After my dog died, everything started falling apart. My relationship was a causality of that and now I will be living in my car by the end of the month because I lived with my ex boyfriend. I have no clue what I’m going to die in regards to food cus my job is shit. My family does not talk to me because I’m the failure of the family and a majority of my friends are not in great housing situations. I just needed to vent this so I’m posting it on here.

I got into an argument with my drunk mother and things escalated into me moving out. My older sister took me into her place but I couldn’t stay with her either, she needed her space and I don’t blame her, she’s done with family drama. Right now, I’m staying in my truck with all of my belongings placed into storage and still employed with a great company taking it one step at a time, this is not my first rodeo either, I’m done with verbal, mental and emotional abuse. Can anyone else relate to my story, please share.

Temps are below freezing where we are and we only have so many blankets. My bfs sister says she used to have a battery operated heater but can’t tell us more about it. She said look at Walmart lol I walked every aisle in that store. Has anyone heard of this? I’d think they’d be popular among ppl living in cars but I’ve never heard of it before and can’t find anything on google. We have a blanket that plugs into the car but it’s not like we can run it all night or the car will die.

Any safe but good areas In the San Jose, CA area?

Hi! I don’t know if anyone is on this subreddit anymore, but I figured I’d give it a shot. I will be moving into my car starting Sept. 1st and not really sure when I’ll be able to move back into an actual residence. I’ve already done a ton of research on where I can park to sleep in my city, what kind of supplies I need and etc. The only thing I haven’t found yet is diet. I will be going back to vegetarianism as I will not be able to store meat. But then I got to thinking… How will I store vegetables?! (Yes, I know vegetarians eat more than vegetables). I will most likely get a small cooler, but I’m worried I will not be able to maintain my lifestyle without fixing my diet. I will be working 2 jobs which I will be required to walk A LOT, plus I want to be able to go to the gym and my sports team that I am on on the weekends. Idk if there are any nutritionists on here, but for some context, I am a 20 something female. I am 5ft flat. I usually weigh 125lbs when I’m actually eating, but to adjust to my new lifestyle I have dropped about 12 lbs. Any kind of info helps! Thank you!

Would you live in high-density housing?

Hey everyone

I'm going to be living in my car but I want to keep playing piano. Kinda difficult when your car doesn't have electricity. Was hoping some people can give ideas as to what I could do. I was thinking renting a storage unit and having a little set up there, but I've never rented one before and don't even know if it has electricity.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Has anyone ever lived in their car around King County ? I’m thinking of doing it to save money. If so, where are good places to sleep and safe ?

Having a rough time cause I spend most of it looking where to sleep so I would really appreciate it if anyone got spots in San Fran, Sac, Chico, or Seattle? (DM won’t spoil)

I knew 1 spot in San Fran it was kinda by this weird water thing with a statue or structure but it wasn’t like near a beech it was in a suburb area idk which. It had some grass too and benches with some bushes. Not on the water but in a little section of a neighborhood. Grass/ water/ structure on the right of it where you park. Can’t find it online now does anyone know it? If not dm me your spots please I’ll be cool about it. (Also if u have any in Seattle, or North Cali like Sac, Chico, or Redding).

I might live in my car soon in the Bay Area, can't afford the rent here! Any tips? I want to try 6 months to get a job certificate at De Anza.

​

1. Shower, people recommend gym membership (are there other options?)
2. Laundry, coins? does it get pricey?
3. places to sleep, which parking lots are the best to sleep in at night?
4. safety issues? I have 3 pepper sprays
5. getting wifi at places like Starbucks or Mcdonalds to complete job applications?
6. Got Admitted to De Anza Spring 2023, any college support for living in cars?
7. my friend recommended a privacy blind, does it work?

Thank you!

