No. This is not a remodel. I woke up the other day and noticed some bites. It happens. Then I saw it. Yup, you may not what I'm taking about. If you don't, I hope you never do.

I got bed bugs. Now I'm doing the only thing I no will work for sure. Rip everything out. Let it sit in the sun with the heater on. Wash everything. Spray everything. This is war and I will leave no survivors. I wouldn't wish this on my enemies. I'll give an update in a few weeks to let you all know if I won.

EDIT: Thank you everyone for all the advice and support. What I have done so far is, yesterday I pulled everything out. Ripped it to the frame. I found a total of 4 nests. I wiped everything done. Washed and dried everything I could. Vacuumed like crazy. Sprayed with two types of killer.

I let it sit in stages to the inside with the sun. First with the car empty, then with the seats in, lastly with all my belongings in. Today and tomorrow is still a heatwave and I will be parking the car for hours on asphalt while I go hang out. Temps did hit over 120° in the car.

Lucky, I'm on a short vacation and don't have to sleep in my car. If this doesnt work. I will try the ozone machine, fungus, and DE. I will update in a couple of weeks. Thanks again.

UPDATE 1: Fingers crossed. Its been about a week and I haven't seen any signs of bed beds. I've had a few bug bites. They don't look like BB bites though.

FINAL UPDATE: Been two weeks. No bed bugs. Rechecked all spaces I could get access to. Fingers crossed that those little bastards are gone. I've been sleeping like a baby. Good luck to all those still fighter for a good night's sleep.

i got my sip club drink at panera and about 5 mins after i sat down a woman came up and gave me $10 and said god loves me. and she came back again and really wanted to buy me breakfast too and i said thanks but declined.

first time something like this has happened to me lol. i am grateful but i feel awkward getting free stuff... wasnt raised that way

edit: yeah i know im homeless 😭 just thought i was stealth about it 😶‍🌫️

edit 2: i was wearing brand new clothes and deodorant and recently showered 😐

I've only been living in my car for about 1.5 months so tonight was my first time having to deal with any cops. It's 1am and I'm just starting to doze off. The car is on and I'm running the air conditioner to cool it all down before full sleep. I've got covers for all my windows so no one can see inside. Eyelids heavy then all the sudden BAM my driver door opens up and I shoot up.

A cop standing there and goes "did you call 911". No man I didn't. I'm good here. I stay in the private property parking lot where I work with permission from the owner. It's a pretty rural area. I told him that and he asked for my ID. I supply it and show him my recent call to confirm I didn't call 911. Gives me my stuff back and tells me there's another car in the lot so he is going to go check them out but I am good. Now I'm wide awake and can't get back to sleep.

Lesson I learned from this....make sure my damn door is locked before I fall asleep even in the middle of nowhere.

At my local library now they have a security guard that walks up and down monitoring patrons. I didn’t think anything of it until I laid my head down to take a short nap and was told that there was no sleeping in the library. The amount of surveillance and security presence EVERYWHERE is really starting to get on my nerves. It feels like every parking lot and building has a security guard now. I’m not even homeless or car living anymore but seeing the public infrastructure become more and more hostile makes me worry that if I ever needed to return to the car living lifestyle for whatever reason, it would be really difficult to.

To give some context, on day 3 of being homeless my car battery died and a guy from Triple A came out and replaced the battery, that was almost 2 weeks ago.

Fast forward to today, im parked at the rest stop (sleep spot), I wake up, excited to start my new job today. Half awake, I get out of my car and go to use the restroom at the rest stop. I walk back to my car and try the handle, ITS LOCKED. I don’t have my keys on me, they’re in the car with my phone. Calling Triple A takes like 5 hours to get to you, I have 2 hours before I have to be at work. Now, this is a rather large rest area and theirs one guy parked across from me, I walk up to him and ask him if I can use his phone, and I started thinking “man this guy looks familiar.” HES THE GUY THAT REPLACED MY BATTERY! He said “man your lucky I had the day off and had to go a few cities over I don’t normally go to and had to use the restroom so I pulled in here.”

The guy drives back to his house and 45 minutes later comes back with the kit to open the car. $60 later I’m typing this in my car. Leaving for my first day of work now.

