{"id":445386,"date":"2026-08-03T12:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T10:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=445386"},"modified":"2026-08-03T12:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T10:11:09","slug":"elle-choisit-vivre-dans-voiture-avec-chien-plus-payer-loyer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/she-chose-to-live-in-her-car-with-her-dog-and-pay-rent-445386","title":{"rendered":"At 39, she chose to live in her car with her dog to avoid paying rent."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Faced with the rising cost of living, Bella Roams (@thealchemists_garden) chose a new path: living in her car with her dog Lyla. Nearly a year after this change, she recounts on social media an adventure that has transformed her daily life and her vision of happiness.<\/p>\n<h2> A new life born from an unexpected choice<\/h2>\n<p> In the United States, where housing prices continue to rise, more and more people are rethinking how they live. This is the case for Bella Roams, a 39-year-old American who decided to transform her Subaru into a small mobile home to avoid exorbitant rents. Her goal wasn&#39;t simply to reduce her expenses, but to create a lifestyle more aligned with her desires: greater freedom, simplicity, and exploration. Today, <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/woman-embraces-nomadic-life-after-moving-into-her-car-due-to-high-cost-of-living-12000373\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">she fully embraces this choice<\/a> and shares her experience on TikTok with a community of over 50,000 followers.<\/p>\n<h2> A move that changes the course of his life<\/h2>\n<p> It all started when she left San Diego, California, to move to Washington State to be closer to her family. While waiting to find a place to live, Bella Roams (@thealchemists_garden) stayed temporarily with her parents. Her search quickly took a different turn. The available apartments were either too expensive or financially out of reach.<\/p>\n<p>Faced with this reality, Bella decides to completely reassess her priorities and explore an alternative she had already considered: nomadic life. In July 2025, she packs her belongings into a storage unit, converts her car, and hits the road with her dog, Lyla. A decision that, even though it stemmed from financial necessity, quickly becomes an enriching experience.<\/p>\n<h2> A car designed as a true little refuge<\/h2>\n<p> Living in a car requires organization, but Bella Roams (@thealchemists_garden) has learned to create a comfortable daily routine. Her Subaru has become her personal space, designed to meet her essential needs. She has established a precise routine: finding suitable places to shower, managing her laundry, and organizing her days.<\/p>\n<p>Far from the improvised image sometimes associated with this lifestyle, she explains that this adventure is based primarily on anticipation and adaptation. This new way of living also allows her to reconnect with what&#39;s essential. With fewer possessions and fewer material constraints, she says she has gained autonomy and serenity. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thealchemists_garden\/video\/7643919446221819166\" data-video-id=\"7643919446221819166\">\n<section> <a title=\"@thealchemists_garden\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thealchemists_garden?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@thealchemists_garden<\/a> Better views while living in my car than any apartment I ever had \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f <a title=\"carliving\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/carliving?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#carliving<\/a><a title=\"nomad\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nomad?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#nomad<\/a> <a title=\"solofemaletraveler\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/solofemaletraveler?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#solofemaletraveler<\/a> <a title=\"carcamping\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/carcamping?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#carcamping<\/a> <a title=\"vanlife\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/vanlife?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#vanlife<\/a> <a title=\"\u266c original sound - dragonladyterri\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7191156848421129003?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u266c original sound - dragonladyterri<\/a><\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2> Remote work, a valuable ally in his adventure<\/h2>\n<p> Her life change was also made possible by her professional activity. Bella works remotely for an organization specializing in business development. Thanks to a reliable internet connection, she can do her job from different locations. This flexibility illustrates a significant evolution in the world of work: today, some professionals can completely rethink where they live without giving up their careers. For Bella Roams (@thealchemists_garden), this professional freedom has opened the door to a new kind of balance between work, travel, and personal fulfillment.<\/p>\n<h2> A passion for nomadism already present<\/h2>\n<p> This decision didn&#39;t happen overnight. A few years earlier, Bella had already experienced van life for a week during a trip to the American Pacific Northwest. This first experience had been a real turning point. She had discovered that a more mobile lifestyle could suit her. A few years later, this desire transformed into a concrete project. Like many major life changes, her adventure began with a small experience that gradually changed her perspective on the future.