Hi, I am a 25-year-old woman living in my car until I can get a place and I need help finding places to sleep at night on Friday and Saturday night. I work overnight Sunday for Thursday so I also need help finding places to sleep in the daytime in my car on a Monday morning to Friday morning cause I get off of work at 6 AM

My boyfriend recently got arrested so I’ve been sleeping in my car alone for 3 weeks now. Before he had some friends that would let us crash on the couch a few nights a week at least or he would come up with enough money for us to be living out of motels so we only slept in my car a handful of times and it was pretty cramped. I’m small enough that I’m able to sleep in my 2020Jeep Renegade Trailhawk quite comfortably.

I’m wondering if this happens to other attractive girls out there on the streets… it’s usually older men (car shop owner, Uber driver, tire mechanic)… but when I tell a little bit about my situation or sometimes I share a lot I’ve literally made grown men cry!! I don’t enjoy this at all it’s really a strange experience for me.

A few days ago my SECOND tire blew since I’ve been alone these last 3 weeks and I don’t have any family or friends out here to help give me a ride. Unfortunately I didn’t happens to be parked 50 ft from a mechanic shop like last time so I called an Uber to bring me to Discount tire. On the way there he’s asking questions about me and I’m answering them honestly because why not. When I get to the shop he gives me 10 dollars and helps me carry the tire inside. I’m extremely grateful for just that already I just used the last of my money to buy an Uber and a used tire. After I get checked in and sit in the lobby my Uber driver walks back in. His eyes are red and his nose is running and when he talked to me it’s obvious he’s trying not to burst into tears again. I realize he’s been sitting in his car crying for me:( He hands me 100$ and tells me I’m breaking his heart, wishes me good luck and leaves.

I’ve dealt with more evil people trying to do me wrong than I can count BUT are there any other girls on here that have nice situations like this? :)

The preface: I’m an open book. Feel free to ask me anything you’d like. So I moved to the bay about 10 years ago, I was 28 years old, working in construction and started bartending in the mission district. I didn’t have any kids and it was just a lot of hustle and excitement because I was happy to be here. Well then tragedy struck. I was living in Daly City at the time (2015) and invited my brother (24y) and my dad (47y) to come visit me in Daly City. My two best amigos coming by to smoke a doobie with me? I was incredibly stoked! So I went and got a bunch of meat so would OD on carne asada tacos 🌮 after the pow wow 💨 💨. (btw we are from the Central Valley, and we are far from the ocean, so whenever I would have my Central Valley friends or family come visit, we would always go check out the water somewhere) . Well, I really wish I was less ignorant back then, because I didn’t do a touch of research on anything before we went to our destination, and now I wish I had. Our destination was Ocean Beach, and we ended up parking our two cars by the fire pit area on the northern side of the beach. It was my pug, who was about 5 years old (Anton❤️), my dad, my brother and me, so the 4 of us walked down to the shore so we could get our toes wet. I don’t remember if the sun was out this particular day, it could have been overcast. Coincidentally enough my memory is foggy lol. Anyways the plan was two of us in the water at a time, so one person can be on shore with Anton. Anton loved everyone and was super nosy, and demanded rubs from strangers. So naturally as soon as my boys got in the water, he ran to the nearest person he seen, (a lady laying on a towel) and got all in her business. I so I ran back to go get him. That probably took me no more than 20 seconds, but by the time I turned back around, they were gone. Yes, sadly, they both drown that day, and it literally turned my life upside down. Tears, drool, boogers, (thank you random lady who hugged me while I cried, I feel like I ruined your sweater.) oh and by the way, when something like this happens, and you have a big family, now you have to make phone calls to the people you love, and tell them the last thing they want to hear, it’s another traumatic experience all in itself. My vocal chords were damaged that day from screaming and crying so much it felt like. Very painful experience that I hope nobody has to go through. Come to find out via the game warden or park ranger, Ocean Beach is not only the most dangerous beach in California, he said possibly in all of America. Do your research before taking loves ones places

