I turned a cave into my tiny home to save money on rent – I won’t tell my family the truth for heartbreaking reason

A DAD revealed how he turned a cave into his home to save money on rent – but he hasn’t told his family for a heartbreaking reason.

Shi Zhiyong from Hebei, China, calls a narrow cavern in a desolate mountain home.

4

The transport worker’s tiny cave home is situated in Jinan – where he stumbled across it while hiking one day.

It is around 10 metres long and Shi only keeps a radio, a quilt, a water bottle and some clothes in his dwelling.

The dad then packs all of these items up every morning and carries them to work after realising that other villagers had been entering his “home” and sifting through his things.

“When I come back from work at night, often the cave had been explored top to bottom by others,” he told local media.

Photos of the cave show its mouth leading to a hollow space with large, jutting rocks overhead.

Shi reportedly began living in the cave full-time six months ago so he could save money on rent to send back home to his family in Handan, Hebei.

“I have two children, aged 11 and six. I have to save up money and support the family,” he told China News Service.

So, instead of paying up to 200 yuan (£25) a month on rent – which took the biggest chunk of his earnings – the dad decided to save every possible penny from him 3,000 yuan (£325) monthly salary to send back home.

Thanks to his lack of rent payment, Shi is able to send back almost his entire income to his wife and kids.

But they have no idea that he is living in a cave as he doesn’t dare to tell them.

“I told my family I lived in the company’s dormitory,” he said.

The 35-year-old sleeps on bedding laid out on the rocky floor and lights kindling fires for warmth.

He also tends to eat at his workplace’s cafeteria while he’s on shift and when there’s no work, Shi lives off sesame seed cakes.

The cave-dweller reportedly showers just once a month at a local public bathroom as there is no running water in his new home.

This comes after a keen outdoorsman who lives in caves and sleeps on piles of hay has revealed the very dangerous risks he faces.

Another recluse told how he left home aged 14 to move into a cave in the remote mountains of Argentina.

And one bloke shared how he decided to live in a cave and not spend a single penny after he got sick of paying rent.

4

4