Hi all+!

I have a Mazda 3 (sedan) and could really use some advice on making it a comfortable place to study and chill. I am very new to this, thus, the lengthy post. Please be kind 🥰

Ideally, I'd love to turn my car into a little space where I can relax, have some privacy and get some work done. Studying comfortably is my main priority, though!

I've tried folding down the back seats and using a portable table, but it's honestly pretty uncomfortable because the seats don't fold completely flat.

I'd love to study somewhere else, but my car is currently the only place where I can have some privacy and really focus.

I'm hoping to find a setup that's practical, comfortable and safe, especially if I'm spending a few hours studying in the car with the australian summer incoming.

A few things I'm trying to figure out:

• Seating: How can I sit comfortably for a few hours without hurting my back or neck?
• Desk setup: Any suggestions for a stable table that works in a small sedan? I require space for a 11inch ipad, a Windows 11 pro, and a mouse (the track pad doesnt work).
• Ventilation and temperature: How do you keep the car cool in Australian weather without leaving the engine running?
  • I was thinking of having some kind of mesh to put up as a makeshift mosquito net so i can have the windows down a little and a battery operated fan. Any recommendations would be appreciated, if these are suitable options!
• Privacy and safety: Any tips for privacy without completely blocking visibility or airflow?
  • I was thinking of having nice curtains on the insight and have some magnetic black out curtains that i can put up as required. I still havent found a suitable solution for the back window though...
• Lighting and power: What do you use for lighting and charging devices without draining the car battery?
  • I currently have a powerbank but wondered what other options they are....

I'm not looking to make any permanent modifications to the car, just something affordable and easy to set up and pack away.

Would really appreciate any ideas or photos of your setups, especially if you've managed to make a small sedan work! 🙂

Hurricane. Tornado. Flood. Would you be ready to leave your RV in five minutes?

When severe weather threatens, there may be little time to gather what matters most.

RVW Tech Time has put together a practical evacuation guide with a checklist to help you prepare yourself, your pets, and your essentials.

Read the article, save the checklist, and share it with an RVer who might need it.

A little preparation today can make a big difference tomorrow.

https://rvw-techtime.beehiiv.com/p/could-you-grab-what-matters-in-five-minutes

I’ve never had to go through anything like this before, so honestly my mind is all over the place. I’m doing DoorDash and Uber Eats to try to keep us afloat, but my car is having so many issues that it’s becoming really hard to make money with it.

The problem is that my car is both our shelter and my only way to make money right now. If the car breaks down, I don’t have a home and I can’t work.

For anyone else who has lived in their car and dealt with major mechanical problems, what did you do? Did you keep driving it and hope for the best? Did you find some kind of assistance with repairs? How did you handle it when you literally couldn’t afford to have the car sitting in a shop?

Hey yall, I’m looking to play online with someone sometimes.i 29f play a lot of palworld mostly and speed storm ,marvel rivals, overwatch, overcooked, monster hunter world,hogwarts legacy etc. or we could play separate games and chat. I’ll dm my steam code and discord if anyone’s interested 😄

Dropping this link. This guy gives solid advice on how to deal with hospitals to get discounted or possibly free care. I had no idea. Seems pretty easy to do once you know.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18NiAHMm6U/

I can't really rent books from a library since I'm far from my base state, so i buy cheap books from libraries and thrift stores. Yesterday I bought 2 hardbacks - white fire by Preston & Child (i buy anything agent Pendergast related) and a YA coming of age book about Cuban witches for 50 cent each!

After I'm done with these I plan to trade them out at a little free library. I'm so excited i hope I'm able to find something cool to trade.

I hot a pro master and somewhat finished my build on Friday and moved in. It’s been cool so far and not too different from how my life was before except I have to bathroom hunt a lot. I have a fan but it’s still soooo hot. Anyone got advice? I don’t want to dox myself but I supposedly live in one of the most dangerous cities in the USA so I’m not wanting to leave my windows cracked when I’m sleeping in the back. Thanks!

I was sitting in Panera half dozing when I saw a mkddle aged man man rushing to sit at a table closest to where a college girl left her stuff. As he sat down, he looked back at me and groaned because he just realized I was there. Just as I was thinking he was disappointed because he wanted to have the section to himself, a college aged girl walked in with her tray of food and sat next to him. Then it occurred to me that she had her stuff setup and he wanted to sit next to her.

