Living in a Car on $800 a Month

youtube ^

[JoeProBono]

woman lives in her car

[neal1960]

The guy in the video (Bob) is a dope smoking hippie who makes a living doing these videos of how to lie, cheat and steal your way though life. He has a follower that goes by Carolyn’s RV life on YT, a Berkley feminist. Carolyn hasn’t shaved her underarms in years. Just your average unwashed liberals.

[eastexsteve]

I guess you could do it unless you had to deal with extreme temperatures. I’ve traveled the country once in a 3/4 ton van, and once pulling a small travel trailer. The HARDEST part is restroom facilities. You can never find one when you really need one! The travel trailer was easier as it had a shower and toilet, but you have to eventually stop and pay to stay at an RV park or state park where you can dump the grey and black water tanks.

[mass55th]

"Her $800 budget includes food."

Does she dumpster dive for her supper?

[Eagles6]

Yep. 2 bedroom house in fly over country, in the woods. No cable though.

Location, location, location.

[Rapscallion]

Homeless women, at least initially, live in their cars. They beg for the kids...and you give, no matter how much you detest begging, you give. And they usually want no help because they are so distrustful.

[Cedar]

I’m still waiting for the $800/ houseboat. For some reason, always wanted to live on a houseboat.

[21twelve]

I was looking at articles about the homeless in Seattle. One of them had a photo of an old boat tied up under a bridge. Lots of tarps covering it and clothes hanging to dry. Probably not what you were thinking of - but I would take that over living in my car. Although from the article, it sounded like they are much stricter in enforcing the marine rules (illegal mooring, etc.) than they are with parked cars.

[Cedar]

Ha,,,no, not what I was thinking.

I meant the more traditional houseboat on water, traveling up the Mississippi and beyond.

[dfwgator]

If I'm going to live out of a "car" it'll be one like this:

[21twelve]

As a kid in Minnesota that was always my dream. (Well - to float DOWN the Mississippi). I might still have the various drawings I made at the age of ten(?) of various “boats” that I was going to build. Various storage compartments, fold down platforms for a table/bed. I recall a design for a submersible fort in the local pond! Fun stuff to dream about as a kid. (We did build a regular raft for the pond, and a huge fort in our backyard.) Fun times.

I think that the cheap “tiny homes” that I've seen volunteers build for the homeless have a lot of merit. Of course you still have the land-use issues.

In the Seattle area they have “tent cities” that will spend a few months on a church property, and then go to another property. They are self governed and no increase in crime or other stuff. Very strict on alcohol and drug use. We used to go and make meals (we would buy the supplies, cook and serve the people). Many were just temporarily down on their luck and could use the hand up.

Although one guy I spoke with, and one of the main leaders of the camp, told me he didn't have to be homeless - he didn't want to work because then he would have to pay taxes for things he didn't agree with! (obama years too.) “Well, I'm guessing nobody agrees with everything the government spends our money on. Like me paying for people like you that just chose not to work!”

We quit helping out after that.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Watch a couple minutes of THIS one...

Then be sure to watch(cough) somewhat of a PUPPET version.

Mind you, the resemblance is strictly a coincidence.

I hear some of these folks are raking in YouTube/Patreon/PayPal/other cash for their..."content".

[nicollo]

We’ve got one of those in our neighborhood. Lives in a late 90’s Lincoln, uses the local park latrines. I always figured she was just cashing in a SS check and keeping the car alive with it. I mean, it’s a Ford...

Next thing you know they’ll be demanding AutoCare.

[politicianslie]

I’m still waiting for the $800/ houseboat. For some reason, always wanted to live on a houseboat.

Before I quit working, I sold my house and bought a boat. I have been around MANY who live full time at marinas, changing anchorages with seasons.....

It's possible to live much cheaper than most would think possible. I wintered over in Marathon, Fl at the city anchorage. You get a mooring ball, water, place to park a vehicle, garbage service, showers (shower on boat or shore) for a bit over $300/month. The motels peak season get to over $500/night......

I know several who were caught in Marathon last fall during the hurricane. I always arrived in Nov/Dec and left April/May to avoid hurricane season.....

There was a cross section of America, Canada and Europe down there. Some could barely afford $300/month, some might be called wealthy. But you meet many really fine people in a setting like that.

I highly recommend everyone who has a slight interest in boating to try that lifestyle for a few years (but most would NOT like to do it, many couldn't do it even if they tried). There is lots to see and learn that most miss. Just like the $800/month women in her car, you see things differently stepping out on a different trail.

This picture is of a "boat" where you could order breakfast over the radio and then run over and pick it up. You can see the sail boats tied up to mooring balls in the background.

[cyclotic]

I’ve taught my kids the fine art of sleeping in rest areas.

I got in a little trouble at work for sleeping in my car on a business trip. I had to be somewhere about 5 hours away by 8am but couldn’t leave home till 9pm the night before.

At about 1:30 AM, I was tired but figured if I got a hotel room, I’d be awake and it would take an hour to fall asleep, rather than pulling into a parking lot and snoring in five minutes.

The “safety” people fond out and didn’t like that too much. I didn’t care.

[entropy12]

Hospitals probably have better security watch than Walmart.
Walmart seems to encourage all sorts of people to practically live in their cars in parking lots. Then they can use bathrooms inside Walmart, and buy food and other items in store.

[Cedar]

Yes, I think the tiny homes have great appeal and serve a good purpose.

Perhaps one day your childhood dreams/boat plans will become a reality. Sounds like it has deep roots in you, going DOWN the Mississippi!

[RegulatorCountry]

The Quartzsite crowd are “snowbirds” fleeing frigid snowy weather. A lot of them store their RV’s there and fly in or drive in with their Jeeps and such. I wouldn’t assume they’re living the nomadic life. Some are, certainly, but not even close to a majority.

[Cedar]

Sounds wonderful, something I would enjoy.

I should have bought a houseboat a few years back when I had more savings. It’s the original investment that I hesitated with... and now even more so, unfortunately.

[minnesota_bound]

I am in southern California. At Pavilions I saw a old white haired guy living in his car for at least 3 years. Same spot in the lot. He had 2 plastic storage containers on the roof of his car. He was in the car when it was 110 degree temp in the summer. You know it had to be even higher inside the car and below 40 degree in the winter. He disappeared earlier this year. Dead or told to move on? I would think he would be able to get SSI which is about $700/month. Quite a large sum saved over the years.

#26 Here is your houseboat.
http://shantyboatliving.com/2013/movie-houseboat

[Kommodor]

Looks like fun. I have a friend who’s parents did the sail bum thing, sorta. I yhimk places like Tonga are probably a bit upscale, but it still sounded fun.