Being Homeless -- a New Trend?
My wife and I are now in our thirties, married, and with a four-year-old child, and yet, I can proudly say that we are homeless. Yes -- I said proudly.
I guess you could maybe call us more of a hobo family, but I find nothing wrong with the title. In fact, we're excited at the prospects of not being tied down by an official address any longer.
While many people would find this a terrifying situation in which to find themselves, I think it is incredibly freeing and exciting.
Homes Are Equated With Success -- But Why?
It always seemed to me that homes were equated with success, but why? As we've seen, a large portion of the people who owned homes were just putting up a front, and when things got bad, they didn't have the means to actually support owning a house.
Not only this, but in a poor housing market, not only do houses not equal success, but they may actually keep people from finding success. Being tied to a particular location by way of a house can keep a person from being able to move to where they might have better luck finding a job. And being harnessed with a big monthly mortgage payment could keep a person from putting that money toward pursuing a new career option or entrepreneurial endeavor.
Start Thinking Outside the Box
Once my wife and I recognized that a home doesn't equal success, we began considering how we could live for a time without necessarily being tied to what people would consider a "home." What used to work for us (and many others) as far as living in a house doesn't seem to be panning out any more, so why not start thinking outside the box?
Tired of being tied to one location, and only having one year before our four-year-old starts kindergarten, we've decided to take a chance. Since as a writer I can work from anywhere, we're avoiding the "settling down" that we've become so accustomed to, and have decided not to tie ourselves to any one location just yet. Instead, we are going to adopt a new strategy, one with which we haven't had any experience but are willing to try for a year.
We are going to try a transitory lifestyle.
A Good Deal for All Involved -- at Least Temporarily
This transitory lifestyle will mean that we are at the mercy of other family members for a time, bearing in mind the old saying, "Fish and house guests stink after three days." This lifestyle could be a good thing though, and here's why.
First off, we have family (who would have us) in several parts of the country, including Florida, the west coast and the Midwest. My wife has only lived in the Midwest and I think she might like experiencing other parts of the country before making an informed decision as to where we'd like to settle next.
Secondly, living with other family members -- some of whom are struggling financially at the moment -- can be beneficial for all those involved. Without a mortgage, we can contribute to the cost of their utilities, food, mortgages, and help with household repairs and work, yet still save money.
And lastly, a variety of close family members can enjoy the last year of my little boy being a "little" boy before he ventures off to school, and he will be able to see parts of the country and do and see things many children his age don't get to experience.
All-in-all, I think (and hope) it is an idea that will work out for all involved, possibly saving money, building closer family ties, and expanding our horizons. It might even be a way that society begins to look at living, as the housing and job markets continue to struggle, making having the opportunity to easily move to more beneficial locations a more common aspect of living.
More From This Contributor:
5 Websites that Could Save You Money
Valuable Financial Lessons From Mom and Dad
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Disclaimer:
The author is not a licensed financial professional. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For financial advice, readers should consult a licensed financial advisor. Any action taken by the reader due to the information provided in this article is solely at the reader's discretion.
Published by K. W. Callahan - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance
K. W. Callahan graduated from the nationally top-ranked Indiana University Kelley School of Business with a degree in management and a minor in criminal justice. He spent over a decade in the hospitality... View profile
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2 Comments
Post a Commentinteresting idea; nothing wrong with being frugal
I like your thinking -- never let an adventure pass you by! Have a good year exploring!