Cheap shelter to live in?

I don't know what your definition of cheap is, but a canvas tent isn't a bad idea. My aunt and uncle had a tippi in the backyard that they used as an emergency guest bedroom sometimes. It also doubled as an awesome place for kids to hang out. It is also tall enough to stand up in and they have a pretty good resale value. They can get a little hot in the summer, but then again what tent doesn't.

http://www.davistent.com/html/singlepoletentrangetipi.html
http://www.springbar.com/explore/springbar/index.html

Also check amazon and ebay for good deals.

I'd be looking at some of the Wenzel tents. I bought one for $29 a few years ago just to see what I'd get. I was really impressed. I could easily live in it in my back yard for a long time.

The REI outlet often has larger tents on sale, particularly on the Deal of the Day. Many of these would be more than adequate for back yard living.

I like to have a tent like this available in case I get more guests than my guest room will handle.

I would go with the cheapest bugproof tent you can get and set up a cheap tarp over its inner. You can have a front porch, great ventilation and real rain protection (unlike many cheap tents)

I'd buy used like Craig's list unless you are Ebay savvy.I pretty much am. So for my wife and daughter at base camp in the Cascades while I snore far enough away? A $400 dollar Eureka tent for about $100 shipped with double flies from the Mid-East Deployment. You can stand up in it. Zips are HD.Takes any wind well.No Brainer.

I'd start watching Geartrade.com
Never know what you'll find there.
I got a Eureka Copper Canyon 1312 (8 man) for 65% off because it was missing the front porch extension thing. A 350 dollar tent for like 160 shipped.

If I were gonna sleep out back all summer, I'd get a cheap tent from geartrade, a sporting goods store, spray the crap out of it with silicone sealer and be out $30-40 at the end of summer when it falls apart.

If you want to go real cheap and get something with a lot of room, get some wood poles and make a teepee out of cheap hardware store tarps.

fella in my hunting lease had a big HEAVY canvas army tent set up and used as a camp for about 5 yrs.

The ubiquitous blue poly tarp. Add something like an REI Mombasa insect screen.

I'd get a big cheap Coleman tent.

Walmart has your solution, in spades. Spend 30-60 dollars for a capacious tent that will hold up for a summer and then supply you with a plethora of fabric samples to make light BYOG stuff in the Fall.

If I wanted to sleep in my back yard, I'd set up my hammock in the usual spot just inside the woods, and enjoy a comfortable sleep every night.

I vote for the cheapest, adequately sized tent with a 10'x10' or so blue poly tarp rigged over it with a big vestibule area. Wouldn't be more than $40 I'd guess for the whole kit, plus as mentioned you can then use the materials in the fall and winter to feed any MYOG. Tarp will take all the UV damage as well as keep you dry in whatever cheapo tent you pick up.

And as always, good starting point for cheap gear would be local thrift stores like Goodwill and the like. Doesn't seem farfetched to think you might find a passable tent for a great price.

-Jeff

Sierra Trading Post always has great deals on many tents, particularly car camping tents. Steep and Cheap often has Alps Mountaineering tents as the current deal – good prices on a high-quality manufacturer, though not especially light, You can get very lucky at REI's clearance sales, again on larger models.

Depends on what your idea of cheap is..
For the entire summer I'd go with the GoLite Shangri-La 3. With a 20% coupon you can get one for $160 + shipping. It's already seem sealed and bug proof and pretty much bomb proof. It's a palace for one, so much so that you may even feel the need to invite friends over for drinks. Plus you get a great versatile shelter that will last, not garbage.

Funny I have had the same thought myself. I watched the movie The Road To Wellville. I saw that people in the were sleeping in screened porches to get fresh heathy air. I can say that the best sleep I get is in a tent. Contact a tent maker and tell them your plans. Give them a long term evaluation in trade for a use. Maybe they will give you one. Contact Kaj Bune at Exped they have a lot of cool tents The Gemini or the Venus III DLX Plus are tents I have had my eye on. Contact Petra Hilleberg they have a new line of three season tents. Contact all the cottage manufacturers a 90 day evaluation would be important info for any tent maker. Getting a tent back after for wear analysis could prove valuable. Beta tester for hire. Write about your experiance and keep us posted.