Interactive List of the Best
I'd like your help with this post. I'm going to post some of my favorite things for travelers, the homeless, or just anyone, and I am going to post some categories and items that I need suggestions on. If you have a real favorite item, and I mean an unequivocal ten on a scale of one to ten, respond with it in the comments, or drop me an email, and I will revise the post, unless I disagree. Tell everyone what makes it a really good product. We can have more than one best in a given area, for instance, a best quality, and a best deal. I'd like to get a core list for homeless perfection.
Best All-Around Personal Care Product: Generic KY Jelly - There are lots of good reasons to make things slick, a waterless shave, a hair tamer, and of course there is the original use. No one ever felt cheated of their two bucks for a tube of sex gel.
Best Razor: There is no comparable disposable razor to the Mach 3 triple blade, but it is pricey at two bucks each, and it is only the first two or three shaves with each razor that are really good. For my money, I like the Gillette Good News razor with lubricating strip. It is a very high quality double blade, most shaves are bloodless, and at thirtyfive to fourtyfive cents each I feel okay about discarding them after two or three shaves, thus I am always shaving with a sharp razor, and life is good.
Best Portable Propane Stove: The worst is any of them that balance a single burner on top of a 16 ounce propane bottle. I used these stoves for years before I realized how annoying and dangerous they are. One little bump, an uneven surface, a badly balanced pan and over it goes, causing scalds and wasting food. I hate them. By contrast, Coleman makes a dandy two burner stove that folds up like a briefcase and takes up very little room in the car. It is usually sold for around $60, but the link I have provided is for a Walmart clearance that has them down to $35. Target and Kmart and Walmart continously knock off copycats that are just as good and sell them for under forty bucks. You are just looking for a two burner, briefcase style, propane stove.
Trial Sizes: The best place to look for your hygiene needs is the trial size aisle or end cap at your local supermarket or drug store. You'll find all sorts of neat items, containers, travel toothbrushes, mouthwashes, picks, floss, shampoo, combs, brushes, razors, creams, lotions, antiseptics, astringents, analgesics, cold medicines, bandages, caffeine stimulants, and much more for pennies. It is a sort of mobile lifestyle treasure spot. Look for it.
Best Hot Water Bottle:
Best Hand Warmer: The EZ Heat Reusable Handwarmer is a real star. I had one of these many years ago and had not known where to find another until this reader suggestion. Click the metal disk for instant heat lasting more than half an hour, and boil it to reset. Enjoy the residual heat on both sides of the cycle. Oh! I so love this product. The best seven bucks you've ever spent. Do a quick Google search and you will find scads of sites selling them.
Best Road Blanket:
Best Car Cover: We're looking for one that is not very translucent, has good tie down points, and allows you to get into and out of the car fairly easily after it is installed.
Help me out here. Tell me your best tips. Only tens. No nines.
posted by Mobile Homemaker @ 7:51 PM
50 Comments:
I personally swear by Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Magic Soap. (especially the peppermint variety) I've used it for general hair and body washing, shaving, doing laundry, as an emergency deodorant, (splash of water under each arm, couple drops of soap, lather and wipe the excess away) drying up pimples, (put a drop on the offending eruption before bed) brushing my teeth, (it's kind of icky, but in a pinch it works) and just cleaning all sorts of things in general. (my car, my glasses, my laptop, dishes, etc. etc.)
Can be usually be found at healthfood stores and the like. A 4oz bottle probably runs $2-3 USD and can last quite a while. (it's pretty concentrated stuff)
Something else I never go anywhere without is my Leatherman Squirt multi-tool. I've had various Swiss Army Knives over the years, but in the past 2 I've found this little tool to be much more versatile than anything similar that I've used. I've used it cut and strip wires, disassemble a bicycle, add holes to my belt, take apart and repair any number of electronic devices, slice food, open packages, file down rough metal edges on things, open cans and bottles, rewire telephone and Ethernet jacks, and dozens of other uses. Fits nicely on a keychain.
Oh, something else I just thought of... a good wok is an absolute essential for me. In additon to the usual sorts of things you'd expect do with a wok, I've pressed mine into service for cooking pasta, making scrambled eggs, (actually, it's my preferred method) toasting bread, reheating cold pizza...
Also on the subject of cooking, I spent about 8 months living in a place without a stove, so what I did was picked up a $10 butane burner (the kind often used for hot pot style cooking at your table) from my local Asian market and made do quite nicely with that. The butane gas cannister refills generally ran about $3-6 for a 4 pack, which would on average would last me for weeks, if not longer. (tho' I don't know how safe it would be to keep those in the trunk of one's car, especially in summer, hmm...)
