About
My name is Jason Paul. After graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in communication, I attempted to pursue a “conventional” job writing for a number of publications. I applied for over 180 positions, from small papers in Lawrence, Kansas to Boulder, Colorado.
After an overwhelming swell of rejection emails, I called the conventional lifestyle quits and decided to pursue an idea of my own.
My idea? To live my life off Craigslist.
What does that mean exactly? Well, I’m glad you asked. I have made some ground rules that I will be living by over the year. Here they are:
> I will start with $2,500 that I’ve saved during college
> I will have a car, a phone, a computer and cameras to document the trip
> I am not allowed to live out of my car
> I am not allowed to live with someone I know for longer than a week at the beginning of each city
> I am allowed one large bag containing clothes and a few staple foods
> I am not allowed to initiate contact with someone unless it is through an online interaction
This means, put simply, I will find jobs, housing, friends, food and other necessities entirely via Craigslist.
My journey will last a little over nine months, with three months in three different sized cities.
Follow me on twitter @Jasonspaul!
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PostingID: 1283563434
January 13th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Hey Paul
Might i suggest that you come to Burlington Vermont as your final destination. We do have an active Craigslist community and the people of Vermont are very friendly and giving. There are also an abundance of small publications here in the state. Godspeed.
January 13th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
I’ve reviewed a bunch of the do-crazy-stuff-for-a-year-then-write-a-book-about-it books. This idea sounds great, not sure why you aren’t doing it for a whole year!
If you come through Denver, I’ll buy you a beer.
You can see some of my reviews here: http://sco.tt/
January 13th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
One college journalism grad to another, rock on! (And look me up if you’re ever in mid-Missouri)
January 13th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
From someone with 35 years in the news business: Being willing to take this kind of chance means you have at least one attribute of a good reporter. Good luck, Jason.
January 13th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Good luck, if you near Long Island lemme do a story on you
January 14th, 2010 at 2:01 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by David Burn, Andrew Astleford. Andrew Astleford said: Sounds like me, minus the Craigslist and "I am not allowed to live with someone I know for longer than a week" parts. http://bit.ly/5CVVQM [...]
January 14th, 2010 at 8:29 am
I’m a reporter in Chicago. You can sleep on my couch if you’re in town.
January 14th, 2010 at 8:55 am
What a great idea. I wish I’d thought of it. Good luck and if your in Orlando, FL, look me up.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by aastleford: Sounds like me, minus the Craigslist and “I am not allowed to live with someone I know for longer than a week” parts. http://bit.ly/5CVVQM…
January 14th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Visit Philly and you’ve got a fellow journalist at whose place you can stay for a night. I can take you to the Pen & Pencil, a journalists’ bar. All the best!
January 14th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
a budding travel writer, you are. do you do yardwork, too?
January 15th, 2010 at 9:04 am
pretty ballsy, drop me a line if you’re in DC
January 21st, 2010 at 4:39 pm
if you swing through sacramento, i’ll buy you a beverage (or two). best of luck.
January 21st, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I wish you the best. While you’re on Craigslist, if you find any awful ads worth sharing with others, please consider sending them to http://www.yousuckatcraigslist.com!
January 21st, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I can really identify with this idea since I have practically done this without turning it into a formal project. I have gotten jobs, housing, found mechanics and other helpers, found friends, bought and sold all manner of things, gotten freebies etc. all through Craigslist.
I think Craig Newmark really exemplifies the best true spirit of the 60’s, thus his use of the peace symbol for his icon is totally appropriate. Cragislist is literally the best of the internet and it is a model that many have followed. A great subject for a writer!
January 22nd, 2010 at 11:50 am
Let me know if I can help out with anything. I live at University and I-25. 25/m normal.
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Great idea and good luck on this adventure. If you’re ever in Cleveland and need anything don’t hesitate to drop a line..
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Awesome plan! Good luck I hope you write a book or get a reality show and make money, screw a real job.
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:01 am
Send me an email if you are ever in Scottsdale Arizona. My wife and I are pretty damn good cooks and would love to have you over for dinner!
Good luck on this one. Hopefully there is enough people left in this country with some sympathy.
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:56 am
You’re much better than Barbara Ehrenreich and her lousy experiments in “Nickel and Dimed”.
Congratulations on having your blog splashed across the news!
