Living On A School Bus On $150K A Year | Millennial Money

Alice Everdeen, 31, travels the U.S. in a school bus and earns $150,000 a year as a voice-over artist. She and her boyfriend, Jay, bought and renovated their bus over three years and have been driving across the country since September 2022. It's a career and lifestyle that lets her travel, reduces stress and gives a new sense of freedom. This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.
Produced by: Zach Green
Senior Managing Producer: Sam Rega
Camera: Matthew Spriggs
Editor: Nic Golden Henry
Animation: Elham Ataeiazar
Drone Operator: Michael DeMocker
Reporter: Megan Sauer
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[@CNBCMakeIt]

What's your budget breakdown? We're looking for stories from all ages, not just millennials! Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in a future installment of Millennial Money: cnb.cx/3OxbJ71

[@SA-ho1mu]

Next up: living in a tent on 300k per year

[@iiiiilllllllll]

*spends 9k a year on trading cards"

[@EldePHX]

🤣🤣

[@djmula25]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@ugotserved911]

Wow. Absolutely atrocious spending. I was so proud of her the first half and then utterly disappointed when I saw the pie chart. She don’t pay rent. She lives in a bus she owns but still manages to burn through all her money.

[@priscilladavenport5791]

save for the future!!!

[@emmarose9466]

What a catastrophe!

[@aliceeverdeen5646]

Finishing building your house, paying $5 a gallon for diesel for 2 vehicles to drive 1200 miles, dropping $1k on hurricane prep, $1200 on mechanic issues, and another $1800 on food because your stove isn't functioning yet.... It all adds up for sure!

[@kellyiannone]

Yeah, the pie charts was shocking. I thought for sure they’d be saving/investing 50% of her income.

[@matc8085]

Same, was bummed when saw the pie chart they are burning through cash in a dumb way.

[@BarbellFinancial]

She doesn’t have an income problem. She has an expense problem. Scale back on all that spending! $1,900 a month for 2 people for food is insanity.

[@aliceeverdeen5646]

We didn't have a working stove for the full month so we had to eat out every meal. Definitely not the norm!

[@liptakszabolcs1395]

@@aliceeverdeen5646 Guys you're fat, so you have to eat much much less and sports (walk or just some running) more. Less food -> spend more to pay back the loans and buy a home for living. Anyways your spending is crazy much!

[@intelligentmonkey4001]

What are the chances of her being out of debt and financially free in the next 5-10years with their current spending habit? 🤔

[@derek8239]

@@aliceeverdeen5646 So, you've never heard of a portable hot plate?

[@mickylord21]

You don't need to eat out "every meal" if you don't have a stove

[@christopherhobb7702]

Every family has that one person who will break the family's financial struggle, I hope you become the one 😊

[@haydencraig7149]

Assets that can make you rich Bitcoin Stocks Real estate

[@lindapoplin7150]

@@haydencraig7149 You're right, it's obvious a lot of people remain poor due to ignorance

[@mbalimaka6393]

I'm looking for something to venture into on a short term basis, I have about $6k sitting in my savings

[@madiezancanellatl9205]

Starting early is the best way to getting ahead of build wealth, investing remains the priority

[@samuelroyal3818]

Obviously trading in bitcoin is very volatile and risky to trade that's the reason most traders trade with a company

[@savage9536]

I can't tell what's cooler: the fact that she does voice-overs for a living, or the off-grid bus.

[@alp.9672]

She won at life x2

[@dangerdane]

Wow. Her discretionary spending alone could fund three of my lifestyles...

[@shevaunbryant8554]

My emotional brain wants to cheer these guys on but my logical brain is screaming “this s!!t doesn’t make any sense”

[@candyjamaican]

Same here. Especially eating high quality food and being unhealthy AF

[@larabraver]

Me too 😢 I was so excited for her at first.

[@sbkpilot1]

The problem with living like this is that you spend all your money in the good times and when the recession hits and your pay dries up you realize you have not saved for a rainy day... This type of income can become zero in a heartbeat

[@thisguy73]

LOL shut up. When that happens Joe Biden forgives 30K of your credit card debt.

