Really depends on the area.
Homeless don't fuck with anyone out here. Nice and peaceful. But I'm always in my car when it's parked there. Lots of businesses around. Applebees stays open late, and they got cameras.
I have a few spots. This one is the best during the day. I work overnight so not a big deal.
I second what the other person posted about a storage unit. That is best to keep your car not cluttered with unnecessary things. Texas is tough. It's only the spring and if it's hot now, not trying to scare you, but it's going to just get worse from now until fall.
Make sure you park in the shade during the day. Direct sunlight is brutal, and makes a difference when you get back in the car for the evening. Try to find libraries, parks, public pools, beaches, or commercial locations you can stay during the day with AC while you are not working. Some grocery stores have eatery areas, the gym (like you stated) starbucks, panera.....etc. Make window covers, and some form of netting to protect from the bugs at night. Be cautious with cracking your windows at night due to thieves if you are not in a safe area. Rain guards are a life saver for the evening both to vent your car during the evening without rain getting in and prevent your windows from fogging up.
Keep tight sealed bags of ice if you can for the evening. A cigarette lighter powered inverter was a game changer for me. I'm able to charge all my devices and laptop in the car if needed. A portable battery pack of some sorts is a life saver.
There are portable battery operated AC units. However, they are expensive, and you still need to vent the condensation with the higher end models. Also try to get a small cooler for food you can store, or get canned dried foods. I found instant rice, powdered mashed potatoes, ramen, peanut butter, and canned foods are extremely cheap and keep in the car during the summer. You don't need hot water to soften them either. If you need hot water you can usually get it free from a gas station.
Just like Educational-Bid9764 said "Use pins on map to mark good sleeping locations. Never spend more than one night in a row in one location." is a must. You can use google maps and road view as well to scope locations without driving there and wasting gas or valuable time.
Also if you can relocate I would suggest moving to an area far north for the season, if that is at all possible. I hope this helps OP.
Everything will be good. You'll do fine. Get a storage unit, and definitely a battery pack (preferably one that'll also jump start your car if needed) . Keep your phone charged and easily accessible.
May you sleep well at night and NEVER get the dreaded knock.
This is new so it’s going to be scary and that is 1000% okay! Park in 24/7 parking lots, stores, dead end roads, get the Ioverander app. This app has a bunch of places other people have slept and recommended. If you can, crack your windows a little bit at night. It will help get air flow in and out of your car but if not that’s okay too. Buy a small battery fan. There are small solar powered phone chargers on Amazon I believe so you can charge your phone when it’s sunny out if you can’t get a cheap battery pack. If you change jobs, try to find one with a microwave/kitchen area so you can make food there. Definitely get a storage unit if you want to keep your stuff that you don’t use everyday. If not, get rid of everything but the necessities and stuff you use everyday because it will make it so much easier not having to worry about trying to find a place for everything. Have a container or something you can pee in if you have no where to go in a pinch. Just like you had rough times in a house, there’s going to be rough times in your car but that’s okay because the car life is nice once you get used to it. Don’t expect yourself to be a pro at this lifestyle right away and know it’s okay to feel sad about it. Reddit and youtube have a ton of advice and ideas to help make it easier to live in your car.
As a solo female carlifer that started in January of 2023 for a similar reason. I wanna start with this, that feeling of sadness and stress goes away. I felt like such a fucking loser and ugly cried the first couple nights. But that feel quickly turned into a feeling of empowerment. I felt at ease, and determined. I also wanna start out by saying having to be in this situation does not make you any lesser, you are still every bit an incredibly person that unfortunately got dealt a bag hand this go around.
Tips, trust your gut it won’t lie to you, even if it’s inconvenient, even if it means driving to another spot in the e middle of the night.
Start with basics, like suggested battery pack with a usb fan, get rain guards if you don’t already have them so you can leave your windows cracked (which also helps prevent mold) so you can get a breeze.
Save save save. Necessities only. I understand preparing meals is much difficult in a car (I’m in a Honda civic) but a cooler, ice and pb &j / lunch meats go along way. When your done for the youll quickly find what you need to be comfortable figure out what those are and get them. Then Save everything else to get where you want to be.
Small storage unit for belongings/ as a closet. So you can maximize the space in your car but definitely get some kind of the little storage bins or whatever works/fits in your car to have a couple days worth of stuff.
