My Story

Here is some of my story.

After years of trying to invest in my own businesses, and being out of work for six months, and finally finding a job that I LOVE but doesn't pay a lot, I decided I had way too much debt. To decrease my debt, I gave up my apartment and looked for a room to rent. My uncle offered me a room in his house.

Sometimes I thought to myself, "I could really save a ton of money if I didn't have to pay any rent to anybody." But living out of my car was a crazy idea. I was a professional middle class person - a teacher - and I had a dog. The whole idea was just silly.

After a year with my uncle, I leased an apartment to house some relatives who were visiting me for the summer, but I told my uncle I would be back in the fall.

1.5 weeks ago, as I was preparing to move back into my uncle's house, he texted me and said the rent was increasing. To make a long story short (I'll tell you the long version later), I decided this was the time. I would live in my car. I would follow Dave Ramsey's advice and live like no one else so that one day I can live like no one else (although he never said live in your car).

There was one glitch: I couldn't tell a soul.

My family and friends would never let me do this. I'm grateful to have people who would offer me a room, a couch, or something other than my car. However, I don't want to stay with anyone right now because I will insist on paying rent, paying the utility bills, buying the groceries, or SOMETHING, which defeats the purpose of what I'm trying to do - save money and kill the debt.

I've calculated that if I stay in my car for 10 months, and if I put my uncle's rent ($400) towards a bill each month, that $4000 will pay off one credit card and half of another. I will also be able to build up my emergency fund to $1000 without living paycheck to paycheck.

So that's my plan. September 2, 2013, Labor Day, was my first official day as a homeless person. For the first time ever in my life, I had nowhere to go that night and call home.