Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

salon.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 55 posts

Re: Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

#11

Post by bretthoerner »

joshu wrote: post #9
rauljara wrote: post #7

I have a grad-student friend who is much better off financially than the blogger, but decided to go the van route himself after reading about other van dwellers on line. I think the primary motivation was a desire to achieve as much independence as possible. He could quit his job tomorrow and not have to worry about scraping up any money for years, his only real concerns being cell phone, car insurance, gas, and food…

What happens when you have to take your house in for service?

This was asked in regards to the RV link posted a month ago. He said most places that service RVs and vans are setup to work on them during the day and allow you access to it at night. Otherwise you spend a little more that week for a really cheap hotel. Big deal, it's a lot less than what you'd pay per month on average.

Re: Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

#13

Post by Psyonic »

willhf wrote: post #8
slapshot wrote: post #4

Wait -- his mom offered to buy him lodging (and possibly tuition). Is it really "frugal" to turn down a place to sleep, or just shortsighted?

Well put. Does the world not already provide enough difficult challenges? I encourage others to test themselves by endeavoring to make the world a better place. Yes, I know that sounds condescending, but I cannot stand the author's self-absorbtion: "By making life harder for myself, I prove how macho I am!"

You're being downvoted, but I think you bring up an interesting contrarian position that I'm surprised so many here disagree with. Couldn't he be working on a startup, instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van?

Re: Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

#14

Post by pyre »

Psyonic wrote: post #13
willhf wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well put. Does the world not already provide enough difficult challenges? I encourage others to test themselves by endeavoring to make the world a better place. Yes, I know that sounds condescending, but I cannot stand the author's self-absorbtion: "By making life harder for myself, I prove how macho I am!"

You're being downvoted, but I think you bring up an interesting contrarian position that I'm surprised so many here disagree with. Couldn't he be working on a startup, instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van?

> Couldn't he be working on a startup, instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van?

Why does "working on a startup" equate with "making the world a better place?"

Re: Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

#15

Post by rbanffy »

willhf wrote: post #8
slapshot wrote: post #4

Wait -- his mom offered to buy him lodging (and possibly tuition). Is it really "frugal" to turn down a place to sleep, or just shortsighted?

Well put. Does the world not already provide enough difficult challenges? I encourage others to test themselves by endeavoring to make the world a better place. Yes, I know that sounds condescending, but I cannot stand the author's self-absorbtion: "By making life harder for myself, I prove how macho I am!"

> but I cannot stand the author's self-absorbtion: "By making life harder for myself, I prove how macho I am!"

Aren't you projecting something unto him?

Re: Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

#16

Post by bretthoerner »

Psyonic wrote: post #13
willhf wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well put. Does the world not already provide enough difficult challenges? I encourage others to test themselves by endeavoring to make the world a better place. Yes, I know that sounds condescending, but I cannot stand the author's self-absorbtion: "By making life harder for myself, I prove how macho I am!"

You're being downvoted, but I think you bring up an interesting contrarian position that I'm surprised so many here disagree with. Couldn't he be working on a startup, instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van?

> instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van

Uh, I think you mean "instead of going to graduate school."

Re: Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

#17

Post by potatolicious »

bretthoerner wrote: post #16
Psyonic wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're being downvoted, but I think you bring up an interesting contrarian position that I'm surprised so many here disagree with. Couldn't he be working on a startup, instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van?

> instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van Uh, I think you mean "instead of going to graduate school."

Plenty of people go to grad school on limited means and still manage to live in a heated, watered apartment. IMHO this whole exercise seems more like an attempt to escape consumerism (in whatever way the author has defined it), more than it is about being able to afford education.

Re: Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

#18

Post by billswift »

pyre wrote: post #14
Psyonic wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're being downvoted, but I think you bring up an interesting contrarian position that I'm surprised so many here disagree with. Couldn't he be working on a startup, instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van?

> Couldn't he be working on a startup, instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van? Why does "working on a startup" equate with "making the world a better place?"

Since the only way to make money is to provide something people want, if you are doing something that provides you with money, you are making your customers' world a better place, at least they must think so.

Re: Living in a van - an inspirational story of frugality and achievement

#20

Post by misuba »

potatolicious wrote: post #17
bretthoerner wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> instead of living off rice in an ant-filled van Uh, I think you mean "instead of going to graduate school."

Plenty of people go to grad school on limited means and still manage to live in a heated, watered apartment. IMHO this whole exercise seems more like an attempt to escape consumerism (in whatever way the author has defined it), more than it is about being able to afford education.

The author is 100% clear that the exercise is an attempt to escape debt. He's got plenty of options if he just wants to afford an education.
Post reply on HN