Survival expert 'saves £365,000 in 10 years' after deciding to live in the wild

12 May 2024 , 14:07

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He claims to have saved almost £400,000 after living in the wild for a decade (Image: Hakan Karahan/ CATERS NEWS)

A survival expert claims to have saved almost £400,000 by embracing a wilderness lifestyle with his dog.

Hakan Karahan, 34, says he has saved £365,000 after deciding to live in the wild with his American Akita breed, Sila, over the past decade. He swapped city living for the great outdoors, claiming to save £100 daily on bills alone. He said his decision to live off the grid has allowed him to thrive, with Sila by his side since 2021 after rescuing him.

According to Hakan, the average person shells out £30 daily on food and £70 on various bills, from rent to utilities. But for him, nature offers not only solace but financial freedom saving him a staggering £36,500 per year. He said: "In nature, this all costs me £0, and therefore I save £36,500 per year.”

Hakan lives outdoors with his American Akita breed, Sila (Hakan Karahan/ CATERS NEWS)

"I was born in Istanbul, a big city where 22 million people live, and for the last ten years, I have been trying to sustain my life with what nature offers me in the wild. It's the people who pushed me to live my life in nature. I escaped from two-faced manipulative people and took refuge in the wild."

Hakan now spends his days enjoying beautiful sunrises and natural waterfalls, which he uses for his showers. He also has easy access to food in the form of mushrooms, which are plentiful in the region he resides in. He said: "I start my day very early as I get up at sunrise. As I usually live close to water sources, I take my shower at the waterfall. I prefer mushrooms for food as mushrooms are very dense in the region I am in. I make fireplaces in the shelters I built for heating. I have no problems with heating."

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Hakan says he has no problems with heating (Hakan Karahan/ CATERS NEWS)

Hakan also said living in the wild with his dog has been an incredible experience, filled with adventure. But despite the challenges along the way, the experience has helped both of them to grow. "Life in the wild with my dog is great," he added. "Although he is a pet dog, he has protected me from all kinds of dangers because of the bond between us.

"Life in the wild has taught him to cope with these challenges. Everyone witnesses that when they step out of their comfort zone, they can do things far above themselves."

Florence Freeman