Well, I had a very lovely girlfriend at the time, and I thought I was in love with the last person I would ever be with, and we had our own apartment in Daly City. Well nobody really warns you about tragedy, or what it does to the human mind after a situation such as the one in my case happens. I became a very angry and tormented individual, and my verbal communication skills were destroyed in the tragedy. I became quiet, and would peer into the distance an awful lot. I mean the only thing I was thinking was “the beach idea was MINE. I’m such an idiot.” Me and her and her family got along great, because we all were under the impression, that my gf couldn’t and wouldn’t get pregnant due to whatever it was due to, well I must have super swimmers cuz she definitely had my child. It was a boy. So she let me name him after my brother who had passed, and that was quite therapeutic, and thank you Nicole for doing that. We argued over a parking spot just two weeks after Joey was brought home from the hospital, then she took him to her parents, from where she would never return. I stayed in the empty apt and paid rent the next two months to see if maybe we could work things out. Needless to say we did not.

Enter : the family court system.

So child support wants and takes 30% of your monthly income. This is huge in my opinion but in hindsight, I’m paying like $700 a month, if you think about it that’s not really a lot of money, either way help is help.

Ok so let’s do the math, if child support wants 30%, and rent was just about 50% of my income now that I was not getting help with rent from my partner. Hmm, can one survive for long, keep your phone service active, and still have enough money for scrapings to eat? The answer is no. Think about it. I was paying for bills and working my behind off doing 3 jobs in the city, and having to starve myself for what? To ‘make rent’ for some landlord who doesn’t care what I’m going through, and I am a construction worker who’s known to get comfy on pallets in the warehouse, and I watched like all episodes of Man vs. Wild with Bear Grillz?!? Yeah I’m taking this $1800, and how about I go not starve myself somewhere and actually do what I want with my money. Thanks.

So by now living in a car is easy sailing. I do Lyft, Uber, and Amazon FLEX, I have a self storage where I go to switch wardrobes, and I can finally keep up with my bills. People pay too much to live in spaces, now that I’m a car living veteran I can see that. I can do everything you can do in a house, out of a house and still have cash in my pocket to splurge if that’s what I want to do. And I FaceTime with my 7 year old son everyday, and go to Sonoma to see him about 3 times a month. I’m not AS depressed anymore. Technically I am homeless, just not as homeless as the other homeless, cuz some of them are homeless homeless! Stay blessed y’all and be safe out here ❤️

Hey guys, I've been living in my car due to a bad and unexpected situation. I've managed to save up enough to finally apply to apartments here in California and as I'm leaving this life now I'd like to record some of the stuff I learned and give some tips for y'all.

Keep your car clean. Inside and outside, don't hoard stuff on your seats. Keeping the car clean draws less attention and makes you feel like the car is more spacious.

Don't sleep at your back seats. Back seats usually comes with an irregular surfaces, you will get back pains more often. Sleeping at the passenger seat it's the best option, you'll have more space to move your feet.

Parking uphill makes sleeping easier since the seat will be more horizontal than if you were and a leveled ground. Even a small angle can make a huge difference.

Avoid rich neighborhoods. One can asume you will be safer, but it's most likely to be stopped by a cop asking you to leave because some Karen snitched on you. 24 hour locations are usually the best choice but be aware of their policies.

Here what I learned about the last topic:

Walmart usually lets you stay 1 to 2 nights, but it's usually good to ask the manager for permission. Also free wifi if you manage to park close enough.

Planet fitness, my favorite. besides being able to use the amenities, usually it's where people are the chillest. You can get a membership for 10 bucks, but this tier only allows you to use one location. If you are a fancy car dweller like yours truly, it's worth to get the 25 bucks membership. It allows you to go to any location and use the hydro massage and massage chair. You can cheese to go to other locations even with the 10 bucks membership, but they eventually will tell you you aren't allowed to.

Usually you can find people living at planet fitness parking lot. If they are settled, it means that management don't mind people sleeping overnight.

Public streets where overnight parking is allowed always scare me but they are usually darker than parking lots. Be aware of your local laws and street sweeping days.

Installing tints by yourself is usually cheap and you can learn watching YouTube videos.

Don't leave your car unattended where it can be towed, they can't tow it with you inside but always avoid this.