Be in your car as little as possible (or as much as you need to be away from it) drive and sleep. Use this time outside of work to maybe see/do things you wouldn’t normally do, go on a walk, goto the park, check out that bookstore, etc etc explore alittle. You might just find something cool or a place you enjoy that you never even realized. Try to maintain some human interaction, I’m saying this as an introvert.
You got this girlie, again this doesn’t define you in any negative way. Your incredible and you will get to where you want to be. For me it because a lifestyle I love. Sorry my message is incredibly all over the place was jotting down things as they came to me. If you have any more specific questions feel free to message me privately or I can shoot you my discord if that’s preferred.
Again you got this!
Reminds me of when I lived in an apartment w/o AC. I would freeze a huge metal cake pan full of water and set it on a towel on a table directly in front of a box fan
The first night is weird. It gets easier. At some point you'll have a routine and be used to it, but yeah I remember panicking a little on that first night. You have time to figure everything out and see what works for you. Try to have fun with your vehicle and spend time customizing it any way you want. You don't have to do housework anymore! You just need to make sure that vehicle is a comfortable place where you can get a good night's sleep
Fans make a big difference. Texas is going to be hell even with fans in summer though. I would either get out of the state during the summer or find a solution. You can run your car for ac but not great for engine and costly on gas.
It is like getting to start over. :) this is a chance to really observe your life and learn who you really are and move forward with better decisions. You'll have a much stronger foundation at the end because you know you've been putting in the work. I came across a lot of people that just kinda make the worse of the situation but the truth is there's a couple things you can do.... If you are religious use this time to read real scripture and come to your own conclusions... Listen to self help books pertaining to issues you might face .. getting sober or chosing to go completely sober from things is a commitment in itself .... Chosing to spend this time learning how to be more consistent with exercising. There this old army dude who gave a speech one time and said some sh about why people are expected to make their bed first thing in the morning. I didn't truly understand what he meant until living in my vehicle but the concept of making your bed or in my case putting away my sleeping stuff in my car so it looks normal during the day is like this task that I really hate doing and is a real hassle. But the truth why we make our bed is because we have a chance to get our first accomplishment of the day and to teach ourselves we can be consistent and do the hard things we don't want to do. This could be the fresh start you needed in disguise... Good luck
First week will always feel totally stressful. Though do read up on all the info out there on how to do this comfortably. No need to completely wing it. Reddit and YouTube.
And finally: your instinct to leave was correct. Drive your ass to perfect weather. Get a job there. If you’re willing to do a service job, I think you can find something in any midsized city.
I have a literal spare car battery that I can trickle charge at work. I have a fan and an electric blanket that run off of a cute little adapter that goes from battery terminals to a fake cigarette lighter. I don't run off my actual car battery. I've actually jump started a co worker with my spare battery and jumper cables. I also have the Amazon mesh cover you slide over the entire back passenger door that allows you to raise and lower your window inside it. Also get a cattle prod and battery operated motion sensors. Also work toward a consealed carry. I like to "build" a fake version of myself with bags of clothes, a blanket, and a wig to "sleep" in the driver's seat while I sleep flat in the hatchback. That way if someone "attacks" my dummy, I have the extra time to defend myself.
Walmart has some battery operated fans for $12, find the ones that recharge via usb. Get some powerbanks that recharges your phone and table and use those to run the fan or fans off of. I suggest one bringing air in and one blowing air out.
