9 Ways To Save Money On Housing

A home is one of the top expenses that people will have.

Here are some awesome ways to decrease your housing expenses and even help you find a place to sleep for free.

Places to Sleep for Free

• Airport – If your in a jam and needing a place to get some sleep consider sleeping at the airport. See here sleeping at the airport guide.
• Camp outdoors – Embrace nature’s beauty and tranquility by camping outdoors, ensuring you bring along essential gear such as tents, sleeping mats, warm sleeping bags, and pillows to create a cozy environment beneath the starry sky.
• Couchsurfing –  allows travelers to connect with locals worldwide, offering free accommodations in exchange for authentic cultural exchanges.
• Warmshowers –  is a hospitality network specifically designed for cyclists, enabling them to find welcoming hosts who offer a bed, shower, and meals.
• Fire station – While fire stations typically do not offer free accommodations, it is worth checking local policies since some departments allow temporary shelter during emergencies.
• Police station – police stations generally do not accommodate tourists. However, in rare instances, officers may assist travelers experiencing extreme hardships. Consult local law enforcement agencies for advice.
• Bus station – Most bus stations do not offer free accommodations. However, some larger terminals may have waiting rooms open overnight. Verify specific policies with the respective transportation authorities.
• Trails – Explore free camping opportunities on trails at Alltrails.
• Vacant Property Programs: Some cities or counties have programs aimed at addressing vacant and abandoned properties by providing opportunities for individuals to acquire and rehabilitate these properties at reduced costs.
• Crowdfunding and Community Support: Crowdfunding platforms and community initiatives can sometimes help individuals raise funds to acquire or build a home, especially in cases of hardship or special circumstances.
• Real Estate Contests and Giveaways: Occasionally, individuals or organizations may hold contests or giveaways where a free house or property is the prize.
• Land Inheritance or Gifting: In some cases, individuals may inherit land or receive it as a gift, providing the opportunity to build a home without the initial cost of purchasing land.
• Artist-in-Residence Programs: Artists may have the opportunity to live in a community or cultural institution’s property as part of an artist-in-residence program.

10 places you can sleep free in a tent

1. National Forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands: These federal lands often allow free camping, although permits may be needed for longer stays.
2. State and County Parks: Some parks offer free camping, particularly in less populous areas.
3. Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs): Many states require a low-cost permit for camping within WMAs, which can be considered nearly free.
4. Public Beach Access Points: Overnight camping may be allowed on beaches, but check local ordinances first.
5. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Sites: Some lakes and rivers offer free camping on a first-come, first-served basis.
6. Freecampsites.net: Use this resource to find free campsites provided by fellow campers.
7. Harvest Hosts: Membership grants access to free overnight stays at wineries, farms, breweries, and museums.
8. Boondocker Welcome: Similar to Harvest Hosts, this membership program offers free overnight stays at host locations.
9. Church Parking Lots: Some churches welcome travelers to park and camp overnight, but confirm with church leadership first.
10. Local Events: Attending events like music festivals or fairs sometimes includes free camping options.

Work provided accommodations –

• Campground/RV Park Employee: Many campgrounds and RV parks offer free or subsidized housing for their employees. This could range from shared dormitories to RV hookups. Job postings can be found on websites like CoolWorks, and WorkCampingJobs.
• Nurse – Join a medical mission trip organized by nonprofit organizations, hospitals, or religious groups. Participants usually receive free accommodations and meals during their time serving communities overseas.
• Join the army – Enroll in basic training, followed by advanced individual training (AIT). During AIT, soldiers are housed in barracks at military installations, providing free accommodations.
• Peace Corps Volunteer: Serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in a foreign country, receiving free housing, food, and healthcare coverage throughout your service term.
• Navy – sailors may qualify for on-base housing once they complete boot camp and achieve a rank sufficient to warrant this benefit. However, details would vary based on specific circumstances and duty locations.
• Airforce –  Once airmen have completed basic training and technical school, they may qualify for on-base housing depending on their assignment and eligibility criteria. 
• National Park Warden or Park Ranger: Seek employment as a seasonal or full-time national park warden or park ranger. Most national parks offer free housing for eligible employees.