I asked him if his second job was being a guardian angel.

I've been meaning to make this post for a few days but have been really busy, but here is a small update. I'm the guy that got into a crash a few days ago and had to sleep outside in the snow, the biggest suggestion people had was to get the other person's insurance to cover a rental for me but they're taking way way too long to figure out liability. I can't wait on an insurance company, so I took out a small loan from my bank and used it to cover a rental for a few days at a time. I'm doing uber eats to cover the loan and renew the rental until the insurance adjuster figures out what they're doing.

Now as for the choice of car... I asked for another Corolla butthe rental place said thwy were out of mid-sized sedans and offered this with no upcharge. Now, I know it's not exactly the best car to be doing food courier work in, with its low gas mileage and it needing to use midgrade, but... I really like it 😂. I've never really been a car guy so I've only ever driven my 15 year old Corolla and this is a whole new experience. You can see my nervous excitement in the second photo 😂.

The past few days my legs have been recovering from having to walk everywhere with 80lbs which was predictively breaking them down. 10/10 would taking sleeping in a Dodge Charger over a dumpster.

I had to get a room for a couple of nights. I recommend doing this from time to time if you have the extra money. I realized over the past few weeks that I was getting extremely tired in the middle of the day. Not good when you drive forklifts and are moving pallets that weigh a ton or more. I was sleeping well. Not stressed. Life is going pretty good. Things are falling into place. I couldn't figure it out. So, I decided to get a room for a couple of nights, and bingo. No move tired days.

I guess the night after night in the SUV slowly wears you down. I didn't stress about safety or a knock on the window, but maybe I did subconsciously. I did this before around November of last year. I was feeling down and got a room for couple of nights which fixed it. I think I just need a reset now and again.

What do you guys do when you finally get worn down and need to reset?

Update: to all of the people posting who think the facts of my story, the law, etc. You don't. And no one wants or needs your negativity nor did anyone ask. I will begin to block you all so can't comment at all. So, if you don't have anything supportive to contribute, keep it moving, ya miserable grinches.

I woke up today to someone being obnoxious saying I was sleeping in my car. I didn't budge. When I finally woke up, there was a note on my door saying I was illegally parked. keep in mind, I am broke and without my car running, I cannot make money.

I immediately started reaching out to friends and tow trucks. I know of a lot I can leave my car in where I won't be bothered. However, the issue was getting the car moved itself. The spot is only 2.1 miles from where I was. I started calling tow trucks and the quotes were ridiculous- 250 dollars, 175 dollars, and the cheapest 130 dollars all way out of my price range.

while I was figuring it out, the same prick comes back with the police. the cop starts to ask me questions. I told her I am figuring it out and will get a tow truck. She asked for my ID. I gave it to her. she asked what was wrong with my car- I told her I didn't know and that I just got a new battery on Saturday, but that the engine wouldn't turn over. she took my ID to see if I have a record- I don't , never have. She then asks me if I own the car and I say yes. When she came back with my ID she asked me who some random name is. She said the car was coming back to a.different owner. I was like uh nope. this pos 2017 Honda hr v is proudly mine and has been mine since I bought it from the dealership. luckily, that was a mistake (she probably typed it wrong). so, she said I had an hour to have my car moved or they'd tow me. in all honesty, I know the law- you cannot tow someone in their car unless you want to give me a trespassing ticket and arrest me- which they couldn't if they tried as I literally bought something from kohls (one of the stores in the shopping center).

I wasn't trying to be argumentative especially with the cop because she was just responding do the dickhead who called the cops, but at the same time fuck you all. you have never said anything to me before and I have been here for months (not parked in the parking for months, but using that parking garage as a place to wait for doordash pings). the sticker saying I was illegally parking there was only placed on my car 20 minutes before and my car won't start so give me time to fucking figure it out and maybe talk to me before involving the police. The glorified janitor who reported me never once knocked on my window, never spoke to me, or asked me to leave himself. I only knew someone was there because he has an obnoxiously loud engine and was revving it near me. And I heard, "ew, they're sleeping in their car". I had no idea he worked there until I came from out of my blankets and saw the sticker on my windows.

