A 32-year-old man has revealed how he became completely debt-free by living in cars as part of a mortgage-free lifestyle.

Nicholas Bauer, from Coolidge, appeared in a recent episode of Big Super Living In Arizona, which takes a ‘look at America’s affordable housing.’

He showcased a series of vehicles he lived in throughout his 20s which he still keeps on his two-acre ‘paid-off compound.’ 

The self-described ‘full-time desert dweller,’ who now lives in a mobile home alongside his girlfriend and daughter, revealed that he has now saved up so much money living off-grid that he does not have to work.

Nicholas Bauer, from Coolidge, appeared in a recent episode of Big Super Living In Arizona, which takes a 'look at America's affordable housing'

Nicholas Bauer, from Coolidge, appeared in a recent episode of Big Super Living In Arizona, which takes a ‘look at America’s affordable housing’

He showcased a series of vehicles he lived in throughout his 20s which he still keeps on his two-acre 'paid-off compound' (pictured)

He showcased a series of vehicles he lived in throughout his 20s which he still keeps on his two-acre ‘paid-off compound’ (pictured)

Nick explained how everything in the compound is ‘100 per cent paid off’ having paid in full with cash.

He said he recently became unemployed but asserted: ‘I don’t really have to worry about anything because there’s no rent, there’s no mortgage.’

Nick revealed that he had started out as an automotive engineer at a startup where he was ‘underpaid’ $11.50 per hour – quickly racking up debts and taking out credit cards.

He decided to save up his money by living in the parking lot outside his work in a vehicle that he had been leasing.

But then Nick said that in 2015 he decided he was going to repay what he owed and ‘live a debt-free lifestyle by living in vehicles’ permanently in what he described as his ‘solution to the housing crisis.’

The first vehicle he lived in was a Dodge Dakota truck that he had driven since high school, which previously had a pop-up camper attached to the back.

He built the suspension from scratch which fueled his interest in engineering and ultimately led to him getting a job at a local automotive startup.

Nick said he was often required ‘to pull all-nighters’ and so the CEO let him keep his Dodge Dakota, which he used more for off-roading, and a second ‘project vehicle’ in the parking lot.

The 'full-time desert dweller,' who now lives in a mobile home with his girlfriend and daughter, revealed that he has now saved up so much money living off-grid that he does not have to work

The ‘full-time desert dweller,’ who now lives in a mobile home with his girlfriend and daughter, revealed that he has now saved up so much money living off-grid that he does not have to work

Nick, who describes himself as 'a little bit of a hoarder,' still said that his dream is 'to live in the woods with 50 trucks'

Nick, who describes himself as ‘a little bit of a hoarder,’ still said that his dream is ‘to live in the woods with 50 trucks’

The second truck, a 404 Series Unimog, was fitted out with a bed, wooden flooring, 40-inch flat screen and internet.

But without a bathroom he was forced to urinate into a Nalgene water bottle and ‘time’ his other toilet breaks to use the facilities at work.

Eventually, Nick decided he wanted to upgrade to be able to stand up and have an on board bathroom so went on to purchase yet another ‘project.’

This time the addition to his growing fleet was an amalgamation of two different military trucks – ‘put together in some sort of Frankenstein contraption’ with a 1987 Fleetwood Prowler trailer on the back.

It was only half-finished at the time, which meant Nick could get it for a good deal, and was able to put the finishing touches to it – including adding solar panels.

He had driven the truck – which he named ‘the dragon wagon’ – down to San Francisco but soon suffered a mechanical fault along the journey.

The self-described ‘full-time desert dweller’ was forced to then live in a Chevy pickup because he knew ‘it was going to be a big thing to fix’ the original build.

Nick's 43-year-old girlfriend, who grew up in an Amish community, became pregnant and the pair decided that it was not suitable to raise a family in vehicles

Nick’s 43-year-old girlfriend, who grew up in an Amish community, became pregnant and the pair decided that it was not suitable to raise a family in vehicles

Nick said that the Chevy looked like a regular work camper but was kitted out with a folding bed, heater and CCTV cameras.

He lived in the ‘stealth camper’ in the parking lot of Planet Fitness as he saved up to repair his ‘dragon wagon.’ 

‘When you have no rent and no bills to pay that money just stacks,’ he said, reeling off how he saved on utilities, homeowner’s insurance, mortgage and more.

But Nick’s 43-year-old girlfriend, who grew up in an Amish community, then became pregnant and the pair decided that it was not suitable to raise a family in such a ‘bachelor pad.’

Instead, they set up a more permanent base by erecting a mobile home on the compound where he still keeps all of his previous vehicles.

Nick, who describes himself as ‘a little bit of a hoarder,’ still said that his dream is ‘to live in the woods with 50 trucks.’ 

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