I’ve spent 10 years living off-grid in wilderness with my dog – I built my own home, forage for food & save £36k a year

A FRUGAL man built his own home in the wildnerness where he lives with his dog to save thousands a year.

Hakan Karahan, 34, ditched the bustling Istanbul for a quiet and simple lifestyle that costs him close to nothing.

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Karahan claims he was able to save up a whopping £365,000 after living off-grid for a decade.

He lives outdoors with his American Akita breed, Sila, whom he rescued in 2021.

The pair lead a happy life in the wild where Karahan isn’t burdened by extortionate prices and can save up £100 a day.

While others have to cough up around £70 on bills including rent, electricity, water and heating, Karahan gets these things at no cost.

Karahan said: “In nature, this all costs me £0, and therefore I save £36,500 per year.

“I was born in Istanbul, a big city where 22 million people live, and for the last ten years, I have been trying to sustain my life with what nature offers me in the wild.”

He settles close to water sources to use them as a shower and makes his own fireplaces to keep warm in colder months.

Instead of spending £30 on eating out or grocery shopping, he forages and collects free gifts of the nature to feed himself and his pet.

He continued:”I start my day very early as I get up at sunrise.

“As I usually live close to water sources, I take my shower at the waterfall.

“I make fireplaces in the shelters I built for heating.

“I have no problems with heating.”

Karahan mostly lives off mushrooms which grow plentifully in the forest, and Sila doesn’t protest either.

He added: “I prefer mushrooms for food as mushrooms are very dense in the region I am in.

“My dog’s favourite food is lamb, however, he is not a picky eater and in the wild, he eats everything with me. He also loves mushrooms too.”

Karahan claims that he prefers the secluded lifestyle with his dog as his only companion after admitting people “pushed” him into isolation.

He said: “It’s the people who pushed me to live my life in nature. I escaped from two-faced manipulative people and took refuge in the wild.

“Life in the wild with my dog is great. Although he is a pet dog, he has protected me from all kinds of dangers because of the bond between us.

“Life in the wild has taught him to cope with these challenges. Everyone witnesses that when they step out of their comfort zone – they can do things far above themselves.”

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