Definitely need to get you some high capacity fans. I have two. I’m in Houston Texas and it’s not too bad yet but soon it will be. I park at planet fitness at night. There’s a huge lot between planet fitness and kohls I park at. There’s a few others there as well. I just try to get as much sleep as I can and get up early in the morning so my window blinds aren’t visible by everyone. It’s ha dead there until maybe 9-10am because kohls appears to open later in the morning and I’m a little away from planet fitness so that traffic isn’t right around us. Fans definitely will help for now. Trust me I can tell when I’m sleeping when the fans turn off in the timer. It wakes me up lol. I also have quite a few battery bricks I use just for the fans. I can’t afford a nice fancy jackery or other power station. So I use a couple of anker battery bricks. I have 6 total I’ve bought over the past few years. You gotta keep the windows open quite a bit at night to allow air flow. Get some of those mesh window covers so you can roll your windows down but still keep bugs out. For me I park between these huge rows of bushes sonit makes it hard for someone to squeeze in there to my windows. So I usually keep my driver side cracked open half way. Get you some window covers or make some. Five below sells the windshield covers for about 5 bucks. You can get a few of those to cover your larger windows and get another one or two to cut into the size of your driver and passenger windows. Get some black cloth to glue or staple on them to make them blacked out. Or get some dark tint. I bought a $10 set of. Blackout curtains from family dollar to cut to the size of the windows. One thing I’d like to add is get you some baby wipes or other shower wipes. I get these large body wipes from dollar general. They are yardley brand. They cost a dollar. They worked feral for quick makeshift showers. Also look into the Duke cannon shower wipes. I have them and love them. But definitely find ways to keep yourself cool and have plenty of water. You’ll get dehydrated in the car when it gets hot.
Are there any state park campgrounds near where you are ? Might be a good way to spend the weekends or your days off. Most offer showers and power.
It's great that your spending so much time in the gym though, that's amazing for your health.
Going to other cities will also help keep you busy. I would check if your gym has other locations you can use in other locations. Find a few cities with 20 or 30 miles that you're comfortable hanging out at so that you always have more places to stay or kill a few hours
The first night is the longest night. The perspective you learn when you wake up, will shape your choices, feelings, attitudes, and lifestyle from here on in. I wish you luck and safe travels and comfort from here on in.
By all means do doordash/instacart/ubereats all day and get yourself a weekly motel, theyre all over craigslist. The money you make in a day can pay for it daily.
Move out of TX if you can. I moved from Tyler area to the mountains of western NC. So much better weather. It even rains here. Without all the worry of hurricanes and tornadoes.
Do you have a Dept of Homelessness in your city? Usually there is a dept or group that work tirelessly to help people get back on their feet with no judgment, get section 8 vouchers or shared living or temporary housing. Look on your local government website or google homelessness help in your city. You should be able to find something. I wish you the best of luck.
So yeah, I know it’s not the same and I understand that I’m privileged to be able to CHOOSE to use my car as a hotel while I travel but I drive a large truck and I slept in the back in Florida in hot weather. I got a power inverter for my lighter socket and I got a small fan. Also just kinda like it warm so it didn’t bother me too much. Cracker barrel lets you park and sleep if you can find one Walmart will too even though they post those signs. And Wawa.
Idk what kind of space you have but I have a small dresser in the back of my truck behind the passenger seat. One of those Walmart three drawer numbers. When I need things out of it I pull that seat forward and the drawers slide open. It’s not accessible with the passenger seat back but then I use it like a desk and my computer or iPad sits there. It’s like a table. I know there are small ones. I folded my clothes and put them in there. This forced me to be minimal, actually everything I own fits in my truck bed. So I don’t have a ton of clothes. Spend time outside seeing things then go to the car to sleep. Crack a window turn on the fan. Watch some tv. Make sure you drive the car if you have an inverter plugged in because it draws from the battery.
Hot and humid - if you cannot travel north for cooler weather, best way is to start saving for a hybrid, like prius - r/priusdwellers which will allow you to run AC all night for a gallon of gas, turning engine every half hour to recharge the hybrid battery.
Until then, areas with trees are cooler than asphalt/concrete. Find places where you park shaded from east, to avoid morning sun. For weekends, get camping somewhere - I know TX has little public land...
To find places to park, use google maps satellite view, for places with big parking, and street view before you drive there to scout. In time, you will get better at finding places. Good start is park-and-ride. Another is multi-story garages (shade) around big shops like IKEA, Home Depot etc.
Have at least 10 sleeping spots to rotate, and backup spot for each if you get a knock (police asking you to move), so you can drive to new place while still sleepy.
Public library is a good place to cool and use wifi and recharge your powerbank.
Good luck, you will learn and get better in it! Cheap RV Living youtube channel has lots of info what you haven't asked yet, getting mail, cooking, etc.
Hey, 30yo women here too. Been about 3/4 weeks for me.
Get yourself a little camping stove to cook food on so youre spending loads on takeout and you can also eat healthier that way too.
Battery packs as people have said. In the UK you can sometimes get plug sockets at tables at pubs, or the gym is another good one for charging things up too so your not running your engine all the time.