<\/p>\n<h2> Lyla, an essential travel partner<\/h2>\n<p> Bella Roams (@thealchemists_garden) isn&#39;t experiencing this adventure alone. Her five-year-old goldendoodle, Lyla, accompanies her everywhere. To ensure Lyla&#39;s well-being, Bella makes sure to maintain a reassuring routine. Walks, outings in the forest, and time spent outdoors punctuate their days. Even when she has to work from the car because of the weather, she makes sure to give Lyla opportunities for activity whenever possible. This close bond further strengthens the sense of home that Bella has managed to create, even in a small space.<\/p>\n<h2> An experience that transformed her<\/h2>\n<p> Beyond the practical aspects, Bella Roams sees this adventure as a true personal evolution. She feels she has learned to know herself better, to identify what truly matters to her, and to live with greater confidence. For her, this nomadic lifestyle represents much more than an economic solution: it&#39;s a way to regain control over her daily life and build an existence that reflects who she is.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, her Subaru is just the first step. Bella is now saving up to buy a more spacious van that will allow her to explore more of the western United States. In the longer term, she envisions continuing her adventure to Central and South America. Her small mobile home is thus becoming the starting point for a much larger project, focused on exploration and discovery.<\/p>\n<h2> A new definition of home<\/h2>\n<p> Bella Roams&#39; story goes beyond her own journey. It reflects a broader trend: faced with rising housing costs, some people are choosing alternative lifestyles to preserve their freedom and quality of life. Living in a car isn&#39;t necessarily synonymous with sacrifice. For Bella, it&#39;s quite the opposite: a way to create a simpler, more flexible daily life, closer to her aspirations.<\/p>\n<p>With Lyla by her side and projects in mind, Bella Roams (@thealchemists_garden) proves that a home can sometimes be less a fixed place than a space where you feel good, free and fully yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Faced with the rising cost of living, Bella Roams (@thealchemists_garden) chose a new path: living in her car...","protected":false},"author":8375,"featured_media":446602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5678],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-445386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-societe"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/elle-choisit-vivre-voiture-avec-chien-plus-payer-loyer-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/elle-choisit-vivre-voiture-avec-chien-plus-payer-loyer-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/elle-choisit-vivre-voiture-avec-chien-plus-payer-loyer.jpg","author":{"name":"Fabienne Baure","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/fabienne_baure-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":5678,"name":"Society","slug":"societe","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5846,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Society section of The Body Optimist unpacks the debates that shape women\u2019s lives: equality, discrimination, beauty standards, social ties and the place of bodies in public space. Its analysis, first-person stories and practical advice are for anyone who wants to understand the pressures of everyday life and push back, with an inclusive, body-positive and judgment-free perspective.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Society section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Feminism<\/strong>: everyday sexism, gender-based violence, work, the domestic load and women\u2019s rights around the world, all gathered in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\">Feminism<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fatphobia<\/strong>: discrimination against fat people at work, at the doctor\u2019s office and in the media, and ways to stand up to it, in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>LGBTQIA+<\/strong>: sexual orientation, gender identity, coming out and the fight against homophobia and transphobia, explained in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Beauty standards<\/strong>: where physical ideals come from, how they vary across countries and eras, and what they cost women.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Relationships and social ties<\/strong>: friendship, loneliness, bonds between generations and new ways of living together.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Women who break stereotypes<\/strong>: women making their mark in mechanics, science, sports or on stage, like the physicist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/sabrina-gonzalez-pasterski-a-young-physicist-could-revolutionize-science-432830\">Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski<\/a>, in fields where few expected them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why are beauty standards a social issue?<\/h2>\n<p>Beauty standards are a social issue because they are neither natural nor universal: they shift from one country to another and from one era to the next, as our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/heres-how-beauty-standards-change-in-different-countries-429750\">how beauty standards differ around the world<\/a> shows. Yet these ideals of thinness, youth and flawless skin have very real effects: comments starting in childhood, pressure to watch your weight, unequal treatment at work and in health care, online harassment. Recognizing that a norm is constructed helps you take a step back, spot the messages designed to make you feel guilty and choose what you want to keep. That is the common thread of this section: connecting individual experiences to the collective mechanisms that produce them.