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Homeless by choice: How this guy survives on the NYC streets | Extraordinary People | New York Post
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2019
- This happy camper saves $1,500 a month by sleeping on the streets. Meet Armando Esposito, a Mexican resident in New York City, who is homeless by choice. Surprisingly, he has a job, pays taxes and even finds time to watch Netflix. After four years of this unique lifestyle - hopping among rooftops, cemeteries and more - Esposito has been able to build two apartments and five lofts in Xalapa, Mexico. Watch his extraordinary story here.
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I know a guy that lived in a van while he made 120k a year for 4 years. He was able to buy a house out right and start his own business.
perfect 👍
This is what I'm talking about. I had $25K to restart my life I bought a place that is not so attractive but I can stay there for less than a homeless guy lives.
Trying that below the mason dixon line or the West coast makes more sense.
That’s the best way to start out doing by financing a van, living in it, then saving money for a home. That’s how a person builds equity and collateral that creates financial wealth.
A Pyrrhic victory
Rather impressive seeing someone thriving well without all the regular comforts of society, love seeing people working outside the box, unorthodox lifestyle but still effective.
Ya
He has all the comforts of society besides a home...he seems very active in the community and can do just about anything since he has a job and income
It’s definitely pretty cool to be able to find fulfillment and happiness without the lengthy amount of comforts of modern society. I’m working on this currently trying to transition to minimalism but I am also homeless and it’s been hard since I am a single female. Also kind of weird because my family live in the same city and are millionaires but do nothing to help me.
It's fake. He made this to get views and sympathy.
he died in July 2023 donating a kidney to the sister of his friend :(@@th-cc6ei no he didn't do it for views I was a close friend and I witnessed him doing it in Miami in 2021-2022
"We all have to pay a price for the happiness we are searching for"
Sometimes, the price is much more than others given your situation unfortunately
Sounds like a slogan made by a capitalist pig to deceive the poor, and I'm NOT a communist.
Better than paying 4k a month for a tiny apartment, I suppose.
You don’t live in New York do you?
@@niklasgruneke7164 The point is living in the city is usually expensive.
Is it really though?
Better than paying 4k a month to pay someone else’s mortgage.
“Roof of building, cemetery, parks.
I would avoid the cemetery.
Y'all laughing at him but you don't understand. The less you own the happier you are. At the end of his life he will be able to look back and remember the laughs and the happiness.
Who's laughing?
@@tuxedobowie887 Privileged folk
Also he owns four properties! He's actually super smart and successful.
If he lives that long
Yeah, I noticed that too at 00:16. If he makes it to his 60s he'll be even happier.
I respect this. My husband & I choose to live in a singlewide trailer that is paid for in order to save for retirement.
Beautiful smart
Wow he is really mentally strong and a positive person, very inspiring! He is not worried about what other people think and thats whats makes him so unique! I love people who think different, lovely men! Its all about the perception of things in life, also your body can addapt to a lot of temperature differences. I think it does a lot for his self esteem and health as well to know that he can do this. If people were more like him, house prices woulden´t be so high and food woulden´t be wasted!
in your 40s, do you really have friends? come on. the world works on money. this isn't high school. if he worried about that social status garbage, it would be an adolescent mindset.
I wouldn't recommend this for women.
Why not ?
@@scottm8579 Don’t do that in New York City.
@@blueshirt4615 Cause women are built differently lol
I’ve seen women do it.
Living in a vehicle is much easier, I think. Ive been doing it for almost 2 yrs, I've met a couple different women doing the same.
He could probably teach a class on how to discipline yourself and make some money is well
Yep, I've done this in NYC too...would not recommend it, but it can be done...it takes a unique mindset.
@Stephen Kim research bro know the climate and camp in the nature not in the city it's better and safer too just be sure to pick a close by hideout
@hi bro did it in college..
Lived in my cars and around campus at USB back in the 1985-90.
Hang out in Manhattan btw semester's.