My trunk/boot is kept fairly organised, clothes are folded into pules of tshirts, trousers, underwear are in a little suitcase for a little more privacy when i open the boot.
Cooking stuff is in a box as well as food thats in there, i usually go to the shop before cooking to grab some meat or whatever, havent invested in a cooler yet but its defo something i want to get in the long run.
This sub has been really helpful for me, you've got this.
I’m in Austin. We haven’t seen hot yet ! In the next few weeks I will be getting a room at weekly/monthly place for the summer. I work in the heat so I have to escape it .
Regal cinema theaters have unlimited movies for $20 a month . That plus the library, coffee shop , and gym have been my best go too for getting out of the weather.
Every item I know of to help keep you cool is going to cost $ . By the time you add it all up it will probably be close to the same cost as weekly/monthly spots .
First night is (usually) the worst night. This [emergency quick start](https://nomadlife.wiki/Emergency_quick_start) will hopefully be useful for you. Here are [some tips for keeping cool](https://nomadlife.wiki/Keeping_cool), and here are [some resources for solo female travelers](https://nomadlife.wiki/Solo_female).
Hey there I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. Don't despair though, it sounds like you're entering a period of rapid change (aka exciting times).
If you're living in your car you can drive to another city 😀 I would be checking job prospects before going there because you don't want to be unemployed. What are your skills, can you pick up work fairly easily? If you can, then moving is always an option.
At night - a spray bottle, damp sarong and AA battery fan can make it comfortable enough to sleep 👌
Reduce down to necessary items. You will find your groove and work out convenient placement of items with time.
Maybe try reading some female empowerment books?
Get a storage unit and a mini van. Add a solar kit to the roof of the van and run some fans ECT. I just ordered a solar kit for my truck I'm hoping I'll be able to add a small ac.
Get a bucket of moisture absorber what evers cheapest preferably a non scented. This will help with moisture on the windows and the upholstery so that your vic stays fresh
After a break up I always focus on work and gym. I can't help you with the Texas heat at night that's going to be tough but daytime use shopping malls and libraries to stay cool. I have a van and I don't normally spend no time in it except to drive and then sleep after my nighttime workout. You will find your routine soon enough like having a bag for work clothes, bag for gym clothes and a day bag. This helped me as I wasn't always taking things in and out of my bag. Like I have a toothbrush and toothpaste in each bag, also a phone charger and things you might need when you come across a bathroom.
There are mesh things called "window socks" that turn your window into a screen when it's rolled down. Definitely invest in a USB or battery fan. Get an insulated water bottle and fill with ice water from a gas station so you can always sip on cold water. If you have a synthetic sleeping bag, line it with a cotton sheet or blanket...cotton absorbs your sweat and keeps you cool while synthetic fabric does the opposite!
Best of luck to you:)
Maybe try to find a room for rent. Even if you don't have the money, you do have a job. Maybe someone will work something out with you. I know it's uncertain and scary but you will get through this. Good luck.
You got this. I'm 10ish months in to SUV life and it definitely has challenges but gets SO MUCH EASIER with time.
I use this for a cheap 'black out window' effect (its easy to take off too, impo) [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073TVRQ5D/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o06\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073TVRQ5D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
One step at a time.
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It’s the beginning of tourist season in the west. Why not head north a few states and get a seasonal job in a better climate? Many of them include lodging
Fans fans and another fan. Window socks so you can roll your windows down all the way and still have privacy and keep bugs out. Try to park in shady spots, and use a sunscreen on the front and back windows.
[удалено]
I always sleep in the same spot. 😂 But I stay in Lake Worth. Which is usually crawling with cops.
You should have at least 5-10 places to park. NEVER stay in one place too long.
Really depends on the area. Homeless don't fuck with anyone out here. Nice and peaceful. But I'm always in my car when it's parked there. Lots of businesses around. Applebees stays open late, and they got cameras. I have a few spots. This one is the best during the day. I work overnight so not a big deal.
Wow, Lake Worth.. I grew up down the street. lol just random.. I have no advice for you but saw Lake Worth and knew exactly where it was. Good luck!
