A Black woman’s candid revelation about choosing homelessness to escape high living costs has sparked a conversation about financial struggles and unconventional survival methods.
In a viral Instagram video shared by @nsgdale (Dale Flournoy), the unnamed woman details how she lives rent-free while maintaining a stable lifestyle.
Living Rent-Free in a Storage Unit and Gym
The woman explains that she pays $71 monthly for a 5×5 storage unit where she keeps her belongings in large bags from Amazon. She primarily gets ready for work at a gym, where she pays just $20 per month for a membership.
“A lot of people don’t understand why somebody would choose to be homeless, and honestly, rent was kicking my ass,” she says in the video. “I was paying $2,000 in household bills, and now I pay $20 for my gym membership.”
While many assume homelessness means struggling on the streets, she clarifies that her situation is different.
“I chose to be homeless because I’m tired of paying bills and I need to save some money,” she says, while confidently showing off a plate of ribs. “They didn’t want to give me food stamps, so I’m out here living rent-free.”
Adapting to an Unconventional Lifestyle
Initially, she planned to live in her car, but it broke down the day she moved out of her apartment. Forced to adapt, she now sleeps at work and strategically stores essentials in a locked office cabinet.
“My office has a locked cabinet, so I keep about a week’s worth of stuff there to avoid going to storage too often,” she explains. “I also have a security bar for the door in case I need to change clothes between jobs.”
Despite her living situation, she maintains a polished appearance, which she says some people criticize.
“One thing I hate about being homeless is people don’t like when you make the struggle look good,” she states. “It’s a problem if I wanna do my hair and makeup, but it’s okay if I was living in the streets looking bad.”
Navigating Dating and Daily Life
She also sheds light on dating while homeless.
“I shower and get ready at the gym, then take my stuff to storage since it’s not far,” she explains. She typically discloses her housing situation by the second or third date but notes that it hasn’t been an issue. “If you have a problem with me dating, just remember I’m homeless by choice and, unlike you, I don’t have any rent to pay.“
For deliveries, she utilizes a package pickup location rather than a traditional home address.
Social Media Reactions
Her unconventional approach has drawn mixed reactions online. Some praised her resourcefulness, while others expressed frustration with the cost of living in the U.S.
“If you don’t have to look like what you’re going through was a person!!! I’m so impressed!,” one user commented.
Another wrote:
“I’m not mad at her, but I am mad that rent is so high that people have to come up with creative ways just to have affordable shelter. This country is so stressful.”
Others applauded her resilience:
“I love what you’ve done and how you made this work!! Survival skills on 100%!”
However, some questioned the need for her to share her story publicly.
“Yes, but why do we need to know?” one user asked. Another defended her, saying, “She’s grown. It’s her life. And this is how she has decided she wants to live her life. She’s not hurting anyone.”
The Bigger Conversation
The video highlights a broader issue—the increasing cost of living and the extreme measures some people take to stay financially afloat.
Whether one agrees with her choices or not, her story has struck a chord with many who relate to the struggle of high rent and financial instability.
