5 ms·

I don't really want to discuss my health issues. That is always all kinds of drama. I slept in a tent in whatever greenery I could find, usually on the edge of

by Mz 9y ago

I don't really want to discuss my health issues. That is always all kinds of drama. I slept in a tent in whatever greenery I could find, usually on the edge of town. The reason I did not sleep in a vehicle: I gave up my car years before I went homeless. I no longer drive. I didn't say I didn't save money. I said the OP likely would not save as much as they think. OP said they would save $3000/mo. Let's assume that is current rent. Housing is a place to store all your stuff. Many homeless people rent a storage unit for their stuff. Subtract the cost of your storage unit. Housing allows you to buy food cheaply and cook from scratch. No kitchen means buying a lot of prepared stuff from eateries. If you are suddenly "saving" $3k/mo, you probably will not be eating at the absolute cheapest places to save money. Subtract higher food costs from your savings. If you have a regular job, you need to be presentable. Homeless showers are often pretty horrifying and their schedules are incompatible with most work schedules. Most people will need to pay for some kind of shower access, such as a gym membership, truck stop showers and/or the occasional motel stay. Subtract that from your savings. You can't expect to leave anything in your tent. It isn't secure. You have to carry everything you own everywhere at all times to secure it. If you leave your tent on the sidewalk, it may be gone when you get back. If you have money, you can potentially buy expensive lightweight, ultra slim items to make your alternative lifestyle work, such as a silk sleeping bag liner instead of heavier bedding. Subtract those expenses from your savings. Camping tents are not intended to be lived in. They wear out when you live in them full time. I replaced my tent every one to three months. Subtract that from your savings. Seattle is very wet. Cheap tents are never very waterproof. You either need a more expensive tent or to accept that stuff will be ruined or to check into a hotel anytime it rains hard. When electronics, like a phone or laptop, get wet, they can die. Life on the street is hard on possessions. They routinely get lost, broken or stolen. Subtract that from your savings. Etc. I could probably go on, but that should give you some idea.

wallace_f 9y ago
I see. Thanks for the response. I hope you are doing well now. I imagine Seattle can a cold and rough place to be living in a tent.
ringaroundthetx 9y ago
Thanks for the in depth reply! I asked a question and got downvote censored pretty quick - by time of writing - and I'll probably be shadow banned soon for asking. So, I really appreciate the discussion. I never considered that motel checkins would be a recurring thing for people that live that lifestyle.
- Mz 9y ago
  Motel check-ins are not a recurring thing for most homeless people. They can't afford it because they aren't out there due to imagining that sleeping in a tent is some clever life hack that will save them money. But if you have enough income where it is feasible to spend $3000/mo on housing (that is more than I live on all month, supporting a family of three) and you imagine that sleeping in a tent on the city sidewalk will save you $3000/mo, that is just not realistic. When the storms come, you will say "Fuck it! I am not sleeping in this! I am checking into a hotel. I can afford it for one night." As soon as I had enough resources to check into a hotel periodically, my highest priority was being in a hotel during life threatening storms. It was often a financial hardship that I stressed about, but I did it anyway. So, I think the odds are really poor you will willingly subject yourself to sleeping outside in a bad storm as a matter of course if you don't absolutely have to. I wasn't in Seattle. I was someplace a lot drier. Given how much rain Seattle gets, hotel stays on stormy days could easily exceed $3000/mo. On a per night basis, hotels are usually much more expensive than housing. Additionally, you will not be welcome at homeless services. Those are aimed at helping poor people, not clever hippies giving the middle finger to society to save a few bucks. And people will likely be much less tolerant of you setting up a tent on the sidewalk than of actual destitute people doing so. If the neighbors and cops figure out you are adding to the homeless problem in spite of being able to afford housing, you may find yourself subject to a campaign of harassment until you either go elsewhere or relent and get back into housing. If you want to save a few bucks, a better plan is to do some research and look for a cheaper housing arrangement. This might involve getting a roommate or moving to a cheaper town and commuting or something else that adds inconvenience to your life. If you can't tolerate those inconveniences, you really don't want the hassle involved in living in a tent with no plumbing, no electricity, no means to secure your possessions, etc. Also, I don't imagine they will shadow ban you for asking a naive question in good faith. I don't think that violates any rules here. ;-)

by Mz 9y ago

wallace_f 9y ago

I see. Thanks for the response. I hope you are doing well now. I imagine Seattle can a cold and rough place to be living in a tent.

ringaroundthetx 9y ago

Thanks for the in depth reply! I asked a question and got downvote censored pretty quick - by time of writing - and I'll probably be shadow banned soon for asking. So, I really appreciate the discussion. I never considered that motel checkins would be a recurring thing for people that live that lifestyle.

Mz 9y ago
Motel check-ins are not a recurring thing for most homeless people. They can't afford it because they aren't out there due to imagining that sleeping in a tent is some clever life hack that will save them money. But if you have enough income where it is feasible to spend $3000/mo on housing (that is more than I live on all month, supporting a family of three) and you imagine that sleeping in a tent on the city sidewalk will save you $3000/mo, that is just not realistic. When the storms come, you will say "Fuck it! I am not sleeping in this! I am checking into a hotel. I can afford it for one night." As soon as I had enough resources to check into a hotel periodically, my highest priority was being in a hotel during life threatening storms. It was often a financial hardship that I stressed about, but I did it anyway. So, I think the odds are really poor you will willingly subject yourself to sleeping outside in a bad storm as a matter of course if you don't absolutely have to. I wasn't in Seattle. I was someplace a lot drier. Given how much rain Seattle gets, hotel stays on stormy days could easily exceed $3000/mo. On a per night basis, hotels are usually much more expensive than housing. Additionally, you will not be welcome at homeless services. Those are aimed at helping poor people, not clever hippies giving the middle finger to society to save a few bucks. And people will likely be much less tolerant of you setting up a tent on the sidewalk than of actual destitute people doing so. If the neighbors and cops figure out you are adding to the homeless problem in spite of being able to afford housing, you may find yourself subject to a campaign of harassment until you either go elsewhere or relent and get back into housing. If you want to save a few bucks, a better plan is to do some research and look for a cheaper housing arrangement. This might involve getting a roommate or moving to a cheaper town and commuting or something else that adds inconvenience to your life. If you can't tolerate those inconveniences, you really don't want the hassle involved in living in a tent with no plumbing, no electricity, no means to secure your possessions, etc. Also, I don't imagine they will shadow ban you for asking a naive question in good faith. I don't think that violates any rules here. ;-)