10 Things to Make Temporarily Living in Your Car or Van more Bearable

10 THINGS TO MAKE TEMPORARILY LIVING IN YOUR CAR/VAN BETTER, MORE BEARABLE, AND FINANCIALLY SMARTER

Ten things you can do to make your experience of living in your car more bearable and economically smart.

There are many things in this economic and social climate that could force you out of your home temporarily, requiring you to live out of your car until you’re able to find or afford a new place. Sometimes the loss of a job or demotion can make your current rental too expensive. Other times volatile or insensitive roommate situations may require you to move for safety and peace of mind. These urgent critical situations don’t often coincide with the availability of a 1-bedroom rental. And so, you may have to go through living out of your car temporarily. But, you don’t have to feel like a homeless person to do it. If you use the recommendations here, and take this time to form a plan for your future, this experience can give you more stability in the long run.

A few years ago volatile roommate situation forced me to move out of my apartment. I already had an apartment ready but with the prorated rent, if I just waited 3 days I’d be able to save $700. I decided to wait knowing that I had no other place I could stay. I resigned myself to live out of my car for three days

If I had known now what I knew then, the experience would have been amazingly better. As time went on I began to notice other things and neighborhood characteristics that would have made my half-week of living out of my car easier. In fact, it would have been so much easier that I might have considered doing it longer, for a month, and then pocketing the $1500 it cost me to move in.

Suppose you can go on an adventure, while you’re still working and visiting family, that at the end would put $1000-$2000 in your pocket at the end of the 30 days? What about $4000 after two months?

It doesn’t sound so bad when you think of it this way home.

Living out of your car isn’t the same as homelessness. Unfortunately with the way things have evolved in our country, homelessness typically results when all is lost, INCLUDING a job, home, bank account, pension, investment plan, and car. 

If you are living out of your car you obviously have a car and probably have a job, too. You may even have a checking and savings account. Perhaps you even have a valid credit card. You probably have family or friends whom in you can crash on the couch for a day or two to mix things up. For YOU, living out of your car is a way out of your present financial circumstances; it doesn’t have to simply be a result of your present circumstances.

Or maybe this is your introduction to Van Life. Apartment prices are skyrocketing and they're likely to keep getting higher and higher. Saving $1000 to $3000 per month on rent can make it worth the inconvenience for some people. 

For our purposes here we are going to assume that you are going for the full 30-day challenge. So first, you need to prepare. You have 3-5 days to get ready to live in your car. What do you do?

MAIL DELIVERY

Get a Mailbox at the post office or go to the nearest UPS store or a local mailbox center. The last thing you want to have happen is for important mail to go missing. You know what your circumstances are; do this as soon as you even think you might need to move in a hurry.  Rent the box (you may have to pay for 3-6 months upfront) and fill out a change of address form immediately

SCOUT IT OUT

SCOUT THE area for fitness clubs that offer a two-week trial. Register at more than one if you need to. Why? You are going to want a place to bathe. Fitness clubs have free showers! (Bring your shower shoes) They also have saunas, Jacuzzis, and sometimes, clean towels! Plus, you can trot away any stress by jumping on the treadmill or pumping iron. When one two-week trial runs out, politely decline the offer to extend and remove yourself, then check in at the next fitness club

MAP-IT OUT

USE YOUR PHONE LIKE SACAGEWEA. You’re phone and its Wi-Fi cellular data ability to tap into Google and see what’s around you are invaluable.  Certain places offer free Wi-Fi and NEVER turn it off. Make a note of stores like Target, Buffalo Wild Wings, Starbucks, some McDonald’s.  This Internet connectivity will come in handy at night when you’re in your car and bored.  Just park your car within range and log into the Wi-Fi account. In some cases you may need to arrive during the day, enter the establishment and ask for the Wi-Fi password.

LOCATION INDEPENDENT

Note the location of dollar stores, (Dollar Tree, 99-cent Store), as well as Good Will and Salvation Army centers. You may need to pick up a few things, like blankets, air mattresses, sun visors for your vehicle, and these places can be better priced than even the cheapest national bargain chain.

SPACE

Rent Storage. I know, I know. I hate renting storage space too, but if you’ve got your own flat panel Tv, gaming system, and audio system, plus bedroom set, etc, you aren’t going to want to lug that stuff around with you. Get the cheapest storage unit you can find and bite the bullet.

LUGGAGE

You’ve got to keep things smooth and easy in your vehicle so you can change (if need be) or grab something you need in a hurry. Forget about plastic bags, please! Get yourself some inexpensive modular luggage, like the kind flight attendants use. Use a garment bag to keep shirts, dresses, and suits flat and neat. Place each luggage item in your trunk or cargo compartment and separate by needs: toiletries, outerwear, socks, and underwear.

WEEKENDER EDC

Get a GO BAG, an everyday carry bag that can fit neatly under the seats in your vehicle, or one that can be discreetly hidden on the floor rests and covered with a dark blanket or jacket so that people walking past your vehicle don’t notice it.  The last thing you want is for someone to break into your vehicle while you are away.  In this bag you have one small item that you need, in case of emergency: Underwear, socks, travel size toothbrush, deodorant

MONITOR EXPENSES

Are you going to treat yourself to a $3.00 coffee from Starbucks?  Are you going to buy that $10 Chinese food meal? I’d advise against it because, after all, money is the utmost important thing here. However, I understand the need to pamper oneself with occasional pleasures. Here you’ll find a list of behavioral adjustments to turn your 30 days on the road into a financially smarter net proposition.

COFFEE X2

BUYING COFFEE:  ask for a second cup because the cup is too hot or too cold. Now you have a clean second cup to use late at night. Take a handful of extra sugar packets as you exit. They may come in handy late at night when you’re in your car craving some sweetened tea.

This also goes for any of the Slurpee’s, Jamba Juice, or any specialized fresh juice beverage. 

PORTABLE SHOPPING CART

Carry a small backpack with you or a waist bag. You’ll need it to stuff things into as you go about your day. Extra sugar packets, salt and pepper, packaged condiments (ketchup, mustard, salsa, hot sauce) 

WHERE DO YOU SLEEP?

You sleep in your car obviously, unless you can get to spend a night or two at a friend’s house. But where do you park so you can sleep safely?  Now this answer may vary for women who may not feel as comfortable sleeping in a parked car, but I’ve allowed for a certain level of security. 

You need to find a place that is safe, off well-traveled or heavily trafficked roads (quiet), and well-lit, but not so illuminated that you cannot sleep. You also want to sleep facing WEST so that when the sun rises in the EAST it’s not beaming in your eyes at 5:30AM.

Find a mall parking lot with a 24-hour security patrol. Park on the fringes, not so close to an exit that incoming and outgoing traffic wakes you, but if you need to make a quick exit at 4am you’ll know exactly how to do so. If a security patrol stops you, tell him/her the truth.  You’ll need to park here for a few nights. Hopefully, he or she will move on once they see you are honest and forthright. If not, move on to the next mall.

I do not suggest parking in multiple-story parking structures. These can be very unsafe. Park in areas with heavy patrols by local police. Beware, this may mean the area has a higher crime rate. 

Or park in an upscale area. The final choice would be to park near a police station. Never stay parked at the same area for more than 2-3 days. Move to a new safe area and return after a day or two. Alternate between 3-5 locations.