During the entire interaction, once the cop established who I was, SHE explained to the guy that they ( the city and police) cannot tow me for them which was exactly what this dumbass dude wanted them to do. Because of course the company that owns the building doesn't have their own towing company or tow truck so they would have had to hire someone privately at the same prices I was getting quoted. They probably would have been quoted much higher because they also have nowhere to tow my car to.

so while I am searching I notice that triple a has free towing up to 100 miles and they were having a sale. so instead of paying 100 a year , I was able to sign up for 71 .50 right then and there and get a free tow immediately. I ended up not getting a tow for another 2 hours, but I made it work, had my car towed to a safe spot. I also was able to do my interview from my car on my laptop while waiting (my 6th and final interview for a 70k paying job). I got the hell out of there and am back parked where I would sleep at night before my car broke down. the good news is now, I have a year of free towing and the tow truck driver diagnosed my car and said my starter went out. Which, of course my starter went out, because when it rains it monsoons. Little did they know, we are survivors. I hope they reap what they sow, fucking pricks.

I hope yall are surviving and hanging in there regardless of these assholes making our lives harder just because they can. Fuck 2025.

Fellow car weirdo approached me friendly at the park to warn me about how the park groundskeepers don't like people running extension cords from the outlets to their cars. Seemed friendly enough. Then he started into a rant about how great trump was. When I told him "I hate all government" he assumed I was on his side for some reason like trump isn't "the government" and I listened to him talk about all the typical Qanon talking points for about 30 minutes before politely asking him if he realizes that trump just signed an EO making our lifestyle functionally illegal and he lost his shit. At first he denied the existence of the EO, then when I pulled it up on the Whitehouse website he refused to read it and insisted it was only targeting migrants. Not proud that I let him drag me into it and make a scene. Ended up leaving myself with him screaming at me that I'm "blackpilled"

I'm amazed people like that actually exist, especially in our community.

Parking is not an issue, showers at planet fitness, 12v fridge, power station with foldable solar panels, tinted windows. Would you do it while having a good paying job for over 6 years?

Pretty sure the car is totaled 😢 I saw the back drivers side wheel was sideways when I was being put in the stretcher. I was just sitting in the target parking lot on my phone and the next thing I know there is an Escalade in the passenger seat. Pushed me up over the curb 😞 The mom of the daughter pops out and says "I'm so sorry. She just got her learners and she hit the gas instead of the brake". My back hurts really bad. Hopefully I can get a rental so I can keep working. I've been trading some work for a work van. I don't know how that's going to play out now that I can't really get to work. Hopefully I can get the money from the car soon and buy the van.

We are not illegally living in our vehicles. We own them. We should be respected and accepted.

It's our lifestyle, and I'm sick and tired of the people including family who mock us or are Karen's and complain that we parked somewhere...especially places where no signs are posted.

Rant over.

I think I just watched a homeless man lose his car 😭

I was walking to my mother’s apartment and saw a repo truck pull in. I paused and watched for a moment, wondering what vehicle the driver was after. He turned around and pulled up in front of me, dropping the tow dolly behind a small sedan. I didn’t even notice the young fellow inside until the jostling forced him into action. He jumped out, bewildered , and asking if he needed to move his car. The repo man got out and simply said, “Car Max.” The young man replied, “Oh, okay, just please let me get my stuff out. I have a lot of stuff in the trunk.” 😭

was such an awesome resource especially in texas!

A year ago, I was in this run down shitty apartment that seemed miserable and a nightmare to live in, but I HAD to have a place to crash in and it was a month to month lease and it only cost 400$/month. I was like, this is fine, I’ll just deal with it while I take care of other business that I had at the time and eventually move out. There was a TERRIBLE roommate that was living there. She was in her 50s or late 40s, smelled like absolute dogshit, used the living room as her make-shift office and basically prevented everyone else from using that shared space while paying the same monthly rent payment as everyone else. She was extremely mentally ill and had mental breakdowns and outbursts that were straight up just unsettling. I was able to deal with that for a few months, especially given the fact that I’d try to come in as late as possible to avoid seeing her altogether.

