people who were called "bohemians" were often very poor, because they tried to live by painting, acting or writing. it was hard to make a living. they generally wore old or second-hand clothing, and could not afford a good hair-cut. they often shared the room in the roof of a house, which was cheap, because it was cold in winter, hot in summer and often had birds living there as well. in some ways the life of a bohemian artist was difficult, but it gave people freedom to express themselves, that was often not found in more conservative society, where everyone worried about what other people thought of them, and cared a lot about things like clothes and houses. sometimes students from richer families would come to live a "bohemian life style", so that they could feel the same freedom to express themselves.