My wife and I lived in a run down 800 sq. foot house we rented for 5 yrs right after we got married. Curtains moved when the wind blew, caught a dozen mice in there over the years, killed wasp and bees inside during the summer. It was brutal but we saved, worked two jobs and built our own home. Builds character and really helps you appreciate the "finer" things later in life
We lived in an old trailer that I took payments from my brother. Then we put $1500 in it before we got married and lived in it for nearly five years. It had so much character and memories, we were sad when we moved.