• Indoor/Outdoor Plant Caretaker: Reach out to local nurseries and garden centers directly to inquire about potential indoor or outdoor plant caretaking positions. Plant caretakers are responsible for taking care of plants, both inside and outside of buildings. Check with local nurseries and garden centers for available plant care jobs.
• House Sitter: House sitters are responsible for taking care of homes when the owners are away. Websites like TrustedHousesitters, HouseSitter.com, and MindMyHouse list house-sitting opportunities.
• Pet sit – Connect with pet owners via word-of-mouth referrals, social media, or dedicated pet sitting apps like Rover or DogVacay to build a client base and potentially secure free accommodations.
• Live-in Private Estate Manager/Private Estate Sitter – Research high-end estates, mansions, or vacation homes that hire estate managers or sitters, and contact the owners directly to discuss possible free accommodations in return for your services.
• Live-in Property Manager for Commercial Spaces: Live-in property managers for commercial spaces oversee the day-to-day operations and maintenance of commercial properties, and stay there free of charge.
• Apartment Complex/Community Property Manager: Property managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of apartment complexes or community properties. Responsibilities include leasing, maintenance, and tenant relations.
• Live at a lighthouse – Volunteer or become a paid lighthouse keeper: Many lighthouses still operate with active keepers, and some offer volunteer or paid positions.
• Accept a position as a live-in nanny or au pair, providing childcare services while living in the same household as the family. Utilize online resources like Cultural Care Au Pair, AuPairWorld, and Great AuPair to find suitable matches between families seeking childcare assistance and qualified candidates willing to live with them.

Work exchange

Work Exchange Participant works in exchange for room and board, often in a different country or culture.

Workaway:

• Participants (“Workawayers”) contribute a pre-agreed amount of time per day in exchange for lodging and food.
• Membership fees apply to connect with hosts, but no fees are charged to hosts to list their opportunities.
• Varied opportunities, including gardening, animal care, cooking, and farming.
• Available globally, with over 40,000 hosts in more than 180 countries.

HelpX:

• Similar to Workaway, participants contribute time in exchange for food and accommodation.
• No annual membership fee applies.
• Primarily focuses on organic farms, farms, and homesteads, but also includes other placements.
• Operates in multiple countries, primarily in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Central America, and parts of Western Europe.

WWOOF:

• Participants (“wwoofers”) work on organic farms in exchange for food and accommodation.
• Annual membership fees apply.
• Focuses exclusively on organic farms, gardens, and sustainable agriculture projects.
• Operates internationally, with individual national networks.

Other Work Exchange places

• Trustedroots
• Servas
• Workaway
• Volunteer – Find free and low-cost volunteer work in south america at Volunteer South America(provides housing).

House exchange – is a form of lodging where two parties agree to offer each other homestays for a set period of time, usually as a vacation arrangement

• Besthouseswap – Permanent House Exchange
• Livekindred – Members-only home exchange network, powered by close community. Share homes and travel for $0/nightly.
• Home Exchange – 1 home exchange community in the world

House Hacking

House hacking is where you buy a duplex or triplex and rent out the other rooms to lower the cost of your monthly mortgage payments on the house.

Often the amount charged to the other rented-out rooms will be enough to pay the mortgage down, with some money left over for any house emergency expenses. See Coach Carson’s house hacking guide.

Seek Alternative housing methods

Alternative housing methods can significantly reduce housing expenses, offering unique living experiences and financial flexibility.

• Prefabs – is a house that is manufactured off-site, usually in a factory, and then assembled on-site. Prefab homes are built in sections or modules that are transported to the building site and installed on a foundation. Find the best prefab and modular homes and manufacturers near you at Theprefablist & Prefabreview. Search through different prefab designs here.
• Tiny Houses – Are cheaper to build and require less energy to heat and cool, resulting in lower utility bills, and their smaller size means less maintenance and fewer supplies needed. See here for tiny home builders.
• Car or truck – while it might not be the most convenient living in your car or truck can eliminate utility bills, rent , and mortgage payments. See here for some housetruck examples.
• 3-D Printed Homes
• Live in a Van or Camper and find free camp sites. – Those who embrace a nomadic lifestyle by living in vans or campers can substantially reduce housing costs. Not only do they avoid mortgages and rent, but they also minimize expenses associated with utilities, furniture, and property taxes.
• Caves
• Treehouse – Live in the trees. See here for a treehouse guide.
• Yurts – Yurts are very portable and easy to build and are a great option for those seeking budget friendly house. See here for a guide for living in a yurt.
• Lego house – while not practical it sure does look colorful.
• Housesquatter – Housesquatters live on a property without having a title, right, or lease to it. They may establish adverse possession of the property after a specific duration, usually ranging between 7–30 years, depending on the jurisdiction. If housesquatters remain undetected by the property owner for the requisite amount of time, they gain the legal right to stay on the property, although they never signed a lease agreement.
• Houseboat or Floating Home Living: Living on a houseboat or floating home can offer an alternative and potentially more affordable housing option in certain waterfront communities.
• Vacation Rental Management: Managing vacation rentals or property management may provide opportunities to live in or acquire housing at reduced costs in exchange for overseeing properties See cohostmarket.
• Educational Institution Housing: Some educational institutions provide housing options for students, faculty, or staff at reduced or no cost.
• Shed – Go small and set up your home based in a shed.

