How to Live in Your Car

Suppose you're on a low-budget cross-country trip. Or maybe you're just dirt poor. If you've ever been tempted to live in your car for any reason, here's what you need to know.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Car
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Plastic bottle or wide-mouthed container
• Personal belongings (small)
• Gas money
• Cooler, or other food storage arrangement
• Luggage box (car top carrier)
• Vehicle curtains

1. Select your vehicle. If you have the luxury of being choosy, a van is your best bet. If you know you won't have to worry about keeping warm, a pickup with a cap is also a good option.
2. Set up your bed before you put anything else in the car. Sleeping is the only thing that you can't do outside of the vehicle. You can cut a foam mattress to size to fit on a small bunk or across any bench seating. In a compact car, you may have to remove the back of the rear seat so your bed can stretch into the trunk.
3. Find a place for dry foods (front passenger seat works well, so you can get snacks while driving) and foods that belong in the cooler. Keep items you will need to get to regularly (camp stove, laundry, toiletries and whatnot) in the passenger compartment or in the trunk. Items you'll only need once in a while (road emergency kit, out-of-season clothes, camping gear) can go in the car-top box.
4. Sleep at truck stops and state parks, which may offer showers and bathrooms. If you're reluctant to exit the vehicle in the middle of the night, keep a plastic container handy for urinating.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're uncomfortable with the idea that people can see into your car while you're sleeping in it, you may need to invest in some window curtains or window tinting. A regular windshield sun screen will suffice to block the view from the front.
• Avoid sleeping in your car while it's running. Aside from being a fantastic waste of gas, you run the risk of asphyxiating yourself with carbon monoxide if there happens to be a hole in your exhaust. If a particularly cold night descends upon you, it may be time to splurge on a motel or youth hostel, if you can afford it, or find a homeless shelter.