Here's Why a German Teenager is Living on Train Stations and Traveling From Place to Place

Buying a house has become a distant dream for young people due to the rising cost of living and the sluggish pace of wage hikes. To tackle the lack of affordable housing, a German teenager Lasse Stolley has a living arrangement that saves him a ton of money to put into his future, as reported by My Modern Met. The 17-year-old software developer has found a home at train stations, something most people his age can't even imagine. In the mornings he grabs breakfast from the first-class lounge and he uses sleeping cars for naps. For showers, gyms and leisure areas are his go-to destination, while his laundry needs are taken care of in the station itself. The teenager has cut down on a lot of his expenses and lives out of a single backpack, which has three outfits, hygiene supplies, sleeping necessities, and technology.

Stolley has been living like this for now a year. He opted for this lifestyle just after graduating from high school. His parents did not agree with the plan initially, but he somehow managed to convince them. It wasn't a smooth ride and he initially had trouble sleeping. The teenager also needed to be constantly careful about his belongings, afraid that someone might steal them.

The thing that he likes the most about the living arrangement is the freedom that comes with it. His job also has a flexible schedule, allowing him to explore and enjoy his youth the way he wants. Every day he travels 600 miles on average and has travelled to many countries. He has grown to like this nomadic way of life and has no intentions of stopping any time soon.

His living costs are about $10,650 per year, most of which goes towards buying his first-class annual rail-card. This is significantly low considering that a month's rent in Germany is around $1,008 on average. The reason he can follow this lifestyle is because of the railway system operating in Germany. The facilities at the train stations allow him to put his plan into action, which might not be a possibility in other countries.

Similar to Stolley, many others have also looked into such alternative living options. Isabelle and Antoine are a couple who sold their house in 2017, quit their jobs, and built a camper to travel around the country. They record their adventures on the website Far Out Ride. From 2017 to 2022, the couple traveled between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans fulfilling their long-held dream. It's not just Gen Z and Millenials who are looking into unique housing options but also older folks. Marty and Jessica Ansen have been cruising through the world, for the last four decades, as reported by Today. Their reason was simple cruising was more enjoyable than staying put in a house. "We get up in the morning and play table tennis for an hour together, then Marty disappears for the day because he has bowls and deck sports and I go downstairs because I'm into the quizzes and bingo," Jessica said.