Share the house

Housing Cooperative

What is a Housing cooperative?

A housing cooperative, commonly referred to as a co-op, is a unique form of residential housing where residents own shares in a corporation that owns the property rather than owning the physical dwelling itself. Each shareholder receives the right to occupy a specific unit within the cooperative’s housing complex. 

1. Operating on an at-cost basis: Unlike rental apartments, cooperatives collect money solely to cover operating expenses, avoiding unnecessary profits.
2. Prorated costs: Residents pay a proportionate share of the common costs, such as maintenance, which reduces individual expenses.
3. No profit margins: Cooperatives do not aim for profit, which translates into lower expenses for residents.
4. Tax deductions: Similar to homeowners, cooperative residents can deduct real estate taxes and other eligible expenses from their income tax returns.
5. Long-term savings potential: Over time, cooperative residents may accumulate equity in the form of appreciation in the value of their shares, which can be realized upon selling their shares back to the cooperative.

Room Rental Homeowner or House Share Host: Room rental homeowners or house share hosts rent out a room in their home or share a home with someone else. Websites like Airbnb, VRBO, and Craigslist allow you to list and find short-term room rentals and house-sharing opportunities.

House-Sharing Program Participant: House-sharing program participants live with roommates in shared housing arrangements. Websites like CoAbode and Silvernest allow you to find and list shared housing opportunities.

Commune – living in a commune can help you save money with the following:

1. Shared housing expenses: Dividing rent or mortgage payments among multiple residents leads to substantial reductions in housing costs.
2. Joint purchases: Buying groceries, cleaning supplies, and utilities in bulk can yield significant savings.
3. Meal sharing: Preparing and eating meals together cuts down on food waste and reduces individual meal costs.
4. Childcare and eldercare: Sharing responsibilities for childcare and eldercare can greatly reduce costs for parents and caregivers.
5. Sustainable living: Practicing eco-friendly habits, such as gardening and using renewable energy sources, can decrease living expenses.
6. All-inclusive utilities: Some communes offer inclusive utility plans, eliminating additional charges for electricity, gas, and water.

Co-housing communities – Cohousing communities are intentional neighborhoods featuring private homes alongside shared common spaces, fostering close-knit connections among residents.  These communities provide numerous advantages, including:

1. Cost savings: By sharing resources, residents enjoy reduced housing costs compared to independent ownership.
2. Social interaction: Cohousing promotes a sense of community and provides opportunities for regular interactions among neighbors.
3. Support system: Residents assist one another with tasks such as childcare, eldercare, and household maintenance.
4. Environmental sustainability: Common spaces encourage resource conservation and eco-friendliness.
5. Reduced isolation: Particularly beneficial for seniors, cohousing helps prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Co-Living Space Manager or Community Home Coordinator: Co-living spaces are shared living arrangements where roommates share common areas and amenities. Co-living space managers are responsible for overseeing the operations and managing the resident community. Websites like CoAbode and OpenDoor allow you to find and list co-living spaces.

Join an intentional community. Intentional communities are groups of people who have chosen to live together or share resources based on shared values, principles, or goals. The Foundation for Intentional Communities has created a handy map of different intentional communities you can explore.

Home buying & selling resources

• Rentometer – compare rent prices in your area.
• Buy to rent? – find out if you should buy a house and rent it out?
• Home buying guides – great home buying guides.
• Home closing guides – home closing guides.
• Ratemyagent or Sellinglater – find the best rated agents
• Inspectify – Home inspections simplified
• Compass concierge – get fronted for the cost of home improvement services with zero due until closing.

Home design help

• Make your Worst Room Your Best see here.
• Design your home with ai at collov.
• Get inspired with helpful home design tips and tricks at Apartmenttherapy, The spruce, Remodelista, Houzz, and Hometalk.

Rent Out some of your Storage Space: List unused areas, such as garages, attics, or basement rooms, on platforms like Neighbor, Spacer, or Clutter.

