205: From Pickup to Prosperity

Can you imagine living in the back of your truck for more than 18 months to pay off your debt? Meet Andy, a 27-year-old student, who moved into his truck in order to pay off his $11,000 debt load.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Moneytrack
• money track
• pam krueger
• jack gallagher
• investing
• debt
• paying off debt

[delindsay90210]

@EasternMerchant It's what our society has become. If you aren't "part of the system" you're the enemy. They want you paying rent/mortgage (preferably mortgage so you're in debt), utilities (from coal burning plants), trash pickup (destined for massive poison filled dumps), sewer (because poo is gross amiright), and having massive credit card debt from all the meaningless crap you buy just because your old thing isn't cool anymore... I'll take some harassment to be out of that system.

[savgal1211]

With THAT Degree, you will be in that truck a LONG TIME!! ( hah)!!

[stopper20]

This is one way to pay off debt I suppose. Or you could have had a yard sale and sold all the stuff taking up space and MONEY for a storage unit, sold the truck and got a beater car (preferably one of those creepy no window except for the windshield vans and lived on the beach) or a bus pass, paid of the $11,000.00........and been debt free.

[zambranaml]

Aside from not being visible in the back, one thing that probably helps him is owning a vehicle that's in very good shape. Old and beat-up vehicles pretty much scream "homeless" to people and are cop magnets.

[answertotodayis1776]

@djkenny Yep there are actually some good videos on here of people with nice van set ups living in them long term.

[answertotodayis1776]

@Gyrkin59 I didn't know you moved since you didn't say so in your first message. I thought you meant you had 3 different sets of cops bother you in the same area. What i meant is if i got bugged by LAPD, i wouldn't stay in their jurisdiction. I would have moved to a different area outside their patrol area. Sounds like your problem revolved around initially being spotted in the front seat. It's way harder to live in a car. If you have a van it's easier to stay out of sight out of mind.

[djkenny]

@answertotodayis1776 I have seen people insulate them and add cabinets and a bed, even a Coleman stove. Totally doable and I agree.

[Gyrkin59]

@answertotodayis1776 Uhm, I did. Three times in 3 hours. You're mistaken about it being split up though. LAPD is vast, covers many miles.

I think what you missed is that your friend was in a van, while I was in a car and so I was visible in the front seat. I'd also know now to find a Walmart, no matter how annoyingly well lit it may be.

[answertotodayis1776]

@djkenny Personally i think those work vans, like the ones you see plumbers and carpet cleaners driving are the best overall. Here is why i think that. You can get them with no or very few windows for privacy and security. You can get custom built security cages for them to separate the drivers area from the back and to go over the windows. They are IMO the most stealthy of any vehicle because they are hard to see in and they fit in parked awhile. Parts are cheaper and easier to find.

[answertotodayis1776]

@Gyrkin59 Why didn't you just move then after the encounter? Especially in LA, that is one of the most subdivided areas of the country, multiple municipalities and jurisdictions every few miles or so. I've seen videos of the LA area where there is a whole street of nothing but RV's, vans, campers etc. parked alongside the road. I think it was in Long Beach but i can't remember now. My friend fell on hard times and had to live in his van for over a year, never had an encounter with cop

[Gyrkin59]

@answertotodayis1776 I had LA PD telling me I wasn't allowed to sleep in my car. I could SIT there conscious, but not sleep. THREE times in one night they told me that.