Homeless outreach groups will try to help you. If your right in the head you could be placed in a half way decent shelter.
Back then NYC homeless was rough i opened up the fire hydrant by the U.N and the water was hot.🤪😂. Met alot of helpful people who respected my struggles and still see the dunot guy on 2nd ave wpix.
Bathe everyday on the street all summer and returned to college to sleep in the study lounges and shower at the gym.
Just do it Bro
Also lives homeless in NYC. Challenging yet truly rewarding!
I couldn't stand rain, lice and rats.
Rain is an actual problem, lice isnt if you dont touch anyone elses pillows bags sleeping pad etc. Head to head contact is what spreads it. Rats can be eaten I guess, if someones just that desperate for food
David P That’s nasty bro. Eating rats 🤢🤮
David P this didn’t age well
exactly what im doing, I dont drink or do drugs, and I live in my car. I work and save. I work out daily at the gym and Shower. I have never been happier. I dont think im ever gonna get a house. If I do it will be a tiny home. I love the lifestyle and I travel all the time. The rent for a room where I live is $1,200. So Instead of paying someone’s mortgage I dont have to work 60hrs a week and I get to invest 90% of my money into me and my future!
nice!!
All while crapping in a bucket at 2am in your Honda! You're so lucky.
@@jeffdur1330we all gotta pay a price.
Starting tomorrow I'll be in your shoes what you said word for word was my plan that's whats crazy💪🏼
@@jeffdur1330 that really made me laugh out loud
As soon as I saw him I knew he was Raza. Viva Mexico Cabrones!
Homeless but employed for about 3-4 years....his bank account should be looking pretty nice.
His bank account is handsome
At least he's clean, reminds me of me when I was homeless...
Sacrificing now whilst he’s able-bodied and young. Smart man!
He knows how to play the system. Smart man but you cannot do this forever. Hope he is out of the streets now.
he has 4 properties so I think so
No you can't do it forever. Being homeless has side effects on you. The isolation is the worst part. Little social interaction.
When I did it, I had a goal. I worked the goal just as this guy did.
Most people that are homeless are also, either jobless or don't make a living wage. They get sick! No insurance.
We need national healthcare. We need higher wages for the labor sectors for sure and hospitality industry's.
@@margaretgibson7063 you're right it should be temporary for a goal either to save a certain amount of money or something else and then quit.
@@Hello-iz9hlwhy should it be temporary? There is no benefit to owning a home outside of perception. They want you to feel like you’re missing something when you arent. You can live your entire life in hotels or on the street and be completely happy. You cannot be isolated in a city with 8,000,000 people. You’d have to intentionally not talk or ignore everyone. There’s ALWAYS someone willing to talk to you here ive been here my entire life. I always have a short conversation with at least 2 strangers per day just on randomness. Its not difficult.
I was homeless for a time. I lived in my car. A Chevy Cobalt. I’m 6’4” and 280lbs and I did it in Florida. It wasn’t easy. I’m a light sleeper and I would park as close to my job as possible usually in a new construction housing development that was totally unoccupied. But getting woken up at 1am by police officers who make you get out of your car and run your drivers license and then they tell you that you can’t be there and to go somewhere else…. Gets old real quick. But I stuck with it. I eventually got a 1 bedroom apartment because I met this really nice women who eventually became my wife but I didn’t want to freak her out or scare her off. So I got a place so she wouldn’t find out. I couldn’t lose her.
But, living out of my car wasn’t so bad. I worked full time, saved a bunch of money, kept myself very close to my job at all times which was located on a busy intersection. Everything I needed was there, even my $10 a month gym membership which allowed me to shower. Truthfully, I’d do it all again temporarily, but the wife would never go for it. She’s one of those people with standards I guess
We have different ideas of "standards." There's alot of chicks living in their cars.
He doesn't have it anywhere near as bad as most homeless have it. He can get off the street anytime he wanted. I'm sure his bank account is building up fast.
