Man lives in garbage bin to save money

Unless you’re Oscar the Grouch, living in a bin isn’t something that is likely to appeal. 

But it hasn’t fazed London-based artist Harrison Marshall, 30, who has lived in a converted skip bin for the past two years. 

In 2023, Marshall found himself in a rental rut. A yellow skip bin had been donated to him, and he decided to move into it temporarily while he searched for somewhere to rent. 

He parked the skip on land owned by an arts organisation, which lets Marshall stay there free of charge. 

He now plans to stay in the skip for the foreseeable future. 

“The thoughts of moving back into a shared house and paying a thousand pounds a month doesn’t seem too appealing,” Marshall tells The Sun. 

“A lot of my friends are still struggling to find places, it’s still very competitive. They’re still going to viewings and there’s 20 odd people trying to get the same place.” 

Marshall estimates that his monthly costs living in the skip are around £30 ($59). 

It’s far less than the average rent for a studio flat in Central London, which costs around £1500 per month ($2,992). 

As well as being a cost-saving measure, Marshall has also chosen to live in the bin in order to make a statement about the housing crisis. 

He is the co-founder and director of CAUKIN Studio, a design and construction firm that focuses on community impact and international development. 

The studio previously did two other skip house projects in London and New York, but this is the first one to be used as a full-time residence. 

The bin has a kitchenette and a bedroom up in a loft, accessible via a wooden ladder. 

There’s a donated portaloo on site, and Marshall showers at the gym or at work to cut back on water costs. 

In total, he spent around £5000 ($9,978) converting the skip bin into a home. 

“I think if I needed to stick it out for years, obviously I could,” he says. 

“I’m quite comfortable there right now, but at some point I need a real place to live.”