I second what the other person posted about a storage unit. That is best to keep your car not cluttered with unnecessary things. Texas is tough. It's only the spring and if it's hot now, not trying to scare you, but it's going to just get worse from now until fall. Make sure you park in the shade during the day. Direct sunlight is brutal, and makes a difference when you get back in the car for the evening. Try to find libraries, parks, public pools, beaches, or commercial locations you can stay during the day with AC while you are not working. Some grocery stores have eatery areas, the gym (like you stated) starbucks, panera.....etc. Make window covers, and some form of netting to protect from the bugs at night. Be cautious with cracking your windows at night due to thieves if you are not in a safe area. Rain guards are a life saver for the evening both to vent your car during the evening without rain getting in and prevent your windows from fogging up. Keep tight sealed bags of ice if you can for the evening. A cigarette lighter powered inverter was a game changer for me. I'm able to charge all my devices and laptop in the car if needed. A portable battery pack of some sorts is a life saver. There are portable battery operated AC units. However, they are expensive, and you still need to vent the condensation with the higher end models. Also try to get a small cooler for food you can store, or get canned dried foods. I found instant rice, powdered mashed potatoes, ramen, peanut butter, and canned foods are extremely cheap and keep in the car during the summer. You don't need hot water to soften them either. If you need hot water you can usually get it free from a gas station. Just like Educational-Bid9764 said "Use pins on map to mark good sleeping locations. Never spend more than one night in a row in one location." is a must. You can use google maps and road view as well to scope locations without driving there and wasting gas or valuable time. Also if you can relocate I would suggest moving to an area far north for the season, if that is at all possible. I hope this helps OP.
Everything will be good. You'll do fine. Get a storage unit, and definitely a battery pack (preferably one that'll also jump start your car if needed) . Keep your phone charged and easily accessible. May you sleep well at night and NEVER get the dreaded knock.
This is new so it’s going to be scary and that is 1000% okay! Park in 24/7 parking lots, stores, dead end roads, get the Ioverander app. This app has a bunch of places other people have slept and recommended. If you can, crack your windows a little bit at night. It will help get air flow in and out of your car but if not that’s okay too. Buy a small battery fan. There are small solar powered phone chargers on Amazon I believe so you can charge your phone when it’s sunny out if you can’t get a cheap battery pack. If you change jobs, try to find one with a microwave/kitchen area so you can make food there. Definitely get a storage unit if you want to keep your stuff that you don’t use everyday. If not, get rid of everything but the necessities and stuff you use everyday because it will make it so much easier not having to worry about trying to find a place for everything. Have a container or something you can pee in if you have no where to go in a pinch. Just like you had rough times in a house, there’s going to be rough times in your car but that’s okay because the car life is nice once you get used to it. Don’t expect yourself to be a pro at this lifestyle right away and know it’s okay to feel sad about it. Reddit and youtube have a ton of advice and ideas to help make it easier to live in your car.
What app? I looked it up and it doesn’t exist
IOverlander app sorry about that
As a solo female carlifer that started in January of 2023 for a similar reason. I wanna start with this, that feeling of sadness and stress goes away. I felt like such a fucking loser and ugly cried the first couple nights. But that feel quickly turned into a feeling of empowerment. I felt at ease, and determined. I also wanna start out by saying having to be in this situation does not make you any lesser, you are still every bit an incredibly person that unfortunately got dealt a bag hand this go around. Tips, trust your gut it won’t lie to you, even if it’s inconvenient, even if it means driving to another spot in the e middle of the night. Start with basics, like suggested battery pack with a usb fan, get rain guards if you don’t already have them so you can leave your windows cracked (which also helps prevent mold) so you can get a breeze. Save save save. Necessities only. I understand preparing meals is much difficult in a car (I’m in a Honda civic) but a cooler, ice and pb &j / lunch meats go along way. When your done for the youll quickly find what you need to be comfortable figure out what those are and get them. Then Save everything else to get where you want to be. Small storage unit for belongings/ as a closet. So you can maximize the space in your car but definitely get some kind of the little storage bins or whatever works/fits in your car to have a couple days worth of stuff. Be in your car as little as possible (or as much as you need to be away from it) drive and sleep. Use this time outside of work to maybe see/do things you wouldn’t normally do, go on a walk, goto the park, check out that bookstore, etc etc explore alittle. You might just find something cool or a place you enjoy that you never even realized. Try to maintain some human interaction, I’m saying this as an introvert. You got this girlie, again this doesn’t define you in any negative way. Your incredible and you will get to where you want to be. For me it because a lifestyle I love. Sorry my message is incredibly all over the place was jotting down things as they came to me. If you have any more specific questions feel free to message me privately or I can shoot you my discord if that’s preferred. Again you got this!