I lived like this off and on for 4 years in 3 countries. There is a big difference in being homeless and being without shelter. Ironically, now in accommodation, I’ve never been so homeless. True.
Respect coming from a homeless man.
Ditto!! Homeless traveler here 🎉💓✨
Homeless living in semi truck here ❤
I don't own anything i dont have vehicle or a lot of money (the money i got is around 200 Dollar) don't know if i will survive cause sooner i will be living in streets be cause of others
@@flamieking3488 sorry to hear that, I hope you are doing well
Sacrificing comfort for a few years to live free for his whole life
homless with a income and Netflix I'd say he's just living
without a home lol
No xbox,but he could play stadia on his phone
he has 4 properties now lol
I honestly don’t know why this video wasn’t/is blowing up, living in NYC this should be a warning, something to consider and to be aware of! Props to this man bc I might or might not make more than him in a week but I sure spent double/triple of his expenses lol
because normal people like to have a roof over their head and a warm bed and a SHOWER
@@swolfe9668 Yeah Normal people are they whom make a decision that works Best for them! Not for you who is ab"normal" for even persecuting it ..😑 🙄
Homeboy has a great attitude
Meanwhile I’m afraid to go camping
😆🤣🤣😂😂😂
🤣
Welcome to the New America...
I moved from Nashville, Tennessee to San Diego, California two years ago into a full-size van. Currently saved $25,000.
Soo glad I finally meet another person who really gets it (the guy in the video).
... Any other extreme money savers (for a brighter future) out there like me and the guy in the video?
@@tomtomate8455:
Very Nice and insightful truth-of-life!😊 I've also learned that hard truth after years of extreme saving.
But when a person lacks the wisdom to start a successful business or brainpower to obtain a doctor's degree in a optimal career, extreme saving is the only solution for a person's advancement/prosperity.
Me! I camp instead of van, but I have secure sleeping spots and don't have to move around all the time :]
@@tomtomate8455 you can’t save yourself rich, but you can save yourself into comfort and stability.
Yes! I currently rent a 10 m2/107.6 sq ft bedroom in a house with 8 other people, but the rent is only 230 bucks a month. I used to be homeless, so a warm room with a lock, what more could I ask for? I could afford better now, but the most important part of life to me is experience. If trading in comfort means I get to travel a couple of weeks/months a year, I would feel crazy to let that go. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and am happy for you guys that you have found a similar way of living!
@@crapshoot do you choose to live in a van?
Nobody lives on the streets in nyc in the dead of winter and its not a problem
It's apparent you have not walked the streets of Manhattan in January.
Vantum It's apparent you do not walk around Manhattan in January. My office is on 6th and 31street in Manhattan. Walk down 31street any late night or early morning and unfortunately you will see homeless sleeping on the sidewalk all year including January. As far as the subway take an E train any day or night during the year. Unfortunately it's a homeless hotel on wheels.
There's homeless people in Toronto which is colder 😓
@@upstageproductions Yup
I'm going to guess that he gets a motel on extremely cold days. Below zero.
Sacrifice. You either understand or you don't.
You pay for the comforts, and you pay for the lack of comforts. He’s not getting over on ANYTHING.
he saving money while u pay ur landlord or face eviction lol
@@larryhomess8679
Nobody lives anywhere for free, if you have a mortgage, pay rent, or no mortgage, property tax. There’s no place on earth where YOU or me is not exploited in some form or fashion. Is that funny also? I noticed you used the old LOL 😐😐
@@enigmathegrayman2953 Definitely helps having that extra money in your pocket. Instead of it going to rent and bills. He may not be living for free. But, he's more free than most. And he's content with it, so I don't see the issue.
@@viva6235
Oh, it’s a matter of degrees or levels of freedom. Ok 👌🏿
He sleeping on a roof that is getting over on paying rent that illegal
Please,don’t judge people like that if you don’t want to get judged by others!