Curiously, a quick Google search is turning up places online charging $50 or more for the same damn thing.
I really like the EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmers. There are a lot of different brands out there, but they all work the same.
Heat the 'bag' that is filled with a super saturated salt solution, then when it cools you can carry it around. When you want warmth you just snap a little metal disk inside the solution, and poof you have 130 degree warmth for a couple hours. When you want to use it again, heat the thing up again until the crystals dissapear. You can heat em in boiling water or you can heat them in very hot tap water. Here is how the chemestry works
As far as the best road blanket...
A military wool blanket is the best, hands down. Extremely rugged, dries quickly and isnt a high theft risk around other people like a sleeping bag is.
They can be found very cheap at any army navy store and its not unheard of to be able to get 2 or three ( as you will need in cold weather for comfort ) for only a few dollars.
And if it is lost or stolen, it can be easily replaced in most cities for very little.
Not to mention that the Army ones are olive drab, and this can help if you have to "stealth camp" in a park or wooded area to avoid being seen.
Interesting. I always avoided wool due to itchiness. How comfortable are the army blankets? I like the camo quality idea. One must always be prepared for all sorts of eventualities.
I can say from experience that the military wool blankets get pretty itchy, especially if you're sensitive to that sort of thing. One solution is to double up with a cheap fleece throw layer; the wool blanket outside, and the cheap fleece throw inside.
The fleece throws are as portable and durable as the military blankets, but less insulating on their own. Between the two of them, I feel I have my (admittedly temperate) seasons covered. They also make great picnic blankets, table cloths, living space delineators and upholstery layers, a ubiquitous propensity they also share with the wool blankets.
Fleece throws are pretty easy to find now, at Walgreen's or Wal-marts or what have you, for about $5 on average. It's a bit more than the military blankets, but in my opinion well worth it.
The itchiness of the wool isn't a big factor to me as when I used one I normally had clothes on underneath it.
Lets face it, you need to have at least some clothes on and be ready to vacate an area rather rapidly if someone becomes to curious as to what you are doing there ( police, property owners, etc )
The fleece throw is a good idea if you are really sensitive to it, but in all honesty you really get used to it after a period of time.
The ability to keep you warm even when wet is a MAJOR plus, and the speed at which it dries is another big positive especially in the outdoor realm.
A few safety pins, and you have a warm, comfortable sleeping "sack" as well.
And trust me, the camo component comes in very handy.. You can become almost invisible under one in a wooded/grassy area, and can conceal equipment/items quite well from prying eyes.
And I dont think I've ever not been able to find one for a few dollars, and in good condition, in any town. Because of the low cost, they are almost disposable items that you can simply discard as needed and replace at will.
Best Hand Warmer:
I've tried the reusable liquid ones with the metal disks. It is certainly neat to watch them crystalize, but they don't stay hot for very long and boiling them is a pain. I would say the disposable grabber handwarmers are better. They are smaller, lighter, and stay hot for hours. If you find them on sale they are less than $1 for a pack of 2 (I believe I've seen them as low as 50 cents a pack at the end of the ski season).
(I've also tried the handwarmers which you fill with something similar to lighter fluid. They are also interesting, but they are heavy, messy, and smell like gasoline...)
Best Hot Watter Bottle (actually, best water bottle period):
It might not be soft, but a wide-mouth nalgene bottle will hold boiling water without leaking, and after the cold night you can use it as a regular water bottle. They are easier to drink from if you get a SplashGuard (a small plastic piece that slips into the mouth of the bottle to keep you from pouring the whole bottle on your face).
I would just like to vouch for what zovirl said...Nalgenes are the best water bottles that money can buy. Just be sure to get one of the clear hard bottles(as opposed to the softer frosted ones, which I'm told won't hold boiling water). You can also use them as measuring cups. At 8 bucks each, you can't go wrong.
If you need internet, get Treo 650 or other handheld you can afford. Weather is more imporant for me to watch out. And I love to surf web and check email.
Sidekick is pretty cheap under T-Mobile (terrrible coverage).
More important, it's smaller than laptop and lightweight enough to carry with you anywhere.
Having spent several winters car living in northern states, I can honestly say that my #1 "can't live without" item is actually not a blanket, but my Blaster jacket. Mine is actually an old fire department uniform jacket, but you can buy Blasters or similar styles at most major department stores (Blaster is made by Gerber, the same company that brings us the Gerber multi-tool).
The great thing about Blasters are the nylon outer shell that is perfect by itself as a windbreaker or fall/spring jacket, but also the varying thicknesses of zip-in filled liners. Mine is a fairly light weight liner, but it keeps me warm down to about 10 degrees F without a blanket or sleeping bag. With the jacket, I'll usually wrap my legs in a blanket, throw on a hat, and I'm good to go.
