I never read the linked post yet but I'm going to. Thanks for linking it.

I like the way you think as its similar to how I do. Owning your own house is the first step to having financial freedom or in this case, not having to pay rent is the first step to financial freedom. As you pointed out, there's some non traditional ways that can be done. I know someone who stayed in a camping trailer for a couple years and saved enough to get a home started on his families land. I seen so many make bad financial decisions based on earning money they weren't use to having. Mainly young folks on cars in which gave them debt for 7 years (which in most cases they never paid and messed their credit up). I tell them, you realize that's a house payment and then I chuck in the, that car is going to go down in value the moment you start it and drive it off the lot. They usually get pissed and think I'm jealous of them getting a new car (most people need to learn the hard way).