Brandon lives in this 2006 Ford, which cost him $10,000.
Posted on 10/20/2015 12:09:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
When 23-year-old Brandon S. headed from Massachusetts to the Bay Area in mid-May to start work as a software engineer at Google, he opted out of settling into an overpriced San Francisco apartment. Instead, he moved into a 128-square-foot truck.
The idea started to formulate while Brandon — who asked to withhold his last name and photo to maintain his privacy on campus — was interning at Google last summer and living in the cheapest corporate housing offered: two bedrooms and four people for about $65 a night (roughly $2,000 a month), he told Business Insider.
"I realized I was paying an exorbitant amount of money for the apartment I was staying in — and I was almost never home," he says. "It's really hard to justify throwing that kind of money away. You're essentially burning it — you're not putting equity in anything and you're not building it up for a future — and that was really hard for me to reconcile."
He started laying the groundwork for living out of a truck immediately, as he knew he'd be returning to work full time in San Francisco. A school year later, he was purchasing a 16-foot 2006 Ford with 157,000 miles on it.
It cost him an even $10,000, which he paid up front with his signing bonus. His projected "break-even point" is October 21, according to the live-updating "savings clock" he created on his blog, "Thoughts from Inside the Box."
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
As for food, bathroom and showers, that’s all on Google’s campus. He eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner at work and showers every morning in the corporate gym post-workout.
One could buy a used motorhome for less, and be far more comfy.
I think this is great! When I was in my early 20s, all I needed was a bed to crash in. I was too busy working and partying to spend any time at home.
I don’t think he can do this without violating some law or ordinance.
Wow, I get he gets laiday every night.
And be far more conspicuous...
No kiddin. A small used RV or even a camper top for a pickup.
I have heard of grad students doing something like this.
Definitely not a chick magnet.... I suppose he has no interest in girls though.
My thoughts exactly. Guy has right idea, but fails on execution. Plenty of great used RVs in that price range with better insulation and social acceptance factor.
What if he has to go to the bathroom??
If he wanted to be cool, he could at least put in some shag carpet and a skylight.
I suspect an RV parked on campus all the time would attract attention of some type. That truck not so much. Sort of good OPSEC on the part of the owner.
Not and park it overnight in the San Jose, Mountain View Palo Alto area. Come to think of it I have never seen RVs there.
The cheapest Hotel rooms in this area are $120 a night and you share the bathroom. You want your own bathroom, $200 a night minimum.
This kid is brilliant
He’s just following in the tradition of what made America great.
Cross the continent in your waggon, park up, and do what needs to be done.
Laws and ordinances are great for those already settled, for those following their dreams they suck.
My thoughts too. Companies also fro2n on it. I suppose he could park it in a residential neighborhood, on a different street every night.
Try this in a place that has real weather.
I’m guessing he has a bucket for emergencies. Although the campus is probably open 24-hours. The box truck is probably a lot more secure than a camper as well.
Here in Seattle along one of the ship dock areas there are all sorts of trucks and campers “parked” along the public road. Some even have little decks out front! I’m not sure how that works with zoning, parking laws, etc.
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