Best products from r/almosthomeless

Sleeping Bag: This should be compressible to about the size of an American football. All bags have a temperature range. This should be the warmest bag you can afford. This is your most important piece of gear. Don't cut corners here.

Sleeping pad: you can use cardboard for insulation under you. Always clean up your campsite better than you found it. No one should ever know you were even there. An inflatable air mattress works also. It must be small enough to ride inside the pack. The big rolled pads hanging on the outside of the pack scream "Homeless" and you want to be incognito most of the time.

Bed Frame: Don't need this. If you need more comfort, get a hammock and straps.

Backpack: This should look like a large book bag that a college student might carry. You don't want to look like your on a mountain expedition. ~40 liters is a good size. This will keep you from accumulating excess stuff. There should be webbing or pockets on the sides for water bottles. Black or dark colors so it does not stand out or show stains.

e-reader: Don't need this. Use a smart phone application like kindle. Download free ebooks.

mobile phone: must be a wifi capable smartphone for greatest utility. A service plan isn't critical but nice to have. Mint is $15 month unlimited. You can make free 911 calls with any phone as long as there is reception. Google voice and google hangouts can make free wifi calls to any phone in the US or Canada. Download free wifi map and password apps. Download toilet locator app. Get a free email account for job applications. John.Doe@yahoo.com and not 420RedNeck@hotmail.com

energy bank: Read reviews and get a good one. Solar charge is an option but not critical as there are outlets all over the city where business plug in christmas lights.

10 pairs of socks: wool

2 pairs of shoes: black leather tennis shoes that will take polish and shine up for job interviews. flip flops or sandals to let your feet air out.

5 singlets: I read this as t-shirts. 2-3 is enough, buy wool. Light, warm, doesn't smell like cotton does. Darker colors, not white. Style so that it can be worn alone on warm days and not look like underwear. Pocket is an extra benefit.

5 shirts: 2 is enough, polyester, business look, one or two pockets. Long sleeve.

5 pants: 2 is enough, dark khaki. 4 pockets minimum. Dressy look. Blue jeans are too heavy and take too long to dry. Shorts that can be used as a swim suit with 4 or more pockets.

10 underwear: 3 is enough, wool or synthetic, not cotton, brown or dark colors, not white. You need to wash out a pair every day and let it dry. Cotton does not dry quickly.

raincoat: Either rain jacket with rain pants like Frog togs or an extra large poncho that will cover you and the pack. Bonus, you can use a poncho for a quick shelter. Need cordage and light tent stakes.

1 liter water bottle, refill as often as you can and drink often. Dehydration causes stupid decisions. 4 way sill cock water faucet key to access commercial building spigots. If you go into the woods at all get a sawyer squeeze water filter. If you travel in desert country add several 2 liter bottles of water.

Go to a mattress store dumpster and get some heavy mill plastic. Cut it down to size. Must be large enough to go under your sleeping gear and fold over on top of you like a fold over sandwich or taco. Put something on the edges so it does not blow off in the night. Dew and light rain protection.

Lightweight plastic coffee mug. Keep it clean. Tons of places have free coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hot water. Look for waiting rooms. Hospitals, medical and dental offices, tire shops, automotive show rooms, hotels, Home Depot, Lowes, lumber yards, YMCA, libraries and business offices.

P-38 GI can opener, spoon. Now you can eat canned food. Hiking stove. Cigarette lighter. Now you can have hot food and drinks. Dollar tree stainless steel dog food bowl without rubber feet for a cook pot. Aluminum foil for lid. Cardboard wind screen to conserve fuel.

Open two bank accounts, Wells Fargo and Chase. They have more locations and ATM's than any other banks. Near universal access to deposit your earnings no matter where you end up.

Get a passport, social security card, State ID card, driver's license, Veterans card, certifications, union card.

If you are over 21 get a Commercial Driver's license, CDL, the gold standard. Almost all school districts hire and train bus drivers. Train on the largest bus they have with air brakes. Truck driving schools offer sponsored training with 6 - 12 months commitment to drive for the sponsor.

Armed Security Guard or Private Investigator card almost guarantees employment in any city. Cops are more likely to leave you alone if your have that.

Hey man, I was close to a situation like you were once. I am a recent graduate as well, and some employment opportunities did not work out for me as well.

The way I solved it was couch surfing and living in a place where I was sharing a room with two other people. I know that is not ideal, and I don't know your situation but that is something you can look into. Also, is there a possibility to go back to your parents place?

There is no shame with that because everyone needs to have a good platform to excel. But in general, I would say is just to stay strong, it will get better.

In terms of your employment, I have a recommendation for you. You should get this book and read it. If you don't read you should start, it is a great habit to get into and helped me out
(it also helped my focus and I gained more discipline) https://www.amazon.com/2-Hour-Job-Search-Technology-Faster/dp/1607741709

I know the title seems gimmicky but it did really help me strategize my job hunt and got my current job today.

If money is an issue send me your address and I will buy it for you. It really helped me out and I want to pass on the joy.

Good luck my man. Stay Strong.

This doesn't solve your immediate issue, but I recommend when you have time that you start studying philosophy. Given your upbringing, you've had a very hard time, which means your worldview has likely been badly affected.

The good thing is you can easily fix this by reading books, and it will provide major benefits for the rest of your life. It will be like going from being an orphan to being raised by the smartest people in the world.

I'd start with Marcus Aurelius, one of the best Roman Emperors, who wrote this work for surviving in extremely difficult conditions. You can find it for free online or get this version from your library.

https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Modern-Library-ebook/dp/B000FC1JAI/ref=sr_1_5?crid=35SV01MLOGAQS&keywords=marcus+aurelius+meditations&qid=1562643173&s=gateway&sprefix=marcus+aureliu%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-5

I am stationary RV living right now. It has it's challenges but is workable.

We buy 5 gallon jugs of water from Walmart (at the refill area) since we don't have running water. I wash dishes in the sink using REALLY hot water, tongs, and a washcloth.

For the bathroom, we can use a bathroom in a house here on the property we are at but when we move to my property, we'll use a composting toilet. We can empty the tank about weekly otherwise. Shower, we have a camping shower bag because our shower doesn't have water. Works well. Set in the sun, the water gets hot. Although, I am okay with cold water also.

To help with heat... well that is the hardest issue. We use fans a lot and parked in the shade which helped. If we had power hook up, I could run a small window A/C. If you are in a dry climate, a mister sprayer with ice water in it is very nice. To keep the heat out of the RV, we are looking into grills for cooking outside. I also cover the front window to keep it from heating the cabin area.

To help with cold... we bundle up. We also talked about putting up RV skirting next winter to help with insulation. We used a small Mr Heater to help warm up the place. For sleeping, I have a heavy duty sleeping bag and a mummy bag. I can sleep in -50F weather (not that I am going to... but I could if I wanted to).

You can make it work. The hardest part for us is water when money is tight and emptying the tanks once a week.

I don't use disposable dishes because I am too poor. We have cats and a dog. I worry about them overheating but I am working on a plan to build an outdoor animal area for the cats too.

Also, /r/vandwellers and /r/GoRVing are good resources for ideas and help.

Another user has laid out most everything you need to know. One thing I would suggest is to make sure you're sleeping on a flat surface. I slept in a Volkswagen Golf for about six months unable to fully stretch out my legs or flatten out my back and it really took its toll on me physically. That shit will hurt you in the long run; don't think you can just power through it. If you're waking up every morning with your eyes burning and need massive amounts of caffeine just to stay functional, you're doing it wrong. By the time I upgraded to a Dodge Grand Caravan, the damage had already been done to the point where I'm not sure I can fully recover. I actually went to Home Depot to get a composite hardwood board cut to fit the floor of my vehicle. Before that, I'd been stuffing all sorts of things under my mattress to even it out. Don't make this mistake; it will not work. You need a level surface for decent sleep in long-term situations. If you don't have enough space to lie down completely flat, make changing this your priority and do the best you can.

Check the weather every night to gauge temperature in your area. It sucks waking up because you're too hot or being passed out all night just to realize in the morning you've been freezing your ass off for hours. Don't park under trees, if it rains the water will collect on the branches and fatter droplets will wake you up several times throughout the night.

Get car shades like the other user suggested. You should be able to pick up a universal one at most auto supply stores. Related to that, it might be a good idea to keep some maps/brochures, thin cardboard, or thick paper around. No matter how well you're covering up your windows, some light will get through a crack somewhere and it's incredibly annoying to position yourself in a certain way just so a streetlamp isn't shining a light in your face. Don't worry about people passing by to see you potentially sleeping in your vehicle. The vast majority of people aren't really paying any attention, and the ones that do spot you don't give a shit.

Showering before you sleep each night is a good idea. Small enclosed spaces will build up odors much faster, and you should try to avoid dirtying up your mobile home as much as possible.

Watch for mold. Breathing all night in a vehicle will cause moisture to collect on your windows among other things (unless you crack a window, but then it's loud). Wipe your windshield whenever possible with a towel/paper towels, and check for mold routinely. Always take down your car shades in the morning to prevent mold growth. Sunlight does this pretty well all by itself. If you're using a mattress, it's not a bad idea to spread some desiccation packets underneath to absorb moisture.

Look online at crime rates in your area to select a good neighborhood to park in. Street parking in a not so densely populated residential area is best, as you're on the street but safer than being completely isolated in some abandoned alley somewhere. It might take some time to find a place to park at, but that's just what you need to do. I rotate my car on three relatively quiet streets throughout the week for street cleaning, and to not get towed due to the 72 hour law in my city. It's a nice area to pass out, save for the occasional annoying driver that likes to hit 50mph going down my block.

Once every few days, drive your car around for fifteen minutes. That's your home now. A dead battery is not what you want.

Don't drink any water past 6:00 pm. Needing to go to the bathroom at night with nowhere to turn blows, and peeing on the street makes you feel terrible. After a while, your body will condition itself to pee at the time you've been routinely going at.

Get a library card. It's kind of awesome to read in your car with all the shades up. No distractions, and all the stories you have time for. Good for mental health, and you're improving yourself while being entertained. Grab a rechargeable reading light to use for nighttime adventures. I used this one until I eventually upgraded to a Kindle. You can also wash up in the library bathroom if you can't get a gym membership.

That's all the things I can think of at present. The most important thing is to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. If you're tired all the time, change your setup and don't stop until you can get it right. It's tempting to just lay down and ignore being slightly uncomfortable, but all that builds up until you can't stand it anymore. As for mental health, just know that this isn't permanent. Save money where you can, and keep working to better your circumstances. There's nothing wrong with car living, it's just different than what most people are used to. Beats paying rent, especially in my area.

I hope some of this helps. You can do it.

It sounds like you have the financial aspect down, you're doing everything correctly/by-the-book.

Building skills you can apply to your current job is excellent.

Based on your response, some other studying that might help is looking into general business and negotiation material. It will help you demand more for what you do. I can tell by your writing you are smart and competent, now you need to sell it and be confident you deserve it.

There are so many resources I can't really recommend anything in particular, but one basic thing that comes to mind is "The ABCs of Making Money". Of course check out all the great stuff reddit has to offer too, r/personalfinance, etc.

I had to leave a rough situation and was temporarily homeless/staying out of my car...I’m gonna just list things I ended up appreciating a lot. You might not need some of the stuff, but I just want you to be prepared.

-baby wipes!!!! You can take a mini shower without water, clean your hands, face, etc.

-solar powered flash light.
I have this one (I don’t normally share links on reddit, i hope that works)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L4WHP0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_q.TaBbQV6C5DB

I am not sure how it works in the UK, but when my mom was living in the woods with no address in the US, she had items delivered to the local post office for her and they held her packages until she got them.

-Scissors or a sharp knife (pocket knife maybe so you can fold it and be safe), bottle cap opener, can opener

-pens and journal, books

-chapstick, sunscreen, anti-itch cream, Neosporin, toothpaste

-maybe a hat and sun glasses if you will be stuck outside? (I am from somewhere very hot and sunny, so maybe something different for your specific weather..umbrella or rain coat?)



It was not so hard to find food or water, but one thing that was difficult was being alone so much. I am glad reddit exists and that I had my journal. I hope everything works out for you and if I think of anything else I will comment again.

Depends, if you're anything like me, you can do it with camping bedrolls, which are cheap, light, and you can carry them with you if your ever on foot. The one I listed is just a random one, any one of them should do though.

If you're fancy you can go out and get a small futon, those can be cumbersome, but they're nice.

Air mattresses I've found are fragile, take too much time to set up, and aren't worth the money you have to spend on them.

Another low-cost option for hygiene is Rinse-Free body wash. When I lived for about 2 1/2 years in a conversion van with no plumbing or electricity, this kept me clean enough to teach a college class without anyone ever saying anything to me. I purchased an 8 ounce bottle of ready-to-use rinse-free shampoo and used it for shampoo and body wash. When that was depleted, I got a 16 ounce bottle of body wash concentrate. One capful of concentrate in the 8 ounce bottle and fill with water. Dampen a washcloth and scrub yourself. Either dry the washcloth with the air dryer in the restroom or put it in a Ziplock until you can air dry it elsewhere. One 8 ounce bottle could last up to a week, and a 16 ounce bottle of concentrate made 64 bottles of diluted solution. Total cost was under $20 ($6 for the 8 ounce bottle, $8 for the 16 ounce bottle, $5 for a package of washcloths) and that would provide about a year's worth of hygiene. Even now I still use Rinse-Free when I'm pressed for time and can't take a proper shower.

Pro-tip: With a hello Kitty sun screen and those daiso 1.50$ window black screens on the rest of the windows not only was no one suspicious but I travelled to places I knew I shouldn't park in without a second thought. Baby on board sign will really seal the deal. All can be found at daiso or a dollar store.

Like this : Uarter Universal Car Side Window Baby Kid Pet Breathable Sun Shade Mesh Backseat (2 Pcs) Fits Most Small and Medium Cars https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E3Z5R00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Kz-Vzb6BHXZ5V


And this: Hello Kitty Core Universal Size Full Sunshade Car Sun Shade https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FBQMP88/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-A-Vzb8AYF8G2

https://www.amazon.com/Allwood-Eagle-Vista-1336-Cabin/dp/B077L6KSGM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=tiny+home&qid=1558920874&s=gateway&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/PANS-Military-Expandable-Backpack-Waterproof/dp/B07CSMWF2W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546027541&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=backpack&psc=1&th=1

Look into one of these? https://www.amazon.com/FBSPORT-Inflatable-Mattress-Universal-Extended/dp/B01EKT08U8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=23MJBTW2I5ET6&keywords=car+mattress+sedan&qid=1566621097&s=gateway&sprefix=car+mattress+%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-3

Grow a beard, read this book (http://www.amazon.com/Site-Reliability-Engineering-Production-Systems/dp/149192912X) and apply for SRE jobs. Lots of them in Seattle, if my email inbox is any indicator.

I'm not joking about the beard.

Bed Bugs scare at home has left me scarred, both physically and mentally. When I'm homeless I'm sure I'll be sleeping amongst bugs, insects and vermin and want to minimise the access they have to m y body.

Edit, and the bedframe I want to buy is more of a military cot