After three years of "house living" I am once again houseless due to a pending divorce. I am fortunate that I travel extensively (75%) for my new job, and they pay for motels and meals. But when I'm back in Colorado, it's the car and a storage unit for right now, just like the "old days."
Thanks for putting this site together. It's a good resource and you have a good attitude about it.
Zip Loc Easy Zipper Freezer Bags or generic equivalent -http://www.ziploc.com/zipper-bag
You can't beat the combination of low cost, durability, and no-guilt disposability when you need to keep things organized, dry, and or compact. The cheapest place I've seen them is at... of course... Wal-Mart, which costs about 10-15 cents per large bag. You can use them to store things that might leak all over your backpack/duffle bag. They are also great to keep your cigarettes, matches and lights dry. I use them to store bags like free hotel/motel laundry bags, shopping bags, and any other bags because I can put the bags in and then flatten it so that all the air disappears and I have a nice compact supply of bags that won't fall out of my bag of cause an organizational mess or get dirty from touching dirt and mud.
Another 10-type item is a hiker's/scouts/military survival guide. There is nothing in this world better than being able to improvise when you can't get a sharp blade or when you run out of matches. There are so many out there that I don't which one is actually the best.
Buy some cheap baking soda-it is wonderful underarm deodorant. It keeps you dry and kills any bad odors.
Disinfectant mouthwash, ie. Listerine. Wal-mart "equate" brand is cheapest. Uses include mouth as well as washing your hair with! Cuts dandruff (originally issued in WW2 to GI's in the Pacific) and washes hair. Smells good and improvises as a general purpose cleaner.
-Portable solar panels provide "off the grid" electricity. Radios, 20 watt lightbulbs, laptops, portable DC fans, small TV's. Do a google search for portable solar generators directions. Can be made with less than 400 dollars depending upon wattage requirements.Materials can be purchased from wal mart and radio shack. Panels can be bought online.
[Suggestions for firearms have been censored by the author of the blog. I am anti-violence, and while I am for free speech, I am for restricted speech when the space to speak is mine.]
Set up a hidden "cache" if your vehicle will be searched by police. Parks, rural areas dig a pit etc. Yeah, I am a former Eagle scout and Army Ranger and have been living "in freedom" for 3 years now. Of course I have been through worse than homelessness before so the psychiological aspects didn't phase me at all(Somalia 1997)...just a different perspective.
Brian from NJ
[Excellent suggestions, Brian. Thank you.]
another thing you can use for deoderant is lemon. you just need a slice.
PS. you never mentioned anything about pan-handleing. and its something I would like to hear more about.
I have done the with out car and with car... hope is what's missing
for anyone, realize this the fact that rich people kill themselves more than anyone.
not everything is for sale and not all things that are free are not aviable for all.. some things are earned. The idea of this is critical in dealing with life, love, yourself of any thing you put your mind to. Things have nothing to do with self respect, health, hope and a slew of other things that I dont have to list to make the point or be to verbose.
My POINT really is simle, to be happy is a state of mind. it's really that simple. If you are homeless or rich there is a hell and a heaven waiting for you to live out on this earth. and the money aspect of it dosent 100% dictate what you will live.
To make me right it's really simple, love... well there are so many cool, nice wonderfull people who are looking for someone nice.
and yes yes a homeless person may have a hard time finding someone to fall in love with.. but maybe that's the time they need to spend with themselves getting there life in order.. see not all things HAVE TO BE OBTAINED AT THIS MOMENT... there is a time and place for everything... who said we have to have someone around to be whole.
if a person wants to kick and claw and get out of being homeless they can... it's just that simple.
Your site at least gives someone a clue to getting out of it and that's a good thing..
Point is unless a person wants to be down and out forever lifes seasons can change and the fact that they have little once they are out of homelessness shouldn't matter at all.. only brainless morons think that lifestyle has everything to do with being happy.
So if a person is at point A and they want to get to point C
(point c being a so called normal life) THEN they have to life b...
it's just that simple...
think of all the kids who are 12
who are on there 21st operation for a cancer that kills them anyway by age 14... If you are homeless you have you health, and yes some are nuts, and I am sure in real life.. ( ie WELL OFF )
THERE are people who are % OF THE time nuts as well... AND in fact
let the obtainment of things cause them to go to jail or kill themselves or ruin there health or
just like like a miserable person.
if you haven't been in jail, or homeless or had nothing. You are missing out on parts of life that would help you understand life and people at a very high level. anyways I could go on and on... but
the fact of life being altered being homelesss is a mute point.
it's still life and to make any life great you have to desire something, anything... to year for hope and if you dont you might as well be dead... ever see anyone
that looked like the walking dead?
ever look deep into hopeless eyes?
well they made themselves that way,
and the size of there banking account.... (rich)or (poor) has
nothing to do with it... think about that the next time you want to challange the thoughts in what I have wrote cause I HAVE been in both shoes and I AM here to tell you... they are one in the same...
you make you happy and if you dont
look out... cause you in for a ride
Personal ten here.