[@EldePHX]

Exactly

[@FinancialShinanigan]

With that income, you'd think she'll pay off her credit card debt faster but maybe CNBC wanted the outrage lol

[@victorbaird8220]

😂

[@n3wt]

She still spends all her money everywhere. They jus don’t show that part

[@beyrutphl]

Yeah 150k is a lot of money when you don't have massive bills so I assume they still have their home in all their bills in the statement about school buses being safe lol

[@alp.9672]

@@beyrutphl You saw how much Ben & Jerry ice cream they had? $$$

[@thisguy73]

LOL WHY PAY OFF DEBT. JOE BIDEN WILL RELIEVE ALL OF IT!! $10K now student debt next year $30K cc debt. Then the next democratic prez will relieve $300K mortgage debt!! YEAH BABY!!!

[@japhy6536]

One of my favs episodes to date - she’s really found a rare freedom eluding most chasing material success

[@daviddaviedavidson]

The money she’s spending on „quality“ food is insane. For two people as well.

[@aliceeverdeen5646]

LOL We didn't have a functional stove for the first month so we had to eat out every meal. Hence the sky-high grocery/food bills.

[@loujon191]

Especially since they don’t seem that healthy

[@thisguy73]

You know the liberals dont look at the price of the food they just look for labels like "organic" or "buy me lib since Joe Biden will cancel all your student loans" Its all going to plan!

[@justjordiano]

@@loujon191 this

[@DressForAfrica]

@@aliceeverdeen5646 I love what you did here! This is so cool. All the best for you and your boyfriend. May you be blessed abundantly!

[@melgivans]

Such an awesome story!! I love seeing the cost breakdown and hearing about people’s relationships with money, very relatable!

[@wolfgangi]

I think a lot of us fantasize about doing things like this but I give them props for making that dream come true.

[@LK_EBM]

Without proper planning, it can quickly become a nightmare

[@alp.9672]

I have no desire for van dweller, well in her case bus life.

[@wintermute1814]

how are you spending 15k a month on a 150k salary? Also, what on earth is the 6.5k of ‘discretionary’ spending each month since it doesn’t include food or fuel, which you listed as your biggest expenses?

[@gl6265]

There’s an asterisk footnote that says the discretionary portion is for things like bus renovations, moving, Airbnb, and pet.

[@minghiy]

Two incomes?

[@Michelle-oz1jc]

Kinda crazy from all that there’s no savings.

[@thomasreedy4751]

They didn’t give monthly or yearly values. They made 150k so far. They spent 15k in September. Essentially, they are really bad with money, spend it as soon as they make it and while they say they want to pay off debt - at 150k + a year there is not reason they should have it except having no clue on how to live within your means.

[@RockyMountainGardener]

Pretty incredible lifestyle and career that you’ve set up for yourself! Focus on paying off that debt and saving for future purchases instead of putting them on a credit card and you two will be set! ❤

[@teenytinytoons]

Agreed.

[@nibraden]

The math ain’t mathin for that budget to income

[@skinykeny]

Yeah…that comment of well…the balance on the credit cards just rolls over…that’s a ton of interest you are paying…just wasting money.

[@LK_EBM]

She's paying for my credit card rewards 🤣

[@PrePre_]

Was that budget of what she pays a month or the total of her and her partner?

[@beyrutphl]

You see this problem is that a lot of kids from the lower middle class that ended up getting a legit job paying well into the six figures are still living paycheck to paycheck, at least where I'm from in Philly.

[@richarddegen6184]

Fithydelfia??

[@beyrutphl]

​@Richard Degen yes lol it's getting better and better here. Like the poor officers funeral we just had today that the whole country showed up to.

[@derek8239]

🙄 When I saw the expense breakdown, I couldn't believe how wasteful she was. Almost $3k in credit card debt is just insane to me. Plus, $6k left in student loan debt, while earning $150k a year? It just blows my mind.

[@laalchimista23]

3k in credit card debt is well below average

[@Learnitall001]

Loved it. Thanks for sharing.❤️

[@littlenest]

The bus is beautiful but 15K a month living in a bus seems "a bit much" talk about a Newyork shoe-box apartment on wheels......with the price to match!

