Today, we’d like to introduce you to Kirsten Trout.
Hi Kirsten, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
It all started back in August 2017 when we lived in Delaware. We had no plans on moving because we were both born and raised there, and even though my husband is a touring musician, he was able to commute from Delaware. (His past tours were John Legend, Sam Smith, Jazmine Sullivan, Stevie Wonder, etc.) My husband had no plans to leave the ✨Pop✨ and R&B world, but he was always curious about country music.
One night he was on his way home and I was laying in bed scrolling through Netflix and I had a random thought “you need to move to Nashville”. It was so strange as if it wasn’t my own thoughts. I was going to brush it off, but at that moment, Devin called me and told me he was listening to a podcast, and it got him thinking about how we should move to Nashville. I said, “Oh my gosh, I just thought the same thing!!” Because of that coincidence or act of God, we decided that night we were going to move. We told both our families the next day, and some believed us, while others were upset and didn’t like the idea at all.
After shopping for houses and apartments, we thought we were maybe crazy, and it wasn’t going to happen, and we were very discouraged. Fast forward to my husband scrolling the internet, and he found a couple that flipped a fifth wheel and turned it into their home. He asked me if I wanted to do it and right away said, “No way!” I didn’t even know what a fifth wheel was, but I was going to do it. Then he showed it to me, and I was too stunned to speak. When I realized that they’re just like tiny homes but bigger, I was so excited. Like, I get to live out my tiny home dreams?! So immediately I said yes, we told both our families the next day. Some thought we were joking, some were excited and some were still upset about it all.
In October 2017, we bought our first fifth wheel and flipped it. January 1,2018 we drove it across the country and started our new journey. We originally planned to live in an Rv for a year while we looked for property, and then we were going to sell the Rv and use the money as a down payment on a house but once that year was up, we decided to stay in the Rv. We were enjoying the financial freedom way too much to say goodbye.
Our truck payment, Rv lot rent, vehicle/rv insurance, phone bills (all of our bills combined) we were paying less than what we would of for an apartment without the utilities in the city. So, we decided that one year in the Rv wasn’t long enough, we wanted longer to enjoy the low bills. I’m so happy that we did because shortly after, my mom was passing and I had to go on ✨FMLA✨ from work to take care of her and the artist my husband was playing for had a stroke so we were both out of work. But because we lived in an Rv, and the cost of living is lower, we were okay.
After Devin secured a new job and after my mom passed and I got back to work the pandemic hit, and music city was shut down. My husband was out of work, and because I’m in the medical field it was just me who had a job. But we were fine, because✨ our bills were so low✨. Sadly we saw friends losing their homes, friends moving back in with their parents or leaving country city all together. It was a sad time, but because of fifth wheel living, we were fine and I’m so grateful for that. So here we are now, it’s 2024 and we have no plans on moving into a house.
Instead, I’m influencing others to divorce their 9-5 and enjoy their life, and my husband is still touring with different artists and enjoying music more than ever (artist he’s played with since being here; Colbie Caillat, Nelly, Lainey Wilson, Gabbie Barret, Morgan Evans, Breland, Chase Rice, Walker Hayes, Drake White, Franky Ballard, Chris Cagle and more).
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The struggles we faced was family and friends getting upset that we were leaving and moving into an RV.
The judgement and back handed comments was annoying for sure but we just used it to motivate us to move up our timeline in moving across the country.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My husband Devin is a touring musician. He’s been to so many different countries and every state touring. He plays lead guitar and sings background with every artist he’s been with and im so proud of him and all that he has accomplished.
I work in the medical field two days a week. Thats part time because theyre 12 hour shifts, so I make the health benefits. I’m also a content creator, and I share my life with other in hopes to inspire more people to live their life and divorce their 9-5 (unless they enjoy it of course).
How do you define success?
Being happy, and living life as if it’s your own. Today, we see so many people just existing, going to their 9-5, working overtime, not getting the reward they deserve for the work they put in, all for a job that they don’t enjoy that wouldn’t blink twice to replace them in a second.
Everyone is tired, and that’s no way to live life. So success to me isn’t ✨having✨ loads of money, or the biggest house. Success to me is being genuinely happy, and doing what you love.
Contact Info:
- Website: direct.me/fifthwheelliving
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/fifth_wheel_living
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KirsTrailerTreasure?mibextid=eQY6cl
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/1Askt_p3W4o?si=7kyHWMP0iY0AjyId
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fifth_wheel_living?_t=8lENu9s2m30&_r=1