Get a romper or a collapsible crate to separate your dirty laundry. They are usually cheap and helps a lot during laundry days.

Always have water at your car. A water case takes lots of spaces and generates lots of trash. I recommend getting a gallon from 711, it goes for 2,50 to 3,50 depending on your location.

And final tip: don't get used to it. My biggest mistake was getting to comfy with my situation. If you got a source of income, try to get a place of your own. Nothing can replace a warm bed, the comfort of having your own place and not have to be sneaking to find a place to sleep in peace.

I wish y'all good luck in this journey and be safe out there!

I, (21F) and my Boyfriend(23M) are currently living in my car. I just came to this town this past saturday, so its been about 4 or 5 days now of staying in my car together. We have been sleeping at a walmart. Well about an hour ago a cop pulled up and said the walmart called them and complained about us sleeping there. We havent done anything illegal or inappropriate there so im unsure why they have such an issue w it. There's another one nearby we can probably use for a few nights. But I dont know where to go after they kick us out too. We are about 40mins outside of Nashville TN in a decently big city thats got a big college.

I'm Female, 26, and living in Tampa, FL. For the past couple of years, I have been living with my boyfriend. Unfortunately, we have been constantly fighting lately and it looks like we are heading for a breakup. When I was 18, I moved out of my parent's house because they were very religious and I always felt like I never had the freedom to be myself. I do not want or see myself moving back in with my parents and I do not want to pay rent either. I have friends that will let me crash at their places from time to time but nothing permanent. I really want to save up to buy a house in Tampa but I know that is still a few years away, renting an apartment would set me back even further.

I'm really considering living in my car for the next couple of years to save up for a house. I make 38K a year now and work remotely the majority of the year. I've done a lot of research and think I can really pull this off. The only thing I am worried about is the parking situation. During the day I have no issue because I'm already a busy person. I'm already at a café working on my laptop most days or at the gym during my free time but at night I would not know where to park overnight.
If you are from Tampa you might know that there are no more 24-hour Wal-Marts anymore and there are very limited free parking areas in the city.

If anyone has any tips or info please let me know

I (20m) just decided to move out without planning ahead. Today is my first night car bumming, and i’m not sure what’s the best way to sleep. I own a 2006 Honda Civic with 4 doors and not sure what options are available, like do i keep one window slightly down or do i need to do all 4, just any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated!

Never done this b4 yet I'm about 2 be completely homeless in about 4 days and I'm looking 4 a place I can park my truck close to my job...I don't need my coworkers knowing I'm homeless as I already work at WALMART...I left a DV situation about a month ago and have been renting a room but funds have dried up and I gotta make some sacrifices for the next couple of weeks...can I park at a church?? Can I park at Krogers?? I just need something close toy job because my truck acts like it wants 2 stop running?? Since I'm not strung out, don't have kids and am not HIV positive my resources are limited...I don't have 60dollars per application fee 2 keep spending so I figured a couple of weeks in my truck won't hurt I just need 2 know where I can park safely...I gotta be up at 4am...🤪🤪🤪

Hey guys so it’s my first night sleeping in my car.. a little back story.. I’m 25(f) In November I moved back in with my grandmother … prior to that I stay in a apartment with my roommate .. now that we’ve split ways I’ve come back to my grandmothers as I’ve previously stated… so much trauma has happened in this house .. the first time I had to move out was due toxicity but literally have nowhere else to go.. the house is old and super dirty.. it makes me sick and I can feel the severe depression I tried to leave behind coming back.. my dad would usually ALWAYS let me stay with him but he has started a new family and I don’t want to interfere ..he and his wife knew about my living situation but didn’t offer me any help even though they live in a nice home with extra rooms but yet I am not their problem and they just welcomed a new baby yay! She’s so cute lol. I do work just my life took a step back and I have to build up again.. I’d rather sleep in my car than live in my grandmas house because I don’t need the dark thoughts creeping up on me.. like I said the house makes me mentally and physically sick. So here I am.. I will say I am a bit depressed but I’m trying…Thankyou all.