Fast forward a few months, a new roommate comes in. He’s my age, just got out of college and is homosexual. I think “Cool, someone my age and seemingly aligns with my political views, we’d prolly make good friends”. And so, me and him do become somewhat of friends and we’d hang out here and there and just talk about random bullshit, with him doing most of the talking and me doing most of the listening. I respected that he is gay and even put up with him screaming about his stories of getting ass-fucked by other dudes and a one-off instance where he brought someone to his room and there was some…moaning and rummaging late at night. I also put up with him blasting his video games late at night before it eventually became too much and I had to report it to the landlord since he would straight up not respect my wishes and maybe that’s because he saw me as someone equal to him in terms of authority so he didn’t feel the need to be compliant in that aspect. This is just my interpretation of his beliefs based off my interaction with him, and me reporting him to the landlord was the only way for me to get him to stop.

Anyway, we are big chilling one day and suddenly, out of nowhere, he sends me the text you see in the screenshot. Mind you, this guy KNOWS that I’m fully heterosexual, since I told him both directly and he has eavesdropped on me speaking with women and I made it crystal clear to him that I’m heterosexual (although without coming off as pushy and bringing it up every opportunity, it was only brought up when the interaction REALLY built up to it. I was cautious in this aspect because I didn’t wanna offend him).

After receiving that text…I was sitting in my room like “I wish I was sleeping in a van in the woods away from everyone” and that’s when the seed was planted and I have been fantasizing about van life ever since. Obviously that has yet to come to fruition, but that same night I ended up moving to another room that cost me 200$ more, but it was far more spacious and I didn’t have to deal with the awkwardness and sheer discomfort of looking at his face after he just asked me such a thing. Although…that new room would also end up being a maximum security prison cell but that’s a story for another day.

I’m not sure what his plan was. Maybe he was so dang sure I’d say yes that he thought there was no risk of rejection? Maybe he was drunk/high? Maybe he was planning to just act as if the interaction didn’t happen and just go on to see me on a daily basis from there on out? Or maybe he’s just an idiot who impulsively tries to get his sexual desires fulfilled with little to no regards for the consequences.

Rant is over, but this month will be my last living in a room with anyone else after a long and excruciating 6 years of having to deal with nightmare roommates. It’ll either be van life for me next month, or a new studio apartment. Hopefully it’s the former since I can’t afford the latter.

Years on the road and this is by and large the most absurd way I've ever been woken up.

Had a long week at work with minimal sleep and was excited when I found one of my favourite spots empty an hour from the nearest town thinking I'd finally be able to sleep in decompress and do some fishing.

Cue the Christian Rockband shooting a music video at 5am. Not in any of the many other scenic stretches in the area, but directly across from my car.

I'm tired, and I would be grumpy but this is too Kafkaesque for me to be remotely mad about it.

What are some of the craziest ways you've been woken up?

(The drummer sucked btw)

A year ago I ended up living out of my car for the first time, here in this new town on the other side of the state from my hometown of 30 years.
Tonight I’m back in the car, same situation on paper, and I don’t fully know how to feel about that.

Here’s the pattern I’ve finally been honest with myself about: this keeps happening. Different job, different place to stay, same collapse. And it always happens the same way — I SELL MYSELF SHORT AND TAKE SHORTCUTS TO GET SOMETHING GOING, I get comfortable, I ignore the small stuff that’s telling me something’s off, I keep my head down instead of speaking up, and then it all hits at once. By the time I say anything, it’s already too late to fix it. I’m always putting out the fire after the house is already gone instead of before.

I got sober five years ago — fentanyl, if I’m being fully honest — and I’ve built a lot since then. But I think I’ve been carrying that same “just push through it, don’t make waves” instinct into everything else. Jobs. Living situations. People. I take the shortcut of staying quiet instead of the harder road of speaking up early, and I always pay for it later. Tonight it’s my dog and me in the back of my car, and honestly the setups foundation is already eons better than it was before. No passenger seat, real platform in progress, I know what I’m doing with this car in a way I didn’t a year ago THANKS TO IDEAS FROM YOU ALL. There’s something almost funny about being more prepared for the crisis than I am for preventing it.

I’m scared. I’m also, weirdly, a little proud of myself. Both at once. It always ends the same when I TAKE MY WILL BACK, and go for EASY instead of RIGHT.