Wal-Mart sells disposable, rechargable cell phones. $20 bucks for a Nokia, $30 for a Motorola and $30 on a 120 minute phone card. Absolutely no difference between that and paying for the expensive crap with the expensive plan, and the phone works everywhere.
Just make sure the checkout girl scans the card correctly so there aren't any problems.
Some great things can be found in an army surplus store (if you have one local to you, if not there are many sites online)
as a broke college student im borderline homeless, yes I have a place to sleep and shower... but no money, little food, minimal funishings, and plenty of cops around to harass me... ive bought plenty of great things from army surplus sites and stores (p-38 (think thats the name of it) can opener comes to mind (a small metal plate with a small hook and a curved folding blade)
Best Entertainment. 10 yrs ago I walked into Radio Shack and purchased a walk-man-type radio with ears phones. It has a T.V. setting and AM/FM radio. It fits in your pocket. The best 49.95 I've ever spent. I still use it all the time. I can listen to news and weather on local T.V. and catch The Simpsons too. Batteries last about a month. It has an auto shut-off after 1 hour, so you never waste the batteries if you fall asleep. I makes me feel less isolated from the world.
a friend and i are thinking of giving up the idealistic young american life and attempting to be homeless throughout europe for a few months. any commentary about the laws which we might be breaking and how to avoid them (IE, sleep in public parks as opposed to private ones)... additionally, and commentary on safety would be appreciated. thanks for your help.
I think maintaining mental health is also important. So, along the same line as getting a good warm meal to restore composure, I've found small craft-making activities to be helpful. Panic and despair often include a flood of overwhelming thoughts and emotions. Doing something with my hands, however, somehow helps to "ground me" so that I can slowly work out whatever it is that's bothering me. If I again start feeling overwhelmed, I'll shift more focus onto what I'm doing with my hands and gradually return to more intense "issue analysis" when I'm ready.
One idea for a craft is macrame. You get out energy, it's somewhat soothing/hypnotic due to its repititious nature, and if you care to, you can make some cool stuff. Other activities could include crocheting, a music instrument (even drumming on something with your hands), playing with a deck of cards, doodling, playing with clay, whatever.
The best hairstyle to have is dreads. You have to wash them at most: twice a month. Contrary to popular belief, they don't smell as long as you don't let anything disgusting get in them and wash them once in a while. A bar of dread shampoo or any soap with no oils in it will last almost a year. You can also use it to bathe the rest of yourself.
I definitely do not agree that dreadlocks are a good idea. As hairstyles go, few are as strongly associated with homelessness. My hope is that you will maintain an image as far from homeless as possible, to improve your survival possibilities. Get from society what you can by appearing as normal and social as possible.
Hey college kid,... that can opener is a P-38. In the 40's they had a larger version called a P-50.
Receintly I came across a "Hobo" knife at Wally World. It had a knife, firk, spoon, cork screw, can oppener, bottle oppener, and a leather punch. I enjoy mine emensely, and it's less than $5.00.
Look for it in the camping section.
You might also look for a white gas Coleman cooking stove. I got mine 30 years age and I've even used regular gas on ocassion. If you can't find one in the camping section of your local store then try a thrift store like Goodwill.
Freecycle! I have found it to be the best resource available. You can access it from any library, and people have so many things they don't use but want a home for. There are other sites similar to freecycle, but it's the most widely available one out there. I'm semi-homeless (I have a friend's house I can stay at, but for certain periods of time) and have found this to be invaluable. Quite often I need something only for a week at best, and when I'm done, I relist it on freecycle to continue the process. Keeps my clutter down, and allows me to have what I need.
Of the best cheap crafts I've found, crocheting plastic bags is the best. Basically, you cut the bag into circular strips, loop them together and voila. Instant "yarn". A hook can cost less than $3 and will last for a very long time. That's the only cost to you. Bags are free and found in lots of places, and the product you make could be hats, sandals, or bigger bags (sturdier and long lasting as well as washable) to carry items in. It's also becoming a big trend in yuppie households to recycle things into crafts, so they would also sell well if they are constructed well.
YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN ON THE RUN BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU, SHE IS IN REAL DANGER. BUT SHE THINKS ITS JUST ALL FUN AND GAMES. LET ME TELL YOU NOT ALL RUN AWAYS ARE ABUSED OR MISTREATED THEY ARE JUST CONFUSED LIKE EVERY OTHER TEEN IN THE WORLD. SHAME ON YOU FOR GIVING THEM TOOLS TO HELP RUIN THERE LIFE!!!!!!!!!
Fascinating. I give your child, and the many other children and adults who are homeless, advice about how to survive well, and you chastise me. You'd prefer she is cold, alone, starving, and easily identifiable as homeless and exploitable. I can see that you must be a wonderful parent, and I find it impossible to understand why she might have decided to risk the harsh world rather than remain with you.
By the way, attributing to me any culpability for her choice to leave has about one trillionth of the strength of the argument that suicidal teens are caused by Metallica music. I mean, Metallica music sometimes makes my ears bleed, and I might wish to die rather than continue to listen, but really, you don't think there are more serious and compelling issues driving her to leave your home? You are deluded or lying.
Get from society what you can by appearing as normal and social as possible. ~quote by Moderator
Is this not thievery just as you described the Casino Scenario. You give society the impression you are "playing their game" in exchange for what you get. However, you never actually "got with the program"
I am enjoying the text and thought blog and all posted commentary.
Mental Illness: I think civilization/society has and continues to makes us sick in the ways of the times.
Cars: gasoline society = doomed to collapse. It would be far better to conserve the fuel for other than transportation!
Homemaker, or others, please email me to become keyboard pals. I'm reluctant to post here regularly.
bob@goldenrodresearch.com
really though,amazing! Helps to know you are not alone out there, you know? Thanks a lot brother, keep it up man. LIFE'S A GARDEN, DIG IT
i would greatly enjoy reading an article on non-car homelessness. i am thinking of walking away once i turn eighteen in a few months. i don't have a car, but i can march good.
also, any ideas on how to carry a guitar with me? a guitar is absolutely essential for me.
Hello Homemaker,
I've read the site and think it's fantastic.
Our society is unsustainable: we are expected to support the rich by buying, buying, buying and working, working, working for stuff we really don't need and wouldn't want if we had a healthy mindset.
I find your writing and thoughts to be very beneficial in many different ways.
Would like to see you expand on this and publish the book. Great "urban survival" stuff!
Last summer I decided to ride my bike along the entire west coast of the US - California, Oregon, and Washington. There was a great deal I learned about being homeless along the way, mostly from other homeless people that I met during that great trip. I remember it as being one of the happiest, carefree times in my life. No bills, no worries, no need for a lot of money. Here are some good lessons I learned:
I had a homemade stove that was invaluable. It was made from aluminum pepsi cans and ran off of rubbing alcohol (possibly the cheapest, easiest to find stove fuel anywhere). Free to make, nearly free to run, and if you broke it, just make another one. On cold nights I would boil water, pour it in my Nalgene, put a sock over it and sleep with it between my legs (I heard there's big veins there that distribute the heat better around your body).
The state parks in these states have a 'hiker/biker' site that costs $3-5 a night as long as you come in on foot or on bicycle. Try to look the part though as they frown on 'bums' taking advantage of it. But there's usually a few 'bums' there anyway because it's a secure place to camp where the police won't bother you. Usually a four night limit. And usually some of the best views you've ever seen. The hot showers in California and Washington were coin-op but in Oregon you got all the hot water you wanted in your own stall for FREE.
Since I camped the entire way, I needed a tent. Not willing to shell out for an expensive lightweight tent, I took a friend's suggestion and bought a 'kiddie' tent for $21. It was 4ft by 5ft and I had to sleep diagonally in it to fit, but it was cheap, lightweight, and home. Bug and wind protection while I'm sleeping is a big priority. If it's raining a lot get a $5 tarp and rig it up over your tent, you're set.
For a sleeping pad I took one of those $5 blue Walmart jobs and glued a cut-to-fit $2 mylar space blanket to the bottom of it. This made a great warm pad for seven bucks, and a good place to sit on the grass.
A few hobos I met taught me how to 'bush camp' instead of paying for the state parks. They just said to get out of town a little, maybe behind a hill and definately out of sight, and to not camp around anything grassy or green. This, they said, meant irrigation, which meant a sprinkler shower at 4 AM.
In Oregon I met a homeless couple that taught me how to get food stamps. They said there were hardly any questions asked and you didn't even need an ID. At $130 allowance a month, it's a big plus.
There's a ton more I just can't think of much right now. Being outside with hardly any worries inspired me, and since then I've lived either out of my car or on a boat. Being organized when living out of your car is a huge plus.
