Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alan built this DIY tiny house after losing his wife, seeking a positive change and a more affordable way to live. He supports himself on Social Security with some DoorDash work on the side. By purchasing an LTVA (long-term visitor access) pass to BLM land, he pays just $25 per month in rent.
His DIY home features meaningful touches like his late wife’s wardrobe and a family heirloom desk, along with a full bathroom, galley kitchen, and twin-sized bed.
Don’t miss other amazing tiny homes like this – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!
DIY Tiny Home with $25/Month BLM Land Rent
Images via Cheap RV Living
Galley Kitchen with RV Stove
Images via Cheap RV Living
Meaningful Keepsakes from His Late Wife
Images via Cheap RV Living
Bicycle and Utility Trailer Storage
Images via Cheap RV Living
Video Tour: $25/Month Rent on BLM Land
Design Details
- Owner: Alan
- Type: DIY tiny house on wheels
- Location: BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land
- Land Cost: $25/month via LTVA pass
- Kitchen: Galley layout with RV stove
- Bathroom: Full bathroom
- Sleeping: Twin-sized bed
- Special Features: Late wife’s wardrobe, family heirloom desk
- Transportation: Bicycle with matching trailer
- Income: Social Security plus part-time DoorDash
Lessons from This Build
- LTVA Passes Enable Affordable Living: The Bureau of Land Management’s long-term visitor access passes allow camping on public land for about $180 per season ($25/month), making this one of the most affordable housing options available
- Social Security Can Be Enough: With low enough expenses, fixed income can cover living costs—supplemental gig work like DoorDash provides extra cushion
- Keep What Matters: Alan incorporated his late wife’s wardrobe and a family desk into his tiny home, proving you can downsize without losing meaningful possessions
- DIY Keeps Costs Low: Building your own tiny house significantly reduces costs compared to buying pre-built
- Tiny Living Enables New Beginnings: After losing his wife, going tiny gave Alan a positive change and a new chapter focused on travel and simplicity
Learn More
Related Stories
- Couple’s DIY Van with Clever Desk & Heating System
- His DIY Tiny House in Europe
- Former Backpacker’s DIY Tiny Home
You can share this using the e-mail and social media re-share buttons below. Thanks!
If you enjoyed this you’ll LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more!
Also, try our Tiny Houses For Sale Newsletter!
More Like This: THOWs | Tiny Houses | Solo Tiny House Living | DIY
See The Latest: Go Back Home to See Our Latest Tiny Houses
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alex
Latest posts by Alex (see all)
- Family of Five Starts Over in an Off-Grid Cob Village in the Arizona Desert - November 11, 2026
- 13 Life-Changing Tiny House Transformations: Sheds, Skoolies, and DIY Builds - November 11, 2026
- From Cargo to Cozy: A Shipping Container Tiny Home with a Rooftop Terrace - November 11, 2026
Join the Conversation
8 comments