From living in a van to commuting 700 miles: 12 people who go to extreme measures to save money on housing

Housing - whether it's renting an apartment in a major city, living in student dorms, or financing a home - tends to be a big money suck.

But it doesn't have to be.

From living in company parking lots to making 713-mile commutes overseas, people all over the world have found creative ways to live on the cheap. We aren't recommending you take these tactics ... unless you're ready for a serious lifestyle change of the biggest kind. 

Here are 12 of the more extreme measures people have taken to save on the costs of housing: