I always had this foolish expectation of graduating from college, starting my career with a $50,000 salary and the ability to start buying name brands I couldn’t even pronounce. The stock market suffered one of it’s lowest points in U.S. history in March 2009. I graduated from college in August of 2009 and soon realized I was not going to make the amount of money and live the type of life I anticipated. I certainly applied to engineering jobs and yet was unsuccessful in even landing an interview.

So, my career with my current employee began and living in my car would become one of my most memorable experiences. This wasn’t easy, but I learned some things to make it work. Here I will share my 5 tips for living in your car in case you ever find yourself in a similar situation, which I hope you don’t. The featured image for this article is of me and my 2007 Scion tC that I still drive today.

Where I Parked At Night

Initially, I had no idea where I would be parking overnight during this period. The only plan was to drop the backseat of my hatchback, lay some blankets down and catch some z’s. I quickly realized that I would spend my nights sleeping and living in my car at the airport employee parking lot. This was a space that essentially had traffic in and out 24 hours/7 days a week. This was a good place to hide.

The key is to be discrete. Find a location where a parked car overnight would seem normal. For me it was the airport employee parking lot. This was a free space I could use and big enough to hide. I’ve heard of stores like Walmart that allow people to park and spend the night. My advice is that you check with the store manager before you make a decision on the location. Remember, safety first.

Showers and Hygiene

You’re probably wondering how or if I was even able to keep up with my hygiene daily. This was actually pretty easy: gym membership. This by far was my greatest life hack during this time of “coupe living.” Before work I would go to the gym and get a little workout in and then use the gym showers to wash up daily. This was a great, cheap strategy for overcoming a lack of daily hygiene. And you also get the opportunity to exercise and stay healthy. I would say that’s a $20-$35 monthly membership spent well.

Also, make sure you find a close laundromat. Keeping up with laundry will be difficult, but you can just keep a bag in the car. After you leave the gym, you can take any dirty clothes and throw them in the bag daily.

Storage Space

Living in my car meant that I would need as much space as possible. You quickly realize that you need somewhere to store any stuff you have that might take up room in your car. My suggestion is for you to rent a U-Haul or any other company’s storage space. This way you’re able to truly use your car for what you need and keep clothes and anything else you need in a space that’s easily accessible. The cost of this should be about $50-60 per month. I remember having a storage space in the city while living out of my car and I recommend you be careful when you visit your storage location.

Where to Eat

You have to eat. There’s no way around this. What I found helpful was the refrigerators at work I could store food in. Just buy a week’s worth of groceries and keep a bowl, plate and utensils in your locker or desk at work. This is an easy and cost-efficient way of handling food.

I was also fortunate that I had friends in various workplaces who would help me out with meals. They didn’t know my situation, but every time I saw them at their jobs they would offer me a free meal or snack. I did have a bunch of snacks and water stocked up in my car. You’re going to need to have  a variety of healthy options and resources to make this work. Fortunately, I had so many great, affordable options for me.

Electricity and Power

Something to consider when living in your car is electricity. You can’t really depend on your car to keep you warm and power your electronics all night, every night. You have to be strategic with this part. Charge your phone and other electronics at work and coffee shops. Find a space that can help keep you warm like a parking garage if available. Some place get extremely cold and you will want to keep as warm as possible.

What Else?

I wish I could say that living in my car was always a part of my plan, but the truth is I lived in my car as a result of my pride. I had family I could have easily reached out to for help, but I had too much pride to ask. Personally, I do not regret that experience and believe with the right mindset and strategy anyone could live comfortably in this way for a set period of time. You will save a lot of money, but you will also struggle. 

Don’t be afraid to share this decision with your friends or family if you come to this point, because they might be able to help. I know this is not a glamorous or luxurious position to be in, but the support I received from my friends was a big help. While I never told any of my family members, I did tell two of my best friends and they would check on me from time to time. For your safety I highly advise you share this new way of living with one or two or whatever number of people you choose.

Final Thoughts

Living out of a car is not for everyone and it’s certainly not a permanent way of a healthy lifestyle. I don’t recommend it for anyone who has the option of having alternative places of stay like a house, an apartment room or even the floor of a friend’s home. However, if you find yourself headed towards a path ofliving in your car for an extended period of time I hope these tips will help.

Remember, you have the power to change your situation. You have the ability to improve your life each day. Don’t let the circumstances of your life define your attitude and your will to succeed. I have no doubt each of you reading this can change and live a life of purpose with success. You don’t need to stress or feel ashamed about what you’re going through. Create simple goals and take small steps to get you where you want to go.

My own life is an example of going from a minimum wage job in my early 20s to being on a path to retire in my early 40s or sooner if I want. I don’t make six figures or drive a fancy car, but I try to learn and grow each day while striving to be a better version of myself. You have the ability to do this too no matter where you are in life.

There’s a quote I think that fits this article very well and it’s from John Lennon of the Beatles: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”