This man has alot of freedom.
My husband and I have been homeless for almost 5 years now. We have always enjoyed the freedom that we can't get in society. Not having to worry about bills and not knowing where your gonna be the next day can be fun. I become homeless to be with my husband and I don't regret it at all.
AND THIS is what life is about. Ppl think I’m crazy for saying you can live homeless. But it’s one big sacrifice in the long run.
Sleeping in the open is scary because a serial killer could hurt you. I heard about a guy that was murdering homeless people with a hammer while they were sleeping. Sleeping in a vehicle is safer.
you're right why doesn't the homeless guy just sleep in his car ..
It is weird that I'm considering this. I suppose it's a testament to the housing crisis in a lot of countries.
It's much easier with a vehicle. It's so Freeing having money all the time and very few bills. I pay storage and insurance annually. Gym and phone are about 100/mo. Now I have solar, battery bank, fridge, stove.
After living in my van for a year and a half I don't even feel comfortable sleeping inside or even being inside someone's house
Such an inspiring story, thank you! Big kudos to you Armando!
I understand being homeless is far from pleasant or enjoyable but this man is has found a way to combine camping and city life into one (excluding many luxuries and commodities of course). All of this while avoiding to look homeless.
He's not homeless he has a job makes money has the means to get electric to charge phones laptops etc, he what you call "cheap" pays for shows, washed clothes.
I use to do this with a military income of over $2900 monthly not anymore wouldn't dare try it again.
He's going to retire in mexico and live of his rent. It's easy to do if you don't have kids.
He seriously should invest in a car, & live in it.
I’m not even from or have been to New York city but I know that in most cases it’s faster to walk than driving
@@TasteNifty Or you can ride on a rat ! 🐀
In NYC it costs $20k for a parking spot.
It all depends. Usually public transportation will be the best option for New Yorkers. You literally can go anywhere in the 5 boroughs for $130
That would be a big problem in my area. The DMV required an id and an address. Something the homeless don't have. Without an address it is impossible to get a car. Its bad that some people will assume that a homeless person can get right off the street just like that. Laws make it way harder than it should be. Government can't keep it simple. They just make more laws until its almost impossible for someone to do anything.
Many people are homeless because of circumstances they cannot control. Their situations are not by choice and many cannot find a job.
Dogs are protection and warmth for the homeless.
Also a best friend, family
Best of luck to you Mr. Esposito!
He's actually a true American🤘🏼
"Surprisingly, he has a job" you guys are awful lol
I‘d do the same but one is so vulnerable out in the streets. You never know when some ill minded person will attack you in your sleep…
Nice guy with dreams for him to come true with his hardwork and practicality in life.
Bravo!!! Some don’t understand how wonderful simple can be.
Love it been homeless while working it’s hard but part of me missing something about it
@Just Leslie 1961 let me take over the lease
I’m going homeless just to challenge myself to have blessings from the creator
If you only use your house just to sleep why not. And dude works in a restaurant and goes to gym. Even People with houses sleep outside, they just call it camping
i live in an apartment and i pay less per month than him...cohabitation realy brings the cost of living down people
im gonna try this in Cali, planning it now
@Steven Winterhill that was the first plan but not being able to get a license kinda killed that ha
Inwardly productive man. Love to meet him.
COVID shut his gyms. Wonder what he does to bathe
Fire hydrant.
he obviously has money he probably just rents a place now
This is feudalism resistance but he trying to be a landlord himself.
Chasing after the wind six dollar wine 🤪😂🦠⚰⚰⚰😂
If your going to be homeless by choice then work at a taco Bell because that's $10 of free food before your shift or during your break! You can shower at a truck stop !
I would struggle to live this way, I have a tendency to need to drop a deuce at 3am...lol
free realestate my brother just pick your spot
@@djmbenga7256 nothing’s free...
this is not for everyone.. I mean I like the idea of a roof over my head, so the lowest I will go is sleeping in car or I will go to shelter i guess...could he go to a shelter ?
