When you think about having to live out of your car, it might be anxiety-inducing, particularly if you may have loved ones along with you. This man has spent over a year living out of his car in one of the busiest cities, Los Angeles. He did it to save money, but his lessons and tips can be applied to a bug-out vehicle when SHTF:

What to do for Food

My purpose living in my car was to save as much money as I could so my food choices were dictated by that purpose:

• Canned Foods: There are canned foods such as beans, pastas, and tuna. Have a can opener ready or preferably have an easy to open top. Canned fruits or fruits in plastic cups work as well.
• Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches
• Homeless shelters: Homeless shelters are a good source of free food.
• Protein Bars: These are pre-packaged, somewhat healthy and easy to eat on the go.
• Fast Food: This is a somewhat cheap and accessible option but I generally went for the foods that were in a grocery store as they were cheaper. In grocery stores, they usually have a bakery or already-cooked foods section and these are somewhat affordable as well.

Where to Sleep

You have to find a place that is safe but also a place where you can stay on the down-low enough to not be noticed.

I personally parked in the lot of a 24-hour grocery store I used to work at. Or in a neighborhood that is safe where you can stay under the radar.

I had dark tint on my windows. If you don’t, another option is to put dark towels up in front of the windows. You have to be inconspicuous though. Just go to your spot, park, shut the car off and set the towels up.

Make sure you choose the same place for sleeping every night.

Have the radio off long before you get to your spot so you don’t draw any attention to yourself.

Do not open your doors once you get to your spot or get out of your car at all. It only draws more attention to yourself.

Where to take Showers

It’s key that you don’t appear to be homeless and get identified as a squatter. For that reason hygiene is very important.

I took showers at a gym. I got a monthly gym membership. It was only $40 a month. I recommend having a backpack with everything you need for the shower and a combination lock to lock up your stuff while you are in the shower.

Killing Time

• Fast food chains: They usually have free WiFi for laptops. I didn’t even buy anything much of the time and no one cared to be honest.
• Public libraries are great places to hang out. There is free WiFi that does not expire like many food places.
• Malls are a decent area to hang out at as well. To find a seat and read a book or walk around.
• The gym is a great place as well. You can work out for a while to kill time and be inside.
• Friends: Having social connections are obviously a great way to pass the time.

Key items to Keep in your Car

• Gallon of drinking water: It costs about $.25 to fill it up at a grocery store.
• Pain medicine: There were many times while I was living in my car, it was late at night and my head was throbbing.
• Car Fan: It costs about $20 at an automotive store. It is enough wattage to be on all night and not kill the battery. Many nights it is too hot to sleep in a car without a fan.
• Power Inverter: It costs about $20 at many stores. Be careful what you charge. Some things will kill the battery if you charge it too long. Try to charge things while driving when possible because it doesn’t use the battery. The one I had had was 100 watts.
• Sleeping Bag
• Snacks/Food
• Jumper Cables: I eventually got some jumper cables so when my car battery died, all I had to do was ask anyone who had a car around me if they could give me a jump rather than also having to ask them if they had jumper cables too.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C boosts the immune system. Oranges or any drinks that have vitamin C in them are great. You cannot afford to get sick in your car.
• Spare Keys Container: Having spare keys around are very important while sleeping in your car. You never know when you may need them. I kept a spare key for my car always in my wallet. Also, I went to an automotive store and got 2 containers for about $10 that store keys and have a magnetic cylinder on the back so you can connect it to any metal at the bottom of your car for when you lose or lock your keys in your car.

Have you ever needed to live out of your car for an extended period of time?

Article Source: Tactical Intelligence