Rent out your backyard

1. Rent to campers: Utilize platforms like Hipcamp or Tentrr to list your backyard as a camping site. Tentrr offers a turnkey solution with preinstalled campsites, while Hipcamp caters to various outdoor enthusiasts, including campers, RVers, and glampers.
2. Offer a dog park: Use Sniffspot to transform your backyard into a safe and private dog park, allowing pet owners to reserve your space by the hour.
3. Rent your pool: List your pool on Swimply, enabling locals to rent your aquatic haven by the hour.

Backyard Event/Wedding/Camping Host: If you have a backyard or outdoor space that you’re not using, you can list it for rent on websites like Airbnb, Peerspace, and Hipcamp. People may be interested in renting your space for events, weddings, or camping.

Property Film Location Owner/Manager: Property film location owners/managers make their properties available as filming locations for movies, TV shows, and other media productions. Websites like Peerspace and Giggster allow you to list and find unique filming locations.

Garage/Workshop Space Renter: If you have a garage or workshop space that you’re not using, you can list it for rent on websites like GarageTime and PeerSpace. Renters may be interested in using your space for things like DIY projects or automotive repairs.

Find Assistance

Look for affordable housing developments and programs at Findhelp.

GeoArbitrage – move to a location with a lower cost of living to save money without sacrificing quality of life. Here are five key aspects of how geoarbitrage can help you save money on housing:

1. Lower cost of living: Relocation to a region with a lower cost of living enables you to stretch your income further, potentially allowing you to upgrade your housing or save excess funds for other purposes.
2. Reduction in overall expenses: By decreasing housing costs, you might also observe reductions in other essential expenditures, such as utilities, groceries, and entertainment.
3. Potential for tax savings: Depending on the jurisdiction, you may qualify for certain tax incentives or exemptions due to your new residency status.
4. Opportunity for increased earnings: In some cases, moving to a new location can lead to better employment prospects or higher wages, thereby enhancing your ability to save money.
5. Compounding savings through investments: By utilizing the freed-up funds from geoarbitrage, you can boost your savings rate, thus accelerating your progress towards financial goals.

DIY & Home repair

• Do your own Home & appliance repairs to save money using guides at Fix, Repaircafe guides, and Manualslib.
• Find free appliances repair help at Repair Cafes, or Restart. There are over 3,000 repair cafes globally.
• Track down low cost replacement parts at Repairclinic, and Partselect.
• Ask the company for repair help for more information see this helpful reddit post.

• Attend local home repair workshops or classes to learn new skills and techniques that may help you with your own repairs.
• Check with your utility company to see if they offer any programs or services that can help cover home repair costs.
• Churches and Charities: Many churches and charities provide assistance to families in need, including home repairs. You can reach out to your local church or charity to inquire about any programs or services they offer.
• Community Development Corporations (CDCs): CDCs are nonprofit organizations that provide affordable housing and community development services in low-income neighborhoods . Some CDCs offer home repair programs that provide free or low-cost home repairs to eligible homeowners.
• Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps low-income families build and repair their homes. While building or repairing your home, you may qualify for free or low-cost home repairs.
• Join local online groups, such as Nextdoor or Facebook groups, to find individuals who may offer free or low-cost home repair services.
• Local Volunteers: Some communities have volunteer groups made up of skilled professionals who offer their services to those in need. You can contact your local government or community center to inquire about any volunteer groups in your area.
• Reach out to friends or family members with experience in home repair and ask for their guidance or advice, or ask if they have any unused home repair materials that you can use.
• Senior Corps: Senior Corps is a network of programs that connect volunteers age 55 and older with opportunities to serve their communities. Some Senior Corps programs offer minor home repair services for free to eligible seniors.

Other Ways to save money on housing

• Buy a home with a smaller down payment or use down payment assistance programs
• Appeal your property tax assessment
• Research local tax incentives or subsidies for homeownership
• Ask for a discount when renewing your lease
• Avoid paying extra fees, such as late fees or move in fees
• Negotiate everything (rent , lease agreements for longer terms in exchange for lower rates, amenities, or services.
• Make extra payments on your mortgage to pay it off quicker
• Look for foreclosed homes or short sales to save on the purchase price at auction .
• Invest in home security to lower home insurance premiums
• Take advantage of employer’s housing assistance programs, if available
• Purchase a home during a buyer’s market to get a better deal
• Consider downsizing your possessions to save on moving costs
• Use Movemap to help you find the best place to move to.