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:45 am
I’m a craiglist addict myself. Love this idea! If you find yourself in East Haddam Ct. theres a bed waiting here for you! And Burlington, Vt. IS a great place to go like the past poster said,my youngest daughter is at UVM going for recycling!! She will buy you lunch!
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:34 am
If you are ever in milton, ny 80 miles nort of new york city, (apple country) and need some clothes and a half way decent meal with my son and I contact me!
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:38 am
What a creative and innovative thing to do! You have begun a journey that will create a very interesting life for yourself. Later in life, you will be able to look back at this experience and see how much you grew and learned plus be very pleased. Hopefully, you will be able to turn this into a book!!! I will include you on my pray list. Best wishes!!!
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:39 am
My husband & I have a lovely guestroom waiting for you in Orange County, CA. There’s also some yardwork and windows that need attention, if you are so inclined. Enjoy this adventure, Jazson. What a gift!
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:48 am
Does this really work? What a great idea! A bit like boot camp!
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:55 am
Tim and I will be happy to provide great home cooked meals and your choice of couches, provided you don’t mind large German Shepherds greeting you in the wee hours of the morning! Best wishes for every success. Stop by if you find your way to Chandler, Arizona! We love folks who share that “Wild West” spirit.
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:30 am
Jason, I feel your frustration; what was once considered the basic way of life(gainful employment with a future for moving upwardly) is definitely a thing of the past. I know you will succeed at this very daring and tricky goal you’ve set for yourself! Just having the sack to do it, tells me you’ll do it! I wish you great success and encourage you to never lose that sense of humbleness; the one quality that keeps the man in check…
January 23rd, 2010 at 11:02 am
so you need a full time job, or just wondering through towns and cities?
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Very cool. Need accommodation in Northern VT (right on the Canadian border – I’d wait till good weather if I were you!!) send an email. It will work and be an excellent book. Want to post it on fb too?? ciao Pam
January 23rd, 2010 at 6:54 pm
I have a guest room if you make it to San Diego. And some friends with rooms too since you can’t stay in any one place too long. Very interesting experiment/experience.
January 24th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Come to Austin, TX!
January 26th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Jason, If you want an apartment in Sandusky, mine is on Craigslist – very clean, includes heat, water, off-street parking $435 mo. And it has a bed and couch and appliances!
January 27th, 2010 at 12:47 am
hi ya jason. good luck to you. just know there are a lot of unemployed journalism/communications/media graduates out there. I should do what you’re doing. Good to know you are making the best out of your situation- let me know if you ever swing by phx.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:57 am
We’d love to interview for our documentary sometime this summer.
here is the link,
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/CaperBox/free-adventures-a-documentary-about-creative-hos
let me know if you’re interested at all.
January 27th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Let me know if you come to Madison, WI! I write for several of the papers there, and some national magazines as well.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Come to Canada?
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Sounds great! Come through Baltimore… there’s a few beers here with your name on them (if you drink beer, otherwise, there is a great juice bar).
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:40 am
Hey man. This is such an awesome idea! Very interesting following your adventure. I wish we had something similar to Craigslist here in New Zealand.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Love the idea, not sure I’d be gutsy enough to do it. Good luck with your endeavors!
February 10th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
lots of free stuff here in telluride, co… we even have a ‘free box’ in town where people just give away things. also, with a booming restaurant scene, there is great free food to be found. contact me if you want to make the trip to this little ski town in a box canyon.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:18 am
Very cool idea and wish I could join you for the experience. If you come by San Francisco, which I would imagine has to be a destination, send me an e-mail. Ciao!
May 5th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
[...] his blog, LivingCraigslist.com — which is cutely designed to look exactly like Craigslist itself — Jason posts [...]
May 5th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
[...] his blog, LivingCraigslist.com — which is cutely designed to look exactly like Craigslist itself — Jason posts [...]
May 23rd, 2010 at 5:41 pm
The best of luck with your venture!
(if it doesn’t get you a journalism job, with a stunt like this you have a bright future in PR!!!)
July 4th, 2010 at 6:09 am
I also live my life off of craigslist…but in a different way…
I created http://www.picture-attached.com to document my experiences with talking with and meeting people from the casual encounters section of craigslist. Dates, sex, secrets, from kinky to conservative…I see it all and hear it all and experience most of it.
I’ll be following along with your journey, but for something a little more humorous and racey…ya might want to follow along with mine.
Good luck and happy craigslisting!!!