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Comment by yuppiepuppie | Hacker News Reader

Curious about your cost of living statement being zero. How did you do that? What kind of life style is that?

I have a several properties, the lot that has my primary residence has another structure on it that is rented out, the property is almost net neutral (barring the cost of my own utilities.) The other properties are rented and net positive.

So technically your cost of living isn‘t really zero, you just have plenty of passive income that covers it.

Yes, that would be technically correct. Which is the best form of correct :-). I guess a more accurate way of say this would be that I have a 0 burn rate life based on owning a single modest property I share with others (the other properties don't factor into that equation), by embracing a more communal way of living in N.A. that is generally looked down on for independent adults.

I think a lot of people with a single family lot don't want to share a house, don't want to share their property, with a slightly more community based approach you can get your burn rate to 0 or even into negative numbers which opens up all kinds of flexibility. After the age of 15 I didn't have a familial safety net so I effectively built my own through modest and shared living long after the age it's frowned upon culturally.

Relatively easy if you're single and employed. Buy a van, park it in the company parking lot. Use kitchen at work and drive to a remote area during the weekend and use solar shower, etc. Might spend $300-500 a month that way.

That’s cool if you want people knowing you live in a van in the company parking lot… that would seriously bust your reputation.

It’s also an easy way to ensure you remain single. Self-reinforcing.

“Remote area” = down by the river.

> Might spend $300-500 a month that way.

$6,000 per year is a long way from zero. That's ~20% of the median income.

It's certainly possible that you're just more frugal than most, but I'm not sure if those numbers add up right. Even if you (1) ignore the cost to purchase and furnish the van in the first place and (2) assume you obtain 100% of your meals for free via "the kitchen at work", ~$400/month seems very low.

Even with an incredibly spartan lifestyle, you'll have maintenance, insurance, inspection and registration fees on the van; health insurance; fuel costs (power when parked, gas when moving); phone service; gym membership (showers, bathroom); hygiene supplies/toiletries; laundry; clothing; household consumables; etc. $100/week seems like a stretch unless you're compromising on personal welfare and/or safety.

At some point you might as well just do away with the van and sleep in the office.

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