Kristin Haynes and her partner Tom have spent 10 years living without rent, alternating between a campervan in the US during summer and a sailboat in Mexico during winter. Forgoing rent allowed her to pay off debt, start an online business with a six-figure annual revenue, and save hundreds of thousands of dollars for retirement.
According to Haynes, giving up a house saves at least $20,000 a year. Over ten years the couple went through a tent, a Toyota Prius, a sailboat, a Chevy Astro Van and a Mercedes Sprinter Van.
However, this lifestyle comes with trade-offs: lack of stability, household inconveniences, and uncertainty about where to sleep each night. Haynes now considers renting an apartment for a few months each year to access basic amenities.