I would invested on a 05 lexus rx 330 they are extremely reliable they go for 5 thousand , the seats fold an u sleep extremely comfortable with a memory foam bed an nice comforter with windshield tinted nice privacy an take showers in the gym and swim .. insurance is cheap an gas ain't that expensive if ur barely driving it ..
Wonder where his at during this pandemic ?
He was in Mexico but he's back to USA
What he is doing is badass and smart. Thats winning
Blows my mind why anyone would choose to put thier life in danger every time they fall asleep, you dont know if your going to wake up when you have no shelter
So its easy to be homeless if you have money.. Just getting the wrong messages about being homeless tbh
Well, yeah. It's easy to be homeless if you have money and it's hard to be homeless if you don't have money. What are the wrong messages you're getting?
@@crapshoot Joe
You most definitely have to have no family in order to do this... I might try this but I might buy me a van soo I could be a lil more comfortable ;)
True
Hey, did you ever end up trying this? If not, I hope you still manage to, somewhere in the future. Live a little while you're still young. There's no guarantee we make it to retirement, and if we do, there's no guarantee we won't be tied down by obligations and/or physical abilities. Hope things are going well for you!
@@dio8636 no but I will be soon
I was trying to learn how to live without working...the main thing i have to face is accomodation..now i got one more idea..thanks for this video lol
Purchase a rain poncho which can be turned into a tent
Awesome! Love it. Thank you.
I love this dude! 😂
He is so clever !🧐🙏🏼
Being homeless is really not a choice sometimes people have a hard time getting outta that lifestyle and it’s takes a while to get out of that life situation
R.I.P such a cool dude, you will be missed😢
He died?
What happened?
What happened tell me
@@laprofekaren He died donating a kidney
He should buy a cheap car and live in that.
RV , motorhome?
@BABYDREAMSHONEY would be a little bit cheaper, I'm guessing. I could be wrong but I wouldn't think so.
he used to have one but he said it was still expensive
I have been homeless off and on for years. Last two years I started building a customer base and thinking about starting a business, but i wasn't ready, the stress started getting to me, I really want to go back on another homeless adventure, check out some cities I've never been to. Really I love sleeping outside sometimes. Just finding a place to clean up can be difficult, but I've learned many tricks.
I think he died months ago 😢
now this is a man who really wants to be a millionaire even if he dont know how to make big money , he knows how to save it , a little in a long run mean big money
He can get a roommate but the roof he sleeping on for free people are paying rent on the building he using if everyone did this places would be out of business
Wow, would love an update.
In the near future we'll have more Jose Armando like this on the streets..
Sometimes you just wanna get away from neighbors.
Great video!
This is very interesting!!!
nobody is homeless by choice. like actually homeless not just "van life" or "im sleeping in my rich friends apartment"
I would mind living like him ngl. I might be ignorant but this looks interesting.
He should drive a cab after work this way he got a place to be and make money.
it's not the less you own the happier you are even according to Armando Esposito, the man living a homeless life is that it is extremely stressful and negatively uncomfortable. He said that what is keeping him going is that he is designing the properties he is building with the money he is saving from not having to pay for rent and most of his food as he works at a restaurant. He is therefore using his savings to increase what he owns so that after a few years he will be sure he owns a lot.
A man who has no home has no family as well.
I can relate, thing do pay off eventually too
Smart guy
i love this guy
Wow.
How have a job without a residence? Its pretty much illegal to be homeless at this point. Take L.A...
that how you do homelessness, if you are abled-bodied, mentally strong and working. You will be making bank.
Same here homeless by choice and a hard worker. History being, technician landscaper and electrician assistant all while homeless lol
less worries is the goal
In my country, people who owns 2 apartments would show off with mercedes benz or bmw
I'm going threw the exact same thing but nobody's interviewing me
I plan to do this