“It does me a lot of good”: She escapes the pressures of the city to live in a 96-square-foot forest

A 29-year-old woman left her job as a strategic consultant in Montreal and moved into a small house in the woods without electricity. This bold decision freed him financially.

“I decided to make it temporary,” says Mary Darcy, who has now been living in her little house in the woods for three months. It does me a lot of good. ”

Three years after buying this piece of land in Lanadier, a young professional at a large company finally quit her job after fixing her finances. This new minimalist life allowed him to free himself from constant financial stress.

Photo Maud Laurin-Kieran, QMI Agency

“I've reduced the need to constantly earn money because I've reduced my expenses. I've been working a lot on my life projects, my passions,” she explains.

On his TikTok account, a video showcasing his new life has garnered more than 330,000 views and many positive comments.

“It's very interesting, this way of life,” she observed. I think there will be a return to basics in the coming years. Returning to simple living. ”

Almost no expenses

The owner of the $90,000 land, which was almost fully repaid, had to pay only $7,000 for a small house in Mary's Marketplace. This strategy reduced the monthly expenses of a former tenant who paid $1,300 a month for his rent.

“My biggest expense [mensuelle]This is my $160 Starling. Otherwise, I pay for my groceries, wood and things like that, but that's it,” Mary said.

She estimated her total expenses at $1,000 a month when she factored in her groceries, car insurance, and the propane and gasoline she used to drive to the village grocery store.

Photo Maud Laurin-Kieran, QMI Agency

Free from the stress of the city

Mary says she feels less anxious since living in this house than when she lived in Mile End, Montreal.

“I have a really strong anchor, very healthy on a physical and mental health level as well,” she notes.

Mary is now preparing to spend her first winter in the heart of nature. She seems prepared because she can count on the help of her neighbors.

“I have really good neighbors. They helped me prepare […] I just corded some wood and I'm going to put in a propane stove because there's no wired connection,” explains the woman who lives without service.