Woman’s Low Cost Living in a Renovated Camper Trailer

After moving nearly a dozen times in 5 years, Arielle wanted a place to call her own. Now she is experimenting with alternative housing options and has started by buying and living in a renovated camper trailer. She invested $6,000 CAD to buy the RV and says it will be paid for in 2 seasons (the equivalent of paying $900/month on rent). She can then choose to try and make it through the winter in the trailer, or she can house sit, rent a room, or stay with friends during the colder months.

The interesting thing about investing some money into a trailer like this versus paying rent is that she can eventually sell the trailer and re-invest that money into a different housing option, and it will allow her to save money while she's living this low-cost lifestyle.

Arielle says that saving money was not the main reason she bought the trailer, but it is a nice benefit. She really wanted to own her own space, and to live outside the city. She asked around to find out if anyone would be willing to let her park the camper on their property and found an older woman living on an inactive farm who doesn't mind having her parked at the back of the property. Arielle pays $200/month to contribute to the hydro bill and to cover the cost of her staying there.

She gets electricity from an extension cord for lights and A/C, she uses propane for her stove and a small heater, and she brings in 5-gallon jugs of water for drinking and washing dishes. She can shower at work, or at the gym, and she has a dry toilet in the RV that separates liquids and solids.

Living in a trailer is not a new idea, but we still thought it was interesting to meet Arielle and find out why she decided to try an alternative housing option, how much it cost, what the pros and cons were, and where she found a space to park her RV.

Thanks for watching!

Mat & Danielle

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CREDITS
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Music & Song Credits:
All music in this video was composed, performed, and recorded by Mat of Exploring Alternatives.

Editing Credits:
Mat and Danielle of Exploring Alternatives

Filming Credits:
Mat of Exploring Alternatives

[deniseduggins]

Its refreshing to know there are so many "down to earth" and kind young people out there.

[rebeccaoprea]

It’s better to be practical than to be fancy . Going back to the basics creates time for more living .

[HBird-rmlw]

She is adorable, inspiring and filled with gratitude for the previous owners. Thank you for recording her doorstep into a young life.

[darleneprice]

Wish you the very best. I am about 4 weeks out from moving into camper full time my self. I am 65 and I am so excited. Hope you get to travel. Be safe.

[TruthAndLight]

Yes, trailers are the old-school tiny houses! 😻

[jimbeamairstreams]

Less is best, more is a chore. Lovely💕

[felixcat]

I don't doubt that the majority of viewers would move into this in a heartbeat, because it's beautiful, as is it's location!

Thank you for sharing this video.

[ritabroils]

She looks very comfortable in her space!

[lenniewatson]

No kids, no husband, no boyfriend, no high rent on that beautiful trailer with peace and quiet....this woman is Im so jealous!! 🥰👍

[lilylou]

What a very sweet young lady. I hope you have many more years in the caravan. 😊😊

[VeggieLard]

There’s so much on YouTube that glorifies a certain type of fantasy in this niche of lifestyle.

I don’t get this from your videos. They’re positive, real, and informative where most fall short.

Thanks for choosing to represent your stories in this way. I feel it will help me towards making my dreams a reality.

[bjaquez]

I love your home. Ive been thinking alternative living since my 30s. I'll be 61 next month and one day soon I'll be leaving my parents home whom I cared for after my husband's death. I want to live a low cost living and self sufficient as possible.

[isabstmr]

She has a place of her own, a view and doesn't have to pay rising house taxes!

[FindingPeace]

I live in my camper full time too.. Even throughout the winter. I love it. Mine is parked in a double lot at an all year campground called Sycamore Springs Campground, in Vermontville, Michigan.
It runs us about $650 month to stay here in the winter. Summer prices drop. They don't charge for electric in the summer months. Making it half the price in the summer.

[HumansOfVR]

it just goes to show you don't need a mansion, fame, millions of dollars to be happy

[SmallADVentures]

Awesomeness, and great timing for me to see this one. I'm staying at my folk's place for a month while they're travelling (they recently retired), caring for my special needs brother (he's 24, I'm 46, LOL). They have 2 campers on their property close to their house (they're far from minimalists, LOL!), the 36' travel trailer they're currently on the road with, and an older 36' 5th wheel camper that they'd bought for $2, 000 needing a bit of work. POINT BEING (sorry, I get side tracked in details sometimes) I opted to live in the 5th wheel camper while I'm here. I'm loving it so far (2 weeks in, 2 to go), so this one was a great watch for me 😀👍

[cabinlifeatedensprings]

I just happened to run across you tonight. The past few years I have had many many life changes. But I was like your first 100 subscribers. I can remember all your first videos. Wow! 850 subscribers! That’s is awesome! I’m am so very happy for you! I need to catch up. Really this is great news. Nice to see deserving people do so well. This young lady is super smart! God bless, Leslye

[bluebutterflywellness]

I am experiencing this now and am amazed at how little we really need to live fulfilled! ❤

[MsTemptation]

I love her name. Plus she seems like a nice down to earth young woman.
The woman who owns the land is smart.
If I owned acre's of land I would allow people (similar to this young woman) to rent the space from me as well.

[fullyshannon]

I can feel her happiness through the screen!