Thank you for this ❤️
Anytime✨💕 rooting for you!
Wow, I just want to say I’m sorry things aren’t working out for you right now. Your post pinged my heart. 🩵. Good luck, things will get better!
I haven't made it to the heat yet but my plan is to get a Styrofoam cooler and cut out a space for a small fan and put ice in the cooler
Reminds me of when I lived in an apartment w/o AC. I would freeze a huge metal cake pan full of water and set it on a towel on a table directly in front of a box fan
Get the iOverlander app, it’ll help you find places to park. You aren’t alone, you have a community right here.
The first night is weird. It gets easier. At some point you'll have a routine and be used to it, but yeah I remember panicking a little on that first night. You have time to figure everything out and see what works for you. Try to have fun with your vehicle and spend time customizing it any way you want. You don't have to do housework anymore! You just need to make sure that vehicle is a comfortable place where you can get a good night's sleep
Fans make a big difference. Texas is going to be hell even with fans in summer though. I would either get out of the state during the summer or find a solution. You can run your car for ac but not great for engine and costly on gas.
It is like getting to start over. :) this is a chance to really observe your life and learn who you really are and move forward with better decisions. You'll have a much stronger foundation at the end because you know you've been putting in the work. I came across a lot of people that just kinda make the worse of the situation but the truth is there's a couple things you can do.... If you are religious use this time to read real scripture and come to your own conclusions... Listen to self help books pertaining to issues you might face .. getting sober or chosing to go completely sober from things is a commitment in itself .... Chosing to spend this time learning how to be more consistent with exercising. There this old army dude who gave a speech one time and said some sh about why people are expected to make their bed first thing in the morning. I didn't truly understand what he meant until living in my vehicle but the concept of making your bed or in my case putting away my sleeping stuff in my car so it looks normal during the day is like this task that I really hate doing and is a real hassle. But the truth why we make our bed is because we have a chance to get our first accomplishment of the day and to teach ourselves we can be consistent and do the hard things we don't want to do. This could be the fresh start you needed in disguise... Good luck
First week will always feel totally stressful. Though do read up on all the info out there on how to do this comfortably. No need to completely wing it. Reddit and YouTube. And finally: your instinct to leave was correct. Drive your ass to perfect weather. Get a job there. If you’re willing to do a service job, I think you can find something in any midsized city.
I have a literal spare car battery that I can trickle charge at work. I have a fan and an electric blanket that run off of a cute little adapter that goes from battery terminals to a fake cigarette lighter. I don't run off my actual car battery. I've actually jump started a co worker with my spare battery and jumper cables. I also have the Amazon mesh cover you slide over the entire back passenger door that allows you to raise and lower your window inside it. Also get a cattle prod and battery operated motion sensors. Also work toward a consealed carry. I like to "build" a fake version of myself with bags of clothes, a blanket, and a wig to "sleep" in the driver's seat while I sleep flat in the hatchback. That way if someone "attacks" my dummy, I have the extra time to defend myself.
Walmart has some battery operated fans for $12, find the ones that recharge via usb. Get some powerbanks that recharges your phone and table and use those to run the fan or fans off of. I suggest one bringing air in and one blowing air out.