I find that army surplus stores have a wealth of supplies. the best there would have to be an army jacket, one designed for serious cold weather. if you are lucky enought to find one that has no holes, complete seams, and shoulders that haven't had all of the stuffing worn out of them, you should get it. on the older ones, if there is fur around the hood it is almost garanted real, which will keep you extremely warm.
I lived out of the back of my
pick-up truck for almost a year.
I had a camper shell with sliding
windows and a matress/sleeping bag
in the back.
Other camping gear as well.
I was very compfortable.
I never parked on the streets.
I always found a dirt road into
parklands or forests that took
my out of sight and out of mind
of would-be antagonists, meddlers,
and other lookie-lews.
I never parked in the same place
more than one or two nights in a
row but might rotate back later.
I never had a problem.
I didn't have to work that year.
I did have money and I had my own
reasons for dropping out at the
time.
It was the most introspective time
of my life and I think back on it
with fondness.
hey thx for this it helps me out I am actually "homeless" and all I left with when I ran away from home and have been struggling I left with nothin but a few hundred bucks saved up, a laptop, and some friends who I planned my runaway with but during our trip our plans went sour so it has been really hard I'm gonna use these tips and share with my friend
A cheap alternative for a commercial camp stove is to make one out of a coke can. You can find easy directions on YouTube and all over the internet. You can burn rubbing alcohol, HEET, denatured alcohol, or white gas (like Coleman Fuel). Soda cans can be picked up on the street for free. Backpackers have been using them for years. Also, most businesses remove their water spigot handles on the side of their buildings to prevent people using their water - buy a pair of pliers or a universal fit spigot turn handle so you can sneak water when no one is looking.
I do wonder if this site is still open and if people still post here. I was homeless for a year and although I didn't have a car and started in the beginning of winter, I was lucky to make it through. I found on the worst days hanging out in a starbucks drinking coffee provided me with shelter, comfort, and a place to recharge my cellphone and batteries for my radio with no hassel.
I also found soup kitchens all over new york city that provide really good meals. the worst thing was finding a place to sleep and the trains are the worst. thankfully after a year on the street I was able to find a job with hours that I could sleep and make it in on time without an alarm plus space where I could store some of my stuff. hope some of this helps. 2 years later, I'm off the streets, still trying to get a better life but its a struggle either way that's worth it in the end.
I discovered that denim and wool woven together as a blanket is excellent at keeping you very warm throughout the freezing nights. You don't even need three of those to get that level of warmth, just one! Of course they cannot be found in any store, seeing that you have to buy material (or preferably cut any old denim materials) and sew them together. they're thick, heavy, and great for smothering you into good sleep. :)
Mobile Homemaker thank you for creating this site, it is a useful forum for people to make the best of their situations.
I feel guilty as I read the posts. My guilt comes from never having to deal with situations like this. I know that I have been lucky in my life. I had supportive parents, even when I discovered I was gay they were and are supportive of me. I have an education and a secure job. My guilt also comes from the fact that I have a nice home, with space for others to sleep, a kitchen and freezer well stocked with food, but I live alone. It seems in the big picture to be wrong that some have lots and others have so little.
I wish that I could more easily share what I have with others. I am involved in a volunteer groups that support poor in central Europe, but feel I am able to do little to help those who are in need within an hour radius of me. Given the opportunity I would support one or two or three people in need but its not easy to make those connections.
Regardless of all of this, and my fortune, I notice every homeless person and wonder how come? What happened in their life that they ended up in that situation? I know nobody decides at age 7 that they want to be homeless, something happens in their life that makes that happen.
“Homelessness” seems so institutionalized and agency run and that created barriers to simply one person extending a helping hand to another in need, or even just offering a hot meal and a place to sleep. People can not maximize their potential if they are constantly in survival mode. You need to have a warm bed and a full tummy to dream, well maybe not to dream, but definitely to formulate plans to make those dreams a reality.
I see that this site is primarily a US site and I wonder how many of the people come here are Canadian. If anyone knows of any good organizations helping the homeless in Ontario Canada, please email me at waveg@hotmail.com.
Thanks Zenny
I don't agree with very much of what you've said, Zenny, but your thoughts are typical of those who are not and have not been homeless. You seem nice and well meaning, but if you read more of the blog you might understand that I am not writing about tragic homelessness. I am not writing about the homelessness that is to be pitied.