<\/p>\n<h2>What can you do about discrimination or online harassment?<\/h2>\n<p>If you experience discrimination or online harassment, the first step is to keep evidence, then to turn to the right people, who will depend on the country you live in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Save screenshots, messages, dates and the names of any witnesses.<\/li>\n<li>For discrimination in hiring, housing or access to a service, contact the equality or human rights agency in your country, a union or a lawyer.<\/li>\n<li>For illegal content online, report it to the platform and to the authorities in your country.<\/li>\n<li>If you have been threatened or targeted by a crime, you can file a report with the police.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Our approach: connecting the personal and the collective<\/h2>\n<p>Born from a plus-size fashion site, our magazine looks at social issues through the lens of the body and representation. We give a voice to the people most affected, we explain the words before debating them (sexism, fatphobia, trans identity, consent) and we favor practical ways forward over outrage alone. Our articles start from everyday experiences to shed light on broader patterns, without moralizing or pitting women against each other.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\/fatphobic-remarks-surely-said-without-knowing-430954\">fatphobic phrases many people say without realizing it<\/a>, and what they really imply.<\/li>\n<li>A look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/would-you-be-considered-the-norm-elsewhere-here-are-average-sizes-and-weights-in-the-world-429930\">average heights and weights around the world<\/a>, a useful reminder that \u201cnormal\u201d depends on where you live.<\/li>\n<li>What to do when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/what-to-do-when-a-colleague-appropriates-an-idea-at-work-447182\">a coworker takes credit for your idea<\/a> at work.<\/li>\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/how-to-set-boundaries-in-the-face-of-unsolicited-advances-at-work-447161\">set boundaries with unwanted advances at work<\/a>, calmly and clearly.<\/li>\n<li>Whether women still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/womens-work-applying-makeup-to-look-professional-446904\">have to wear makeup to look \u201cprofessional\u201d<\/a>, and what that expectation says about workplace norms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What counts as discrimination?<\/h3>\n<p>Discrimination is unequal treatment based on a characteristic protected by law, in a specific area such as employment, housing or access to goods and services. Protected grounds vary from country to country, but they often include sex, race or ethnic origin, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. Some places also protect physical appearance or weight.<\/p>\n<h3>What is intersectionality?<\/h3>\n<p>Intersectionality describes how several forms of discrimination can overlap in the same person and reinforce one another. The American legal scholar Kimberl\u00e9 Crenshaw coined the term to describe the experiences of Black women. A woman who is both fat and lesbian, for example, may face sexism, fatphobia and homophobia, which compound one another rather than simply adding up.<\/p>\n<h3>What is diet culture?<\/h3>\n<p>Diet culture is the set of beliefs that equates thinness with health, success and personal worth. It shows up in foods labeled \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad,\u201d compliments on weight loss and the shaming of fat bodies. Our magazine prefers a weight-inclusive approach to health, at every size.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/culture\">Culture<\/a> section explores how bodies and identities are portrayed in movies, TV shows and books, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">Psychology<\/a> section supports you with self-image, confidence and emotions.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":1539,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5678,"category_count":1539,"category_description":"<p>The Society section of The Body Optimist unpacks the debates that shape women\u2019s lives: equality, discrimination, beauty standards, social ties and the place of bodies in public space. Its analysis, first-person stories and practical advice are for anyone who wants to understand the pressures of everyday life and push back, with an inclusive, body-positive and judgment-free perspective.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Society section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Feminism<\/strong>: everyday sexism, gender-based violence, work, the domestic load and women\u2019s rights around the world, all gathered in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\">Feminism<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fatphobia<\/strong>: discrimination against fat people at work, at the doctor\u2019s office and in the media, and ways to stand up to it, in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>LGBTQIA+<\/strong>: sexual orientation, gender identity, coming out and the fight against homophobia and transphobia, explained in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Beauty standards<\/strong>: where physical ideals come from, how they vary across countries and eras, and what they cost women.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Relationships and social ties<\/strong>: friendship, loneliness, bonds between generations and new ways of living together.