I bought a cheap minivan and lived out of it while getting my college degree — doing so helped me graduate debt-free

For almost two years, I chose to live in a minivan I bought for cheap on Facebook Marketplace while completing my bachelor's degree so I could save money and graduate without debt. Andrea Sadowski

While working toward my bachelor's degree, I spent almost two years living out of my minivan.

I'm lucky I was able to take advantage of on-campus resources and occasionally stay with friends.

Since I saved on housing, I was able to put more money toward my tuition and into my savings.

When I was a university student also working full-time, I had enough income to afford two out of the following three expenses: tuition, rent, or a vehicle.

On-campus housing was pricey, and the idea of paying for someone else's mortgage didn't appeal to me.…