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AIBU?

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Original poster

....to consider living in my car for a bit?

133 replies

RebeccaBunchLawyer · 05/05/2018 10:06

Hello,

I’m in not the best situation, living-wise, and to cut a long story short, am considering living in my car for a few weeks, hopefully I will sort something out after a bit.

I will be opening out the seats and sleeping (or trying to!), in residential areas. I will be travelling light, only bedding, toiletries, paperwork put in storage etc. Blackout blinds on windows, showers and phone recharge at work.

The things that worry me most are obviously safety: someone trying to hurt me or steal the car/from the car whilst I’m in it, someone bumping/banging into car whilst I’m in it etc. Also, privacy, people possibly knowing I’m there etc etc.

Re ventilation, I will have all windows open the tiniest crack.

Basically I need to know whether or not this is feasible. I don’t really have any other options, so I just want to know if there’s anything else I need to consider.

Please, if there’s anything I really need to know/consider, let me know. If it’s illegal in any way, if there are any other potential dangers etc.

Thanks.

OP posts:
StayingAtTamaras · 05/05/2018 10:53

whereabouts are you? I'm in North West and have a spare room with a bed etc you're more than welcome to stay in or I have friends in Bristol who i'm sure would be happy to help

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 05/05/2018 10:54

Yes look for a live in position OP, what area are you in ?

LadyLauraOver · 05/05/2018 10:59

Which region are you in? I thought the motorway services idea was a good one although you'd probably only get away with it one night at a time.
Lorry drivers sleep in their cabs as do travellers in their vans. I don't think you are breaking laws but it will depend where you park up.
Personally I'd feel safer inside a locked car than a tent.

lizzie1970a · 05/05/2018 11:06

Motorway services a good idea. What about a shewee for inside the car? I'd feel safer in a car than a tent too.

Furano · 05/05/2018 11:07

You would honestly be much safer in an official campsite in a tent than in your car on a residential street.

OhTheRoses · 05/05/2018 11:08

Surely it depends on the car. Estate with rear seats that fold down could be quite comfy. Our leisure centre offers a swim and shower for £4.50. Guess you cd do that every other day. Better than being homeless. Think you'd have to stake out potential parkups and invest in a she wee. What will you do about mail, etc?

EnglishRose13 · 05/05/2018 11:09

There's a blog (and then a book) that was written by a woman who was living in her car. It's certainly doable.

Good luck.

Furano · 05/05/2018 11:09

Motorway services is a terrible idea unless you’re going to pay the massive parking charge (which is in place to discourage this exact thing)

CiderwithBuda · 05/05/2018 11:10

Have you thought about house sitting? I think there are websites you can register with. A friend has been doing this in Australia and is staying with friends and family between bookings. SHe has had some bookings of four or five weeks. It’s enabling her to pay off some debt as she is not paying rent.

Counterpane · 05/05/2018 11:13

24-hour supermarket car parks are an option too, especially those near a motorway. Nobody takes much notice of someone having a nap break during a long drive.

Tartyflette · 05/05/2018 11:14

First of all invest in a She-Wee (+ plastic bottle) to cope with middle of the night pees.
Also I don't know where you are but how about Heathrow airport? You would hare to leave your car elsewhere and travel there by public transport or else you will pay ££/£££ for parking. And also if you do it for more than the odd night they will clock you and move you on. But some travellers do arrive at night for v.early morning flights and bed down on the seats for a few hours. Or those whose late flights on budget airlines have been delayed until the morning.
I knew an older lady who regularly slept at Gatwick airport. (she was moved on from time to time but they didn't really know what to do with her - as she was in her 70s, looked very respectable and talked vair posh. But MH issues.)
Airports have plenty of loos/washrooms, even shower rooms are available.

RedB0at0nshore · 05/05/2018 11:18

Some supermarkets and motorway service stations only allow a few hours free parking, then it's pay per hour

category12 · 05/05/2018 11:21

If you're a carer and think you're going to charge your phone/get a shower in people's homes - you're going to get fired. (Even if it's with permission from your clients). If you're talking about staff showers in your workplace, that's doable. But how are you going to keep your clothes looking smart?

Surely a houseshare or finding a campsite with showers/laundry facilities would be better?

LexieLulu · 05/05/2018 11:21

There's a lot of YouTube videos about people sleeping it cars and how to do it.

They have gym memberships and use their showers etc x

Agustarella · 05/05/2018 11:24

Given the crapness of renting, I've always wondered why more people don't do this. Especially if they are child free and not eligible for housing benefit, and are thus paying everything out of their own pocket. Do you have a fake address (i.e. a relative's house) to receive mail etc? This seems like the only major practical difficulty and I don't know why people are fixating on toilet issues, which (assuming no bladder/bowel problems) are the simplest challenge to solve.

notapizzaeater · 05/05/2018 11:27

Air bnb might be a cheaper safer option ?

LifeofClimb · 05/05/2018 11:27

Some tips if you really do decide to do it:

Ear plugs - when it rains you will no sleep otherwise
Do not park under trees - see above, if it rains, the irregular drips will drive you crazy
Public car parks - if you use any car parks read the signs and make sure they allow overnight stays. A lot don’t!
Pad out your “mattress” as much as possible. Trust me on this.
Do not be tempted to have a(n alcoholic) drink - even with the engine off and keys out if you’re in the vehicle and have keys it’s classed as drink driving. You have to put your keys behind the bar of a pub or leave them with someone else so they’re inaccessible.
If you’re in scotland, the laws around sleeping in vehicles are more relaxed, they won’t move you on.
Wet wipes will be your friend.
You can get good portable chargers like anker for your phone.
Always have your clothes handy and a pair of flipflops, in case you need a quick exit.

eggcellent · 05/05/2018 11:31

Where would you wash your clothes? Also I think you'll get fired pretty quickly if you keep showering at your clients' houses.

user1473256244 · 05/05/2018 11:32

Can you camp at a cheap campsite? I did this for a couple of weeks last year when my partner threw me out (stupidly went back, but I’m moving today!)
I even carried on running my business logging into the campsite WiFi! It was not ideal, but some summer mornings were lovely!

BossWitch · 05/05/2018 11:38

I would second campsite. I've never felt unsafe in a tent on a proper campsite! Plus you'll have access to showers, toilet, washing machine, driers, possibly kitchen facilities depending on the site, and if not you can get a super cheap camping stove to cook on. Please look into it OP, second hand tents cost very little and you'd be much better off being somewhere you were allowed to be rather than worrying about "getting caught" each night by residents / someone dodgy.

PrimalLass · 05/05/2018 11:38

Camping is a great idea.

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 05/05/2018 11:46

If you'd feel insecure in a tent, you could just pitch it so it looks "normal" then still sleep in the car. That way you'd have the security of locked doors, plus the convenience of washing/laundry facilities.

MNHQ
YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet · 05/05/2018 11:46

Hello everyone

We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.

So we always ask everyone to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon.

SofieMonde · 05/05/2018 11:50

What about house-sitting there are various websites

expatinscotland · 05/05/2018 11:51

I've done this for a couple of weeks but it was in the US and we had showers at work. People suggest campsites and hostels but if you have no money, you have no cash for site fees or tents, either. And personally, I'd rather sleep in my car than on a sofa in a total stranger's home. It's definitely more doable if you have a strong bladder and shower facilities at work.

For clothes, well, you drive to a launderette once a week.