[@wattsthoughts]

The production on this video is amazing!

[@joshjjericho]

I like it. The bulk of the spending is done. She has a sustainable job, and the lifestyle is the goal, not some off in the future idea. Definitely some money in a KZbin channel for bus living, too.

[@tynitahaines4012]

I love her bus. And her mind frame for paying off debt and just living life. Good luck.

[@brightnovastar]

You should review the food you eat... additional revenue stream with a KZbin. I love how you have maximized your work life balance.

[@patricklerato1775]

Great video. you've reminded me of what someone once said ❤ Being rich is having money; being wealthy is having time

[@grantben5898]

People prefer to spend money on liabilities,Rather than investing in assets and be very profitable.

[@brightdekpen2341]

You're so correct! Save, invest and spend for necessities and a few luxuries relatives to on's total assets ratio.

[@deborahedward68]

This must be an investment with Mrs Lauren James

[@carolkelvin3407]

[@patrickrobert5867]

I invested in both stock and Cry ptő but I'm doing much better on Cry ptő with the favourable market price

[@bcasa3376]

Yeah her attitude on credit card debt really does prove that debt lifestyle has become too normal for Americans

[@larabraver]

Sad but true 😢 She was so flippant and has no plan to pay it off asap even while making so much money.

[@priscilladavenport5791]

WOW!! what a waste of money on discretionary with no savings?? Save more because no pension with an unknown job future...

[@MrRKWRIGHT]

Good evening Alice. What can I say? These videos just keep getting better and better - with superlative and inspiring content. But that's of course to be expected from a talented offgrid woman such as yourself . Thanks for sharing a look at your wonderful experience touring the country in a converted school bus.

[@gamechill5507]

I o0lp0

[@emmanuelharbor2350]

Loving this episode.

[@mompreneurlife]

A school bus? Really? Coolest idea ever. We have kids, but if we had to do it all over again, we will definitely make a school bus our home. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@alp.9672]

Why would you want a school bus as your home? They have no children so makes more sense.

[@IsraelCervantes-le4gf]

@@alp.9672 she meant would, meaning that if she didn't have kids she'd do it.

[@talhaali2553]

I heated mom has brilliant mind 😊

[@emmarose9466]

Oh my this reminds me of a buddy who goes to the gym just so he can enjoy his McDouble with no guilt

[@alisonm3700]

So the man brings in $0 money in?

[@hrv8008]

He does home chores work! 🙄

[@coressh5967]

Very sad

[@EldePHX]

Yeah basically a leech

[@soc789]

That aint cheap living

[@aliceeverdeen5646]

Heck no it ain't. Our gas spending can be comparable to monthly rent, lol

[@karimawahab6021]

Wow ; makes over six figures and is not saving ? Americans 😂

[@aliceeverdeen5646]

LOL I think that's less of an American problem and more of a "crazy hippies spending every dollar on their dream" problem 😂

[@John-bq9bj]

FACTSSS

[@larabraver]

Yes, Americans 😢 We're too comfortable with debt and no savings.

[@Eglute_]

If this is a typical month, they would be spending $186,240 annually. On a pre-tax income of 150k (roughly 105k after taxes) How is this not mentioned??

[@FunInTheSun808]

15,500 X12 months =186,000 they need to eat more in the rv. They need to follow a budget badly. The “it is what it is” will ruin their relationship, health and overall life if they don’t get a grip quickly.

[@onlineshortfilms123]

Awesome video!

[@Jonathan_Solomon]

I'm impressed by her lifestyle/profession, but saddened by their monthly expenses. Unless there's a medical bill or covert recreational habit, $6K+/mo in discretionary makes no sense. The best thing about this situation is that she's most likely building her credit score with nearly $3K/mo in credit card payments. They're living the dream, but not cashflow positive which in turn is a capitalistic nightmare.

[@unknownflapjack7O7]

This is amazing, a bus makes a lot of sense 👍🏾

[@Trudloops]

I like this insight into uncommon ways to make a living and live. I would love to do voice overs.

[@AndyFieldVoiceActor]

I've got a course coming in early 2022. Follow me for details!

