Not to mention the mountain heaps of cons tied to renting apartments. Things break, maintenance isn't going to be there to fix it. Air quality issues, mold, dust, etc. If you get bed bugs or dust mites good luck, there's no easy solutions. Utility bills to keep track of. If you live in a mobile home subdivision you have to meticulously take care of your lawn and appearances.
Me? I live day to day, debt free, no bills except a gym membership for showers and a phone bill for gps and data. Everything about my life is better than a renter, and the only thing homeowners have on me is assets that will get more valuable over time. But while they invest in assets and play the waiting game, I'm out having a better time than them. Spending the prime of my life enjoying it instead of waiting for retirement, when I'm too old to fuckin walk around freely.
If you want to live cheaply in an expensive area, how about buying an older sail boat, assuming you're near water? You'll pay a monthly slip fee, plus whatever your boat costs you. You'll have a place to go, you'll have a small fridge, a stove, and a grill clamped on the stern rail, so you can eat at home. You'll have a small a/c-heater. Since your cabin is so small, your electric bill will be minimal. You can put an antenna on top of the mast and get tv and radio reception. Most places will have boat house bathrooms with showers, so you're covered there, too.
You'll have a place to go, a place to get mail, and enjoy living on the water lifestyle, even if you never take your boat out, and finally, you won't be living in a shithole area. People who pay to slip boats aren't going to be robbing you to pay for crack.
Edit:
And if you get a pet alligator to live on board with you, you can LARP as Sonny Crockett from Miami Vice!
Hey, I love it. Maybe I'll do this one day it sounds like a great idea thanks. 👍
unless you know the area and anchor out, mooring fees are $$$$
That's true. Just for grins, I checked out Key West, FL, for example, and the first thing I looked at was close to a grand a month just for the slip. Wow!
In the Houston area (Clear Lake) I see slips for less than $ 300, the one I looked at included wifi along with other amenities.