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Women who break stereotypes<\/strong>: women making their mark in mechanics, science, sports or on stage, like the physicist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/sabrina-gonzalez-pasterski-a-young-physicist-could-revolutionize-science-432830\">Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski<\/a>, in fields where few expected them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why are beauty standards a social issue?<\/h2>\n<p>Beauty standards are a social issue because they are neither natural nor universal: they shift from one country to another and from one era to the next, as our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/heres-how-beauty-standards-change-in-different-countries-429750\">how beauty standards differ around the world<\/a> shows. Yet these ideals of thinness, youth and flawless skin have very real effects: comments starting in childhood, pressure to watch your weight, unequal treatment at work and in health care, online harassment. Recognizing that a norm is constructed helps you take a step back, spot the messages designed to make you feel guilty and choose what you want to keep. That is the common thread of this section: connecting individual experiences to the collective mechanisms that produce them.<\/p>\n<h2>What can you do about discrimination or online harassment?<\/h2>\n<p>If you experience discrimination or online harassment, the first step is to keep evidence, then to turn to the right people, who will depend on the country you live in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Save screenshots, messages, dates and the names of any witnesses.<\/li>\n<li>For discrimination in hiring, housing or access to a service, contact the equality or human rights agency in your country, a union or a lawyer.<\/li>\n<li>For illegal content online, report it to the platform and to the authorities in your country.<\/li>\n<li>If you have been threatened or targeted by a crime, you can file a report with the police.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Our approach: connecting the personal and the collective<\/h2>\n<p>Born from a plus-size fashion site, our magazine looks at social issues through the lens of the body and representation. We give a voice to the people most affected, we explain the words before debating them (sexism, fatphobia, trans identity, consent) and we favor practical ways forward over outrage alone. Our articles start from everyday experiences to shed light on broader patterns, without moralizing or pitting women against each other.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\/fatphobic-remarks-surely-said-without-knowing-430954\">fatphobic phrases many people say without realizing it<\/a>, and what they really imply.<\/li>\n<li>A look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/would-you-be-considered-the-norm-elsewhere-here-are-average-sizes-and-weights-in-the-world-429930\">average heights and weights around the world<\/a>, a useful reminder that \u201cnormal\u201d depends on where you live.<\/li>\n<li>What to do when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/what-to-do-when-a-colleague-appropriates-an-idea-at-work-447182\">a coworker takes credit for your idea<\/a> at work.<\/li>\n<li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/how-to-set-boundaries-in-the-face-of-unsolicited-advances-at-work-447161\">set boundaries with unwanted advances at work<\/a>, calmly and clearly.<\/li>\n<li>Whether women still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/womens-work-applying-makeup-to-look-professional-446904\">have to wear makeup to look \u201cprofessional\u201d<\/a>, and what that expectation says about workplace norms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What counts as discrimination?<\/h3>\n<p>Discrimination is unequal treatment based on a characteristic protected by law, in a specific area such as employment, housing or access to goods and services. Protected grounds vary from country to country, but they often include sex, race or ethnic origin, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. Some places also protect physical appearance or weight.<\/p>\n<h3>What is intersectionality?<\/h3>\n<p>Intersectionality describes how several forms of discrimination can overlap in the same person and reinforce one another. The American legal scholar Kimberl\u00e9 Crenshaw coined the term to describe the experiences of Black women. A woman who is both fat and lesbian, for example, may face sexism, fatphobia and homophobia, which compound one another rather than simply adding up.<\/p>\n<h3>What is diet culture?<\/h3>\n<p>Diet culture is the set of beliefs that equates thinness with health, success and personal worth. It shows up in foods labeled \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad,\u201d compliments on weight loss and the shaming of fat bodies. Our magazine prefers a weight-inclusive approach to health, at every size.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/culture\">Culture<\/a> section explores how bodies and identities are portrayed in movies, TV shows and books, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">Psychology<\/a> section supports you with self-image, confidence and emotions.<\/p>","cat_name":"Society","category_nicename":"societe","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8375"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445386"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":446610,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445386\/revisions\/446610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/446602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}