[@randybottphotography]

You owe $6000 on student loans and make $150,000. You need Dave Ramsey.

[@nocheapdopamine725]

Ok live and let live but…$1k for hurricane prep when you could simply *drive away* is both hilarious and beyond me

[@larabraver]

I genuinely wondered about that.

[@Elizabeth-mf3dn]

That’s awesome!! She hustled and made a career out of it!

[@jeffdorris5321]

This is awesome 😇🙌

[@budgetingdaddyuk6761]

Great job on renovating the bus.

[@rafaelpaun1907]

6 thousand dollars a month for discretionary??? Homie, cmon now.

[@HonJazzz]

I want to start doing voiceovers! Thank you for the encouragement.

[@thisguy73]

$23K a year in food spending. Thats after tax. Worst than most her age in NYC. Wow. If she had a real job she would be bankrupt now vs hitting the jackpot being able to work 2 hours a week talking.

[@matthewkeating-od6rl]

great vid

[@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357]

Thank you for posting this interview video. 22nov22

[@badrala4656]

Good episode. Wanna try it too.

[@adammorra3813]

85k to renovate a bus? Jesus christ.

[@jjoymagda407]

Since she's using it as her home and work office, it evens it out in my opinion 🙂

[@aliceeverdeen5646]

Keep in mind, it's our off-grid dream home that allows us to travel the country. A comparable RV would have cost 3x what we spent.

[@adammorra3813]

@@aliceeverdeen5646 Now that I look at online prices, yes the cost is very high. But I could never justify putting that much money in a depreciating vehicle. Kudos to you for making your dreams come true. All about priorities.

[@alp.9672]

A house is more expensive......what you mean?

[@BuMyBeLlY]

@@alp.9672 a house typically appreciates in value. So a bus may be cheaper in the short term, but provide less value in the long run.

[@777Bviews]

Imagine if MSNBC paid somone else to do the voice-over on her own video.

[@TezEV]

They seem like an interesting couple, they should start doing vlogs or something.

[@MashiroRedo]

I don't get the Airbnb expense when you have a moving house.

[@saulgoodman2018]

For sales press 1? I hate calling up a company and getting something like that. Just give me a REPRESENTITIVE.

[@BLACKAAROW]

she had less than 10k in student loans yet she doesn't try to pay it off???? she can easily pay it off in a year or less but yet she wont smh

[@dallasryder8125]

That’s a lot of people. Keep hoping Sleepy Joe will pay it off

[@bruceevert1655]

She's aggressively paying off high interest credit cards, while the low interest Sudent Loan is on deferment(as in not accruing interest). When the cards are paid off(saving thousands in interest) she will then pay off the Student Loan. Any financial advisor will tell you its the correct method to be debt free.

[@klmasi]

@@bruceevert1655 She made almost $200k in 2021 and 2022 and she's still paying off credit card debt and a student loan. Something is very very wrong about the way she's managing her finance.

[@iseemelanie]

$6,607 in discretionary spending is absolutely wild! Especially considering the credit card debt.

[@chachingfm]

The Focusrite scarlett is the best.

[@marcielynn4886]

150 K? I live in Hawaii on 15 K.

[@bradtrades]

I think it’s so cool that you built the bus to be totally off the grid. What a great job!

[@aliceeverdeen5646]

Thanks so much!!

[@loujon191]

Did I miss what jays salary is?

[@mcphaulnotaryworldllc6377]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@BLACKAAROW]

I have a feeling he doesn't work, I can definitely tell who wears the pants in the relationship lmao

[@thisguy73]

LOL no reason to work. He has his sugar momma. Jay hit the jackpot

[@EldePHX]

He’s a professional bum

[@domjobs18]

I'd love to have a spot on these episodes lol. Living in NE Oregon, homeless, working fast food @ 20-30 hours per week, on Snap benefits. "Living in NE Oregon on $1200 per Month and Unhoused"

[@florentinosebastianjrjhun2535]

Simple and content

[@gwylui]

I wish I could give a second like for the Ben & Jerry and beer in the freezer

[@theforeignerinamerica1817]

I love these videos where people make a living and get out of the rat race with their creativity. I wouldn't live in a bus, but kudos to her!