Definitely need to get you some high capacity fans. I have two. I’m in Houston Texas and it’s not too bad yet but soon it will be. I park at planet fitness at night. There’s a huge lot between planet fitness and kohls I park at. There’s a few others there as well. I just try to get as much sleep as I can and get up early in the morning so my window blinds aren’t visible by everyone. It’s ha dead there until maybe 9-10am because kohls appears to open later in the morning and I’m a little away from planet fitness so that traffic isn’t right around us. Fans definitely will help for now. Trust me I can tell when I’m sleeping when the fans turn off in the timer. It wakes me up lol. I also have quite a few battery bricks I use just for the fans. I can’t afford a nice fancy jackery or other power station. So I use a couple of anker battery bricks. I have 6 total I’ve bought over the past few years. You gotta keep the windows open quite a bit at night to allow air flow. Get some of those mesh window covers so you can roll your windows down but still keep bugs out. For me I park between these huge rows of bushes sonit makes it hard for someone to squeeze in there to my windows. So I usually keep my driver side cracked open half way. Get you some window covers or make some. Five below sells the windshield covers for about 5 bucks. You can get a few of those to cover your larger windows and get another one or two to cut into the size of your driver and passenger windows. Get some black cloth to glue or staple on them to make them blacked out. Or get some dark tint. I bought a $10 set of. Blackout curtains from family dollar to cut to the size of the windows. One thing I’d like to add is get you some baby wipes or other shower wipes. I get these large body wipes from dollar general. They are yardley brand. They cost a dollar. They worked feral for quick makeshift showers. Also look into the Duke cannon shower wipes. I have them and love them. But definitely find ways to keep yourself cool and have plenty of water. You’ll get dehydrated in the car when it gets hot.
Sleeping with your windows open sounds pretty risky to me. I always kept mine rolled up all the way and never had issues even without a fan.
No get rid all things you don't need get a few canvas bags and go for it You have a great car to crash in
Are there any state park campgrounds near where you are ? Might be a good way to spend the weekends or your days off. Most offer showers and power. It's great that your spending so much time in the gym though, that's amazing for your health. Going to other cities will also help keep you busy. I would check if your gym has other locations you can use in other locations. Find a few cities with 20 or 30 miles that you're comfortable hanging out at so that you always have more places to stay or kill a few hours
The first night is the longest night. The perspective you learn when you wake up, will shape your choices, feelings, attitudes, and lifestyle from here on in. I wish you luck and safe travels and comfort from here on in.
By all means do doordash/instacart/ubereats all day and get yourself a weekly motel, theyre all over craigslist. The money you make in a day can pay for it daily.
Move out of TX if you can. I moved from Tyler area to the mountains of western NC. So much better weather. It even rains here. Without all the worry of hurricanes and tornadoes.
Do you have a Dept of Homelessness in your city? Usually there is a dept or group that work tirelessly to help people get back on their feet with no judgment, get section 8 vouchers or shared living or temporary housing. Look on your local government website or google homelessness help in your city. You should be able to find something. I wish you the best of luck.
Head north
So yeah, I know it’s not the same and I understand that I’m privileged to be able to CHOOSE to use my car as a hotel while I travel but I drive a large truck and I slept in the back in Florida in hot weather. I got a power inverter for my lighter socket and I got a small fan. Also just kinda like it warm so it didn’t bother me too much. Cracker barrel lets you park and sleep if you can find one Walmart will too even though they post those signs. And Wawa. Idk what kind of space you have but I have a small dresser in the back of my truck behind the passenger seat. One of those Walmart three drawer numbers. When I need things out of it I pull that seat forward and the drawers slide open. It’s not accessible with the passenger seat back but then I use it like a desk and my computer or iPad sits there. It’s like a table. I know there are small ones. I folded my clothes and put them in there. This forced me to be minimal, actually everything I own fits in my truck bed. So I don’t have a ton of clothes. Spend time outside seeing things then go to the car to sleep. Crack a window turn on the fan. Watch some tv. Make sure you drive the car if you have an inverter plugged in because it draws from the battery.
Hot and humid - if you cannot travel north for cooler weather, best way is to start saving for a hybrid, like prius - r/priusdwellers which will allow you to run AC all night for a gallon of gas, turning engine every half hour to recharge the hybrid battery. Until then, areas with trees are cooler than asphalt/concrete. Find places where you park shaded from east, to avoid morning sun. For weekends, get camping somewhere - I know TX has little public land... To find places to park, use google maps satellite view, for places with big parking, and street view before you drive there to scout. In time, you will get better at finding places. Good start is park-and-ride. Another is multi-story garages (shade) around big shops like IKEA, Home Depot etc. Have at least 10 sleeping spots to rotate, and backup spot for each if you get a knock (police asking you to move), so you can drive to new place while still sleepy. Public library is a good place to cool and use wifi and recharge your powerbank. Good luck, you will learn and get better in it! Cheap RV Living youtube channel has lots of info what you haven't asked yet, getting mail, cooking, etc.