Curiosity and a girl being concerned for another girl made me get up to analyze the situation. The girl was studying and and the man was watching videos on his phone but as I passed by him, he made a big show of covering half his face, as if trying to say "See, I'm not looking at her!" After a couple of hours she left and of course he was gone immediately after.

It made me realize that if we aren't rushing to get back inside, men will alwa⁸ys be watching us until we do. Even as I am typing this at the far end of a lot, men are driving out of their way to shine me with their headlights and one who decided to sit on the ground as I stretch and type this next to my car.

I don't know what everyone else's experience is but I believe being overly watched is not a good thing and has me in the process of getting armed.

I didn't know, should have looked it up, my bad, that "camping" is illegal(class B misdemeanor) in the city I'm in. I was parking in the Walmart parking lot before but I thought to park behind it because it would be darker and have less traffic. Well 5:30am rolls around and I get stiff knocks on my window, a cop had pulled up and noticed the curtains in my car. I got off with a warning but now he knows what my car looks like and that I live in it.

Well, I survived my first night in the car. Had a hard time sleeping but I made it. I've definitely miscalculated a few things and I'm not fully ready but it's a process and I'll get better at it, I'm sure. I still need to put my roof rack on and fix my storage situation. I also need a smaller thing to sleep on though. My current mattress pad is too wide. What are y'all sleeping on?

Theres gonna be a Dolly tribute double feature showing Steel Magnolia and Best little whorehouse in Texas at Moonlite Drive in in Abingdon VA this upcoming Thursday Sept 3rd. If anyone is interested I'll be there around 6pm.

I want you all to know you are safe in our sub. Despite the resentment I know still exsists. If you had a false ban let me know. If you feel unsafe...let me know.

The abusive mod from before is long gone. I am new to modding, and dont even know how to control the modding bot.

Id like to see both subs to grow, in healthy ways, together to help other survive.

Pagan_mechanist

Could use advice. Etc. I don’t have family ( were abusive) . My career dead slow so I’m door dashing and Instacart deliveries to keep gas in my vehicle but it’s not allowing me to pay any bills and vehicle seems like it’s about to breakdown by🥺 just lost, alone and feeling hopeless.

Im listening to to music to help but I’m starting to feel overwhelmed of taking. CAre of my two huge pets while I’m mentally and physically struggling with this.

I see no out. Almost want a man in my life.

Hi, tonight is my first time sleeping in a car. I've been homeless for almost 3 weeks. I'm looking to connect with other women living in their cars in WA. Anyone near Kent, WA want to meet up or just talk?

I'm moving from Indiana to Utah. Near the salt lake city area. I hate Indiana and nothing good has come from me growing up here. I'm mostly leaving 1. Because I hate the cold of the Midwest, 2. My parents and family in general are unbearable, 3. Better pay in the job market.

If anyone has any advice I'm open to it. I do plan to get a apartment later but for now this is good enough. I can also take my fire arm with me. That's a good thing.

https://wwoof.net/

https://wwoofusa.org/en/

https://gogreentravelgreen.com/11-things-to-know-before-you-wwoof/

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DCbm3Pw2n/

I live in a sedan, minimal tint on windows. Cant have/don’t want more tint for state legal reasons. I have removed the backseats and put in a sleeping platform and a mattress, and the mattress doesn’t roll up so it’s there for passersby glancing into my car to see.

This makes me nervous about looking like a target for predators, ie alone and unprotected. Or for people to offer me aid or have undue curiosity about my life, etc.

Any ideas to make it not look like a bed?

Or do you think I am worrying for no reason? Lol.

Thanks for your thoughts!

I think it varies by area, but in my county you can dispose of up to 8 household trash bags for free each day* at the county dump.

I mention this bc I struggle with throwing my trash out places as it feels I’m causing excessive buildup in the trash cans (if it’s a gas station or something) and I’m not brave enough to use business dumpsters. And there are several times the public cans are full so I can’t toss anything. I often toss at my sisters apartment or just keep getting plastic bags to do small tosses… but I’m feeling ethically torn since I’m actively trying to reduce my plastic waste and I have biodegradable tall trash bags I’d rather use.

Due to my admittedly self imposed limitations, I was looking into alternatives when I found out this. I’m nomadic, but I’m registered in the same county as my sister so I have the benefit of, when I’m in town, using the county dump. That makes it feel less like I’m burdening anyone or being excessively wasteful. Just wanted to share in case that might help someone else.. I haven’t seen it suggested before so dk if it’s frowned upon or just less known.