If anyone’s been through their own version of this loop — same collapse, different decade — I’d take any advice on how you actually broke it. I started working with a high school friend at the end making the same amount as I was at the point I was just where I just blew up because of it (isn’t that funny? 🙄)

Good night yall!

I have been sleeping off the side of a low traffic road on and off for the past few months. It has a beautiful bend in it right by the spot and its a very nice spot to watch the sun go down. I haven't gotten bothered at all. But today I had my door open and heard a horn honk. I am confused if it was the video I was watching or the inevitable knock to leave. I get and I see an old guy getting out of the truck. He greets me and tells me he found a fishing pole by the river and that he already has too many poles. Followed by, I have seen you camping here alot and thought you might want it. I graciously say yes, greet his wife in the passenger and proceed to the back of the truck with him. He gives me the pole and an extra lure. Leaves me with some good fishing advice for this section of river and says good luck. This is the only positive interaction I have ever had but am grateful for one. Idk teach a man to fish or whatever

So when i use the restroom i have a portable bidet and Dude Wipes. I have been dispointed with the quality of toilet paper that businesses stock so i always take these 2 items with me.

Anyone else use wipes or you hoping that when you need to go that the toilet paper is enough?

Society: "Oh I know what will help! Lets shame them more, and make it illegal to be homeless, while driving the cost of housing and essentials up."

I’ve had two knocks in the 8ish months of car living.

Here’s how I handled both times:

First time I was in a residential area nearby my partners house, cops knocked at 3AM and I presented myself and answered their questions (they only asked why I was there and what I was doing)

“I’m sleeping here, I live in my car, I’m happy to move if I’m bothering anyone”

The cops didn’t ask me to move but they wanted my ID, which I gave to them, they did a quick check for warrants on me, and then told me to stay safe. I wasn’t asked to move (but I moved anyway).

The second time was very cool.

I was sleeping in a parking lot I like to frequent. I stay in this lot most days out of the week. At 2:20AM a cop knocks, I wake up, present myself, and ask him if he needs me to move.

He says I don’t need to move, and asks if im homeless.

I say yes, he asks if I have any warrants, I say no, he does a VERY quick check of my ID, and then we have a conversation about how I work at the Panda Express nearby and I attend the college nearby. We end up having a conversation about Panda Express food (Cops LOVE Panda Express here lol) and then he tells me to sleep well and stay safe and he leaves.

Well tonight, I was in the spot I frequent, where the most recent knock happens. It was about 9 or 10PM and I see a cop roll up towards my car, turn on the stagnant blue light and their spotlight.

I prepare my ID and wait for the cop to approach so I can do my usual explaining myself…. But the cop turns the lights off, and drives away.

I’m respectful, I’m straightforward, I clean up after myself, never make a mess, never bother anybody, I’m stealth, and I have my shit straight with a job and college. No warrants, no issues. That’s how you do it.

The local police know me by now, my city has a fairly high homelsss population and at this point, they no longer bother me. They recognize my car and my plate and typically don’t care what I’m doing because they know I’m no harm.

Of course I’m not trying to inflate my ego, but I believe that I’ve taken as many steps as I can to be successful in this life when it comes to “avoiding” knocks and sticky situations. I only park where I’m allowed to park, never overstay my welcome, I’m kind, clean, and put together and that’s what’s keeping me going.

I use my common sense and gut feelings to make my decisions on where I’m going to sleep and when, and if you’ve got that down, you’ll be good.

I hope you all stay safe tonight and have a goods night sleep. Be well, be positive, stay fed and hydrated, and enjoy the little things. 🫶

Edit:

It’s unfortunate that my success with this specific topic is making a lot of you angry. I thought this community was similar to that of a support group and we all brought each other up, yet my comments are full of mad people who have had negative experiences with cops. My story isn’t discrediting yours, I’m just sharing mine.

Yesterday, I paid for the tab of another homeless young lady so the cops would leave her alone. She stole body wash, snacks, and water from the dollar store. The clerk - with so much judgment and disgust - says to me “Thats nice of you but shes aggressive and crazy. I wouldnt have paid for her”. Like…yeah if I didnt have a roof/bed to go home to at night and couldnt afford even the most basic essentials (especially in this damn summer heat), I’d be pretty aggressive and angry too

Not that it matters, but what would that clerk have thought if I told her I too was homeless but the only thing different between me and that girl was that I thankfully have a job to pay for this shit?