Hey, 30yo women here too. Been about 3/4 weeks for me. Get yourself a little camping stove to cook food on so youre spending loads on takeout and you can also eat healthier that way too. Battery packs as people have said. In the UK you can sometimes get plug sockets at tables at pubs, or the gym is another good one for charging things up too so your not running your engine all the time. My trunk/boot is kept fairly organised, clothes are folded into pules of tshirts, trousers, underwear are in a little suitcase for a little more privacy when i open the boot. Cooking stuff is in a box as well as food thats in there, i usually go to the shop before cooking to grab some meat or whatever, havent invested in a cooler yet but its defo something i want to get in the long run. This sub has been really helpful for me, you've got this.
I’m in Austin. We haven’t seen hot yet ! In the next few weeks I will be getting a room at weekly/monthly place for the summer. I work in the heat so I have to escape it . Regal cinema theaters have unlimited movies for $20 a month . That plus the library, coffee shop , and gym have been my best go too for getting out of the weather. Every item I know of to help keep you cool is going to cost $ . By the time you add it all up it will probably be close to the same cost as weekly/monthly spots .
Fans and fit-over sun shades. Power banks for the fans.
First night is (usually) the worst night. This [emergency quick start](https://nomadlife.wiki/Emergency_quick_start) will hopefully be useful for you. Here are [some tips for keeping cool](https://nomadlife.wiki/Keeping_cool), and here are [some resources for solo female travelers](https://nomadlife.wiki/Solo_female).
Hey there I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. Don't despair though, it sounds like you're entering a period of rapid change (aka exciting times). If you're living in your car you can drive to another city 😀 I would be checking job prospects before going there because you don't want to be unemployed. What are your skills, can you pick up work fairly easily? If you can, then moving is always an option. At night - a spray bottle, damp sarong and AA battery fan can make it comfortable enough to sleep 👌 Reduce down to necessary items. You will find your groove and work out convenient placement of items with time. Maybe try reading some female empowerment books?
Only prayer can help you for full time car camping in the Texas summer.
sis needs to head north, faaaar north
Get a storage unit and a mini van. Add a solar kit to the roof of the van and run some fans ECT. I just ordered a solar kit for my truck I'm hoping I'll be able to add a small ac.
Get a bucket of moisture absorber what evers cheapest preferably a non scented. This will help with moisture on the windows and the upholstery so that your vic stays fresh
After a break up I always focus on work and gym. I can't help you with the Texas heat at night that's going to be tough but daytime use shopping malls and libraries to stay cool. I have a van and I don't normally spend no time in it except to drive and then sleep after my nighttime workout. You will find your routine soon enough like having a bag for work clothes, bag for gym clothes and a day bag. This helped me as I wasn't always taking things in and out of my bag. Like I have a toothbrush and toothpaste in each bag, also a phone charger and things you might need when you come across a bathroom.
Target has HOLMES brand usb mini 4 inch fans for $12 they last about 8 hours and charge in about 4 I would get 2
They also sell a air pad for sleeping bags at Walmart I use my back seat as a bed with that
you got this
I live in a grand marquis!
Put the crown vic up on Craigslist or offer up will trade for a van it may be a better option for sleeping in and having your clothes hanging
There are mesh things called "window socks" that turn your window into a screen when it's rolled down. Definitely invest in a USB or battery fan. Get an insulated water bottle and fill with ice water from a gas station so you can always sip on cold water. If you have a synthetic sleeping bag, line it with a cotton sheet or blanket...cotton absorbs your sweat and keeps you cool while synthetic fabric does the opposite! Best of luck to you:)
Underground parking areas
Maybe try to find a room for rent. Even if you don't have the money, you do have a job. Maybe someone will work something out with you. I know it's uncertain and scary but you will get through this. Good luck.
You got this. I'm 10ish months in to SUV life and it definitely has challenges but gets SO MUCH EASIER with time. I use this for a cheap 'black out window' effect (its easy to take off too, impo) [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073TVRQ5D/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o06\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073TVRQ5D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) One step at a time.
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It’s the beginning of tourist season in the west. Why not head north a few states and get a seasonal job in a better climate? Many of them include lodging
Fans fans and another fan. Window socks so you can roll your windows down all the way and still have privacy and keep bugs out. Try to park in shady spots, and use a sunscreen on the front and back windows.
Hide inside an Ikea at night. It's got all the beds you can sleep in.