Not all the homeless live in the same way. Like all communities, the homeless are diverse. Charity, such as you are inclined to give, and it is a good impulse on your part, is repugnant to me. Receiving it robs me of dignity. Furthermore, you don't need to feel guilty for having the things you have and the space you have. A line from a song, "surely you're not saying we have the resources to save the poor from their lot. There will be poor always, pathetically suffering, look at the good things you've got!" (Jesus to Judas in the cave in JC Superstar)
There's nothing wrong with taking some of the sweet life gives. Fortune can turn on you. Get it while you can.
If you want to share with others, consider making microloans. They maintain the dignity of the borrower and may expiate some of your guilt. I have some loans out on kiva.com.
has any one mentioned vinegar? it's $1 at the dollar store, it has SO many uses, on food, as a cleaner, for drug tests (drink a couple shots and a gallon of water), you can wash your face with it (i know but it works!), it disinfects, and you can wash your whites in it to get them extra white, i swear by it.
Car!
Absolutely the best thing you can buy yourself if you're homeless is a car.
First - DO NOT get a car until you have enough money to handle a car repair, keep it registered, etc. I see lots of people for whom the car becomes a vicious cycle - spend all resources on a car, lose the car, repeat ad nauseum. Far better to get a car, use it to get a job, use the job to get a better car and sell the old one, repeat until you're living pleasantly in an RV.
What to get:
Get the best running car you can. Breakdowns are a huge nightmare.
Yes, I know, they're more money. But you'll lose the investment
Get an older car if you have mechanical skills. Almost anyone can keep a VW van going.
Now, what to get?
Options:
Cargo (not passenger!) van - very good choice.
Van conversion - more obviously 'camping', but might have amenities like a potty.
Panel Van - something like a U-haul van. If you have one of these, paint it white - try to do a nice job. Put a small sign on the box that says 'EJ Freight' or something (just black letters) and you're not a homeless person, you're the local delivery van.
If you have a box like vehicle, you have an RV.
5 gallon 'pickle bucket', a toilet seat (real or a sheet of plywood with a hole), lid for the bucket. You now have a potty. If you don't want to degrade the environment, dump it in a toilet in a park.
Fishing or other hobby gear carried in other hand makes the bucket 'make sense' when you go in the potty.
Another 5 gallon bucket makes a great water container. By using something with a removable lid you can make sure the water's not getting skanky. When you get a chance to fill it, dump the old water out first. If you're going to not need it for a couple days and will have unlimited water afterwards, dump the water, fill it, put in a couple capfuls of bleach, lid it. Next day scrub the #(*&$ out of it with soap (Dr. Bronners!) and rinse many times.
Diarrhea can be more than a nuisance, it can be fatal when you're on the road.
If you're in a large vehicle, try making a small 'box' are for your bed. If you have a box van with a cabover, hang a blanket across it. Astronauts would cook in their space suits if not for cooling systems - your body makes plenty of heat to keep you warm. Retain it - sleep in a small space with lots of blankets. Don't forget heat loss below you.
You can keep the space both cooler in day and warmer at night by insulating it. Free styrofoam from a dumpster.
I love the stuff from the hardware store, sold as insulation, that looks like 'bubble wrap' - it's got a silvered surface. Keeps light in and heat out.
I always sleep in clothes, usually including a hooded sweatshirt.
When I started I had a real mentality that the way you obtain something is to buy it. Now I'm always checking dumpsters, etc.
For homeless people without cars, like myself, these are the items I suggest, that I couldn't survive without.
-Cell Phone, I don't have good credit or any guaranteed income, so metroPCS, BoostULTD, Cricket, are unlimited cell phone companies with plans ranging from $30 to $60 a month.
-Laptop computer, this offers me access to any and all resources, the cure to boredom, craigslist.org is good for odd jobs, couch surfing, free clothes... (you can buy a used laptop for $80 to $100, on craigslist, or in the penny saver)
-Swiss Army back pack nuff said.
-Beach sized towel, acts as a towel, blanket, or pillow.
something else that helps me survive is change of scenery based on the seasons, and greyhound is a great help if u plan a city change at least 2 weeks in advance... all tickets are $99 if u book far enough in advance...
Summer - San Francisco or Tijuana
Fall - San Francisco or New York
Winter - Los Angeles or Miami
Spring - New York or Los Angeles
Just an FYI: Wal-Mart cell phones have been dropped to $10 and it's now $30 for 150 minutes.
It's a small cost to look average.
I have tried various tools and tricks of the survival trade and have found two to be priceless. A pocket knife and a multi-tool (some people call them leathermans). I have a Gerber brand of each and in my opinion it can't be beat, for the price anyway. The multi-tool has all sorts of various tools, most notably pliers. If there was any other thing I could carry with me, it would probably be a lighter. Fire is a necessity to wilderness survival. The magnesium lighters that can be bought at any camping supply store are a good buy. They last for an unbelievable amount of time and water doesn't really affect them. Well, thats all I can think of for now. Great idea for a blog. I can vouch for a lot of the information on here. Good luck to everyone who chooses to pursue this lifestyle, it is definitely rewarding.
happiness can happen anywhere
You can use Purel hand cleaner as sterno for cooking or heating water. Any of those gel type hand cleaners burn just like sterno, but they are a lot cheaper.
