact Aerows Jun 2015 #33

What part of the country? MADem Jun 2015 #2

I can actually work from anywhere. As for whether I'm tied to a region, well... ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #12

Well, northern Maine is dirt cheap... waaaay north, I mean... MADem Jun 2015 #19

Guest houses, or maybe lovemydog Jun 2015 #3

Some excellent suggestions, lovemydog! Thanks! nt ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #13

Co-housing always seemed interesting struggle4progress Jun 2015 #4

I looked it up... ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #14

My parents lived on their boat gwheezie Jun 2015 #5

Hmmm... ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #23

Thom Hartmann lives on a boat, he has advocated living on a boat on his program before AZ Progressive Jun 2015 #30

If you can work on line, leave the country. Paka Jun 2015 #6

Can you tell me more, Paka? What kind of accommodations do you enjoy and ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #15

Glad to expand a bit. Paka Jun 2015 #28

Retirement to Thailand. Hmmmm.... A direction of thought that for some reason I ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #36

Check into 'recovered' homes Satyrix Jun 2015 #7

Definitely an idea worth looking into, Satyrix. As for being a rock band nomad, I'm... ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #16

Environmentally friendly lifestyles minimize waste. A frugal lifestyle is a green one. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2015 #8

Absolutely sound and valid viewpoint, lumberjack_jeff. Thank you. nt ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #17

There are places down here in the South where you can live for very little. dixiegrrrrl Jun 2015 #9

Another possibility if you live near a city or resort area is house sitting. Gormy Cuss Jun 2015 #10

That is definitely something to think about, Gormy Cuss. I have family in Florida, lot of ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #21

If it is possible remodel a garage. That has always been one of my dreams. Today I live in one jwirr Jun 2015 #18

I'm leaning heavily toward building my own tiny house. If I should decide to take this route ChisolmTrailDem Jun 2015 #20

Depends on your needs, and what kind of squat or good situation you can find. Zorra Jun 2015 #24

I can't really recommend renting a room TexasBushwhacker Jun 2015 #25

I have always wanted to buy an acre of land somewhere Jamastiene Jun 2015 #26

Houses tiny enough to hook up to trucks Warpy Jun 2015 #27

Buying a Van and doing an RV conversion AZ Progressive Jun 2015 #29

I have been looking into a small drivable RV, like one with the van front end or even small truck Ghost in the Machine Jun 2015 #31

Also, a sample of an RV conversion done on an 80's VW Vanagon AZ Progressive Jun 2015 #32

There was an article in our local paper today about someone who had a tiny house built mnhtnbb Jun 2015 #34

Before I had a child PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #35