This UT student didn’t want to pay rent in a city known for it’s high cost of living…so he built his own tiny house on wheels as a solution!
Joel Webber, a junior, says: “It’s never become OK with me to be able to buy something that I can’t actually afford,” said Weber. “I saved thousands because I used reclaimed materials, talked to businesses and told them what I was doing and they helped me out.” He estimates his tiny home, which is on wheels so it can be mobile, cost around $20,000 to build.
Inside his abode there is a kitchen complete with a sink, oven and work space for preparing food and a mini refrigerator. The bathroom has a sink, toilet and shower. The tub was a unique recycle: “I repurposed a horse trough because I wanted a certain shape and it’s cool because I can wash my laundry if I need to,” Weber said.
The stairs up to the loft double as extra seating, a desk and storage. There are a total of two loft spaces for beds and the couch on the main level can be turned into a third bed.
“I love when my friends can hang out,” said Weber. “I want to make them feel comfortable and not like they’re in a coffin or something like that.”
Weber bartered with an Austin homeowner to park his home in their backyard in exchange for being what he calls a “manny,” or professional nanny. It’s another way to save on rent while he finishes his degree.
According to federal data, the average student who attends a public or nonprofit university will graduate close to $30,000 in debt.
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