I'm sorry that the lady with the run away feels like she has to blame others. I hope her daughter is ok and does have access to this and other information that it helpful to her. I ran away when I was 15, I'm now 50 and still have no regrets. It was the best decision I ever made survival wise. Its too bad that there was no help for me while I was living by my wits. Good job here, and bless you for making life a little easier for those who need your help.
Best Laptop on the go: Dell inspiron mini 9 (windows or linux) around 200 referb. excellent battery life, easy to keep charged and clean. Wifi has incredible range. It's what I'm on right now. Bonus tip.. learn linux. Linux admins can get started with basic experience 'at home' with simple stuff. Read and contribute to the linux/unix forums, and read any of the linux admin guides on the web. Earn money performing wireless penetration tests, installing linux, network setup, get a free coffee at starbucks for fixing their internet connection, etc.
Best $0.09 ever P-38 can opener. Great on cans, fits on a keychain, makes a serviceable screwdriver, cutting tool, scraper, paint can opener (paint can makes an ok potty). P-50 is the bigger version, I think it had a notch that worked as a bottle opener, but not sure. I've carried the same P-38 for over a year.
Listerine... (or generic knockoff) general purpose disinfectant, with fluoride. There is no better feeling than washing my feet with it a couple times a week! Name brand stuff comes in a Vanilla Mint flavor that smells pretty good.
The Gym... Most suburban gyms have a trial membership available real cheap, or a daily pass. Stay in shape! store your pack in a locker, get a shower / shave, sauna, swim, and get some good cardio as you watch tv or read a magazine in total comfort. There's a couple gyms I've gotten into free for a day by saying my truck is in the shop for a repair, and your stuck for a few hours.
Butane heating stove: pick them up at the resturaunt supply store or asian market for under $15. Small and safe. Alternatively you can make your own out of a couple soda / beer cans that runs on cheap rubbing alcohol. They can be a little messy and hard to control temp.
Condoms: Free at many health clinics and schools. Besides the obvious use, they make great water proof storage. One guy keeps trying to convince me you can fish with them, but I havent seen it work. Keep a backup lighter in a tied off condom.
Thanks everyone for the mention of Dr. Bronner's soap! I finally found some, and I like it. I'll stick to the Listerine for brushing though.
iPhone / iPod touch, total convenience. If you can afford it, it's wonderful to have. Hang out at an Apple store long enough you'll have the opportunity to buy one of the generation 1 phones for $100 or less from someone that feels the need to upgrade (I got mine with a ton of music on it still). It's got wifi, and google maps with walking directions and public transit which I now consider a must have in a city. Forget about consulting bus schedules etc (google maps in general). Pretty easy to keep charged with the usb adapter and battery to ipod adapters. Excelent alternative to a laptop, and much easier to keep hidden.
Sorry to throw so much in one post, but I just found this site :)
Live free, and happy!
When I became homeless to save money to pay off credit card debt I bought an inconspicuous looking white cargo van, had the windows tinted, and had nine feet of space in back which was just enough to hang a hammock. With a camping mat and a nice comforter I could sleep in 25 degree weather. Unlike a mattress, my hammock could stow out of the way every day. With a hammock and my stuff in tubs, nobody could tell by looking in that I lived in there.
White plastic board cut to fit the windows would black-out view of the inside so I could sit and check email and I looked like a commercial delivery vehicle outside.
You can find open wifi and surf the web while parked in almost any strip mall. People will eventually call the cops if you frequent their lot because it looks suspicious, but be courteous and the cops won't care if they don't know you're homeless, so keep things stowed away in tubs so they can't see your stuff. I was always "a courier waiting for a delivery" , with a smile, and it smoothed things over. Have your story ready and always be prepared to answer "where do you live" with an address and without flinching.
Being polite, smiling, and keeping clean shaven with clean clothes is a must. YMCA membership kept me fit and showered. On holidays I'd use truck stops for showers.
The other van-dwellers I met complained about getting hassled but were in 1968 molester vans with "keep out" signs in the windows, dogs, huge mattresses, elaborate curtain systems, unshaven, dirty, hippy-looking, and with trinkets, dishes, and small appliances strewn all over and stuff strapped to the outside of the van that screamed homelessness. Don't do that!
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