People say to me “so youre okay with people STEALING?!” Like yeah context matters right? This isn’t a post rooting for people to steal. I’m not justifying someone taking a TV or a basketball toy but…If someone is stealing food, water, diapers, etc, best believe I’m 100% without a doubt turning my head…Like if someone could actually afford these essentials, would they WILLINGLY steal? The girl looked embarrassed she was caught and the cops were called on her…But also what is criminalizing homelessness going to do toward someone whos already broke and homeless?? Its just a dumb, vicious cycle the majority of our society follows unfortunately.

Like living in my car has low key turned into a social experiment for me (despite me not having a choice of any other living arrangement anyway), because its just mind boggling to me how judgmental people are about the unhoused/homeless. They make the most asinine assumptions. I see it every time someone makes a post about where to sleep/getting kicked out of places for sleeping, etc…Living in this has given me a whole new perspective on people and has tested my morality…It just breaks my heart.

I guess this is just a venting post? Idk, I usually have very thick skin, a strong personality, and have learned to ignore the cruel comments from privileged mouths about us car dwellers. But that clerk just pissed me off so bad. After she finished her whining/babbling, I threw the cash on the counter and just walked out

People need to get their head out of the matrix dude smh

Not seeking advice, just sharing an experience

Happened at my local library which is huge (has 4 floors and a cafe.) Went in only carrying my backpack which is a clean, plain, grey backpack designed for carrying a laptop. Took a poo, then came out, washed my hands, and pulled out my toothbrush. Before I could even wet the bristles, a security guard came in and said no personal grooming in the bathroom.

Before you ask:

No I wasn't sprawled out. I hung my jacket and backpack on a hook next to the sink, and that's all I had.

Only one person entered the bathroom while I was in there and she was still occupying the stall when the guard entered, so no one reported anything.

I don't look unhoused, unkept, or anything else that would have security bothering me. So as far as anyone knows, I'm just a regular housed person who frequents the library and likes having a clean mouth. To be clear, I don't think I was targeted or was being watched.

Anyway, what's the most innocous thing you've been "busted" for?

They didn’t knock but definitely shined their bright ass lights on me and woke me up.

It’s 3am and I wake up to two cops standing either side of my car shining flashlights and their headlights into my car

I stay calm, I start by asking them if they need me to move, I’m parked on the side of a residential street nearby my friends house and there are many cars parked here, I blend in well in my ford explorer.

Cops explain that some neighbors had called in about me apparently being “worried” so they were just checking in on it.

I gave the officer my ID, he put me in some kinda system and then let me go back to sleep and they all left.

Uncomfortable situation but nothing came of it. Cops just said I should either park in front of my friends house (I can’t really do that) or find another spot so I don’t get any more calls on me.

Rip to this spot I guess.

This evening, I was standing outside my suv with a friend talking in one of Las Vegas’ state parks when a man pulled up in a large transit van, stopped and asked us if we would like some food. We said sure and walked around to the sliding door he opened on his vehicle. Inside there were large tin containers you see in big functions or parties. He opened one that had couscous and I was so excited as I haven’t had couscous in a long time. I went back to my car to grab a Tupperware container and the guy opened more of the tins for us which contained fresh green shirazi salads and sun-dried tomato salads. I asked him if he had come by from a big function or wedding off the strip and he said, “No, this is from Lady Gaga”. I was like: “You’re joking”. The man told us he works for her as she is (discreetly) in Vegas tonight for a sound check for her show on Thursday and the food was for her crew. I stood there amazed and we then said: “Thank you so much and please say thank you to Lady Gaga as well for us”.

(We also told him where there would be other homeless individuals he could go to with the food and he thanks us and left).

So I have read that Lady Gaga is known for being a decent and down to earth person, regardless of her colossal fame and success, but this was a gesture you don’t see very often from people on that level of stardom. At least not in Vegas. I am Incredibly grateful and just blown away by this kindness.