Paris and Lovell Lee were college students struggling to pay rent. When their landlord threatened eviction, they packed everything and lived in their van as a temporary solution – unaware that it was actually their first step towards financial freedom!
Months later, they were thriving! “Van Life” let them focus on school, travel, and building their businesses, all while not paying rent!
But they also felt isolated. Were they the ONLY Black people choosing this lifestyle?
In the past, van living was associated with homelessness, but recently it’s become an EXTREMELY popular “alternative lifestyle,” especially among middle class white people.
Frustrated by lack of representation, the Lees were determined to change this.
They created a YouTube channel, Novel Kulture, where they documented their journey from struggling students to “digital nomads” – people who travel consistently because they work remotely. On the channel, they discussed budgeting, financial freedom, and the not-so-glamorous realities of #BlackVanLife.
“I didn’t know there were Black people doing this,” commented one passionate subscriber.
Skyrocketing rent prices and greedy landlords aren’t going anywhere – but we can! #BlackVanLife is an alternative way of living that has benefits AND drawbacks – but it could be an innovative way to become financially free.