Duke grad student lives on campus in van unnoticed

[talisman]

Too long for a c/p with pictures interspersed, but pretty cool story. BradM is jealous.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/duke-grad-student-secretly-lived-in-a-van-to-escape-loan-debt-194021112.html?page=1

[dee]

Have to give the guy credit not many people could do something like that.

[slow99]

It's sc281!!

[livinglegend_86]

Great read!

When he found an ad for a $1,500 1994 Ford Econoline on Craigslist, he knew he was home.

There's a joke in here... somewhere...

[Strychnine]

This part sounds badass - except the pay sucks.

After AmeriCorps, he headed back up North. "I got another job in Cold Foot working for the Gates of Arctic National Park as a backcountry ranger. Finally, it was a decent wage."

[YALE]

He sounds like a pussy slacker.

[talisman]

Sounds like an awesome slacker to me.

[SEB]

Inspiring to say the least. I was in this mind set about 6 years ago when life went to shit for me. Hence living in a 5th Wheel RV I bought for $6850 & then had to save up $3200 to get a Elec meter & spent $250 to pay a electrician to run the power to the RV from meter and I dug the ditch myself with a shovel. I got a member ship at 24hr Fitness & threw myself in to work. I worked 3 jobs. Worked 8 to 5 at United American Insurance redacting in the Law Dept on law suits the company had against them & then after I got off at 5. I went & waited table Reds Patio Grill in Plano since it was always insane traffic at 5 all the way down 75 & 635 & 30. So to keep from sitting in traffic getting mad. I figured might as well wait table's at Reds Patio & miss the rush hour traffic & get a half priced meal every shift I worked. Then on the weekends I worked with Mayflower moving company in Garland doing cash jobs for a drivers. Long story short I slept on a buddys couch till I got $6850 to buy the RV & then did all the above to save up to get my Elec Meter on my property my parents gave me. I drove a Green Honda Civic for 2 years during this time as well. It works & you would be amazed at the money you save living this way. I stayed in shape cause I showered at 24hr fitness & would get up early & work out & start each day with plenty of energy. Ate lots of oatmeal & PB&J & Ramon Noodles. But the rest is history. I think a lot of members on this board have this same drive too

[Sgt Beavis]

I have a lot of respect for people that get off their butts and do for themselves. He didn't look for any handouts. He didn't ask Mom and Dad to take care of his business. He just got up and did it himself. It is a trait that is getting too rare these days.

[YALE]

Sounds like an awesome slacker to me.

I might be kidding. Clearly, he's attacking his problem head on.

[sc281]

It's sc281!!

Lol. I don't get out of bed for $9/hr.


Props to the kid though. He cut expenses to an extent I've never even thought about and probably don't want to.... unless it includes a tent/shack on a hawaiian beach.