[@td69]

How are they out of the rat race? She is broke and at this rate will have to work till she dies lol

[@zaidali3042]

Beautiful voice

[@jazcaddell2443]

$7k a month in discretionary spending... Ma'am you didn't cure your bad money habits you just started making enough that they didn't matter.

[@shortstraw4]

That budget is a mess

[@debunkinghistory214]

This should be an Onion headline. Putting aside gas and campground expenses, if you live on a bus it should be no problem whatsoever to live on $10-15k per year per person in the US.

[@whitneybrown4067]

This is Gonna b so Good🔥🔥🔥👍….

[@djkenny1202]

How could you have ANY Debt?

[@lambrosspyrou4450]

Would have been nice to have her Fiverr account somewhere in the description just out of curiosity

[@glennr9913]

Seems like the CC debt would vanish with the current income & low spending.

[@Justice4x]

so she makes 150k and has no savings?

[@n3wt]

They might jus be renovating constantly

[@ericsoo4330]

so how are the winters there

[@youknowwithMartyKauffman]

Seems like a good life

[@fredsimmons2793]

What a niche,way to go youngun's

[@hidden-expose]

I'm sorry, but this school bus is a money pit. Need to focus on paying off debt and saving money. No mention of retirement saving either. I would suggest renting an apartment, less eating out, and hustle to bring down that debt.

[@HaydenBowles]

Great story! Just waiting for my man Graham to tear this apart cause of the spending....

[@thegreatfulgamer5749]

Amazing! I'm trying to be a voice actor also. Living thr dream!!! Cheers!

[@bruceevert1655]

I have a 450k house and live on $2400 a month. All expenses.

[@DJJAYWILL313]

lmfaooo that credit card payments is crazy.

[@florentinosebastianjrjhun2535]

Nice

[@Stezworld]

I got a feeling this is the Alux lady.

[@alp.9672]

lol that would be really cool if it was

[@oco987]

How much does her partner make? And what's his contribution. After all, they are living in the same bus

[@83Mike17]

Oh ..he takes care of the water and toilet.🚽🪠

[@EldePHX]

He’s a bum

[@bentelog2823]

thats the perfect nomad living, have remote work full time.

[@zeAristotle]

At this point she can just buy a small condo in many small US cities at that price for the van lol. Then she can just save up and travel wherever she wants. Will be much cheaper but I guess there's a certain charm in living in traveling vans nowadays lol

[@BassBwoy3]

She’s amazing, but Jay is incredible! What does that man do for work?! He seems to be a Jack of all trades. Water filtration through a bus?! Who would have thought.

[@msgrandeur]

I'd love to do voice over work. I'm not sure how to get started

[@polarfinance9609]

fivver or upwork

[@X.L.B1]

@@polarfinance9609 How do I get into acting?

[@lecavalier32]

Me too. Ppl always compliment me on the amount of voices I can replicate or produce.

[@AndyFieldVoiceActor]

I've got a course coming in early 2022. Follow me for details!

[@thisguy73]

Can you imagine going to school for 4 years undergrad in very intensive classes then another 2 in a graduate program and this lady outearning you by 2x just by talking 3 hours a week x 52 weeks. LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

[@MarkWongMD]

The way people have to live in 2022 to just get by is a shame.

[@jemalguillory]

Louisianimal. Congrats!

[@xkaokdkl11933]

Get a consolidation loan for that credit card debt. Your interest rates are probably ridiculous.

[@kevinb8881]

$6142 in student loan debt is not too bad!!!

[@aminemissi3950]

but my question is: she is making 150000 every year, does her boyfriend makes any money?

[@joweemac]

So "Cool!!

[@paulamattiereed3728]

It's so cool!!!

[@paulamattiereed3728]

I will like to know you better if you don't mind leaving me a reply on here

[@ambivertical]

With all the car robberies these days. This is too risky for me to live mobile on 4 wheels to risk a thig taking my everything and riding away

[@thisguy73]

$1880 for food? I hope she can one day get to a food shelter and talk to real people not influencers and voice over coaches and see how they would look at her.