# Where can a person reasonably/cheaply/safely live if not a traditional apartment or house **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 2, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441 "2010-09-02T22:39:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441/21 "2010-09-03T06:21:01Z")
[You can live at the mall.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21100501/) ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441/22 "2010-09-03T06:29:31Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [You can live at the mall.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21100501/) [… where it’s always saturday…wish I lived in a shopping mall](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPwtNm5pfqE) ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441/23 "2010-09-03T07:45:39Z")
There’s quite a few dormitories available. I looked around today and I was surprised how many cheap studios were around. However, it’s 10+ people to a floor, shared bathroom and kitchen, and nothing in your room. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441/24 "2010-09-03T13:50:17Z")
Our local Shop Rite is open 24 hours a day and they let you stay in there as long as you don’t make trouble. Some people use it for inside walking and some as an unofficial cooling center. I image you could slip into the back or sleep in the upstairs bathroom for an hour or two. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441/25 "2010-09-03T13:59:12Z")
There was that guy who lived in an airport for years and years and years. Only problem is, you have to stay there. I second **WhyNot** ’s yurt idea. I’ve always liked them. Just about the only camping trip I’d consider is a week in a yurt on the Great Plains. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441/26 "2010-09-03T15:25:20Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] In other places in the world, the poor can build up shanty towns (on someone else’s land) and at least have some independence and dignity. [/QUOTE] **monstro** , you’re pretty much a genius. Beautiful idea. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441/27 "2010-09-04T05:33:02Z")
[A 24-hour Walmart](http://www.ehow.com/how_2182421_spend-hours-walmart.html)? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441/28 "2010-09-04T06:11:14Z")
> [@LegsAkimbo](#): > > Setting up permanent residence in an RV at a campground that allows people to stay there full-time. … Some have 6-month stay limits…find two of them and move back and forth. Few juristictions allow perm residentcy in those, but some allow you to stay for several months, skip a week, then come back. They have motels that rent by the week/month. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-a-person-reasonably-cheaply-safely-live-if-not-a-traditional-apartment-or-house/552441.md?page=1)