Paris and Lovell Lee were used to small space living while in the Navy so when they started college in pricey San Francisco (average rent for a studio: $2500/month), they decided to turn their van into their home.<br /><br />Starting with the Nissan NV 2500 that Lovell had used for his computer repair business, they installed plywood and some modified furniture to create a home that served its purpose, but didn’t provide enough space for Lovell to sit up (he’s 6’3”).<br /><br />Build two was lacking in enough counter space for the couple to do homework, so with $300, they remodeled and reworked the old materials to create the efficient space they live in now. They don’t have a refrigerator, but they don’t find it a problem since they always have access to supermarkets. They rarely use a cooktop, but admit they do a lot of lunchtime cooking at their “second home”: school.<br /><br />Paris says she’s fine living in the van for another 9 years, if necessary “to get established in their careers”. She’s in film school (the couple co-direct the youtube channel Novel Kulture) and Lovell is studying marketing. Lovell just wants to plan ahead. “You know, 78% of Americans who have a job are living paycheck to paycheck and we don’t want to just jump into an apartment without being prepared how you’re supposed to be prepared.”
