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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To live in my car/camp full time??

86 replies

NevilleLuna · 19/08/2018 14:50

28 and live in a shit area surrounded by drug users, alcoholics and the unemployed. I’m by no means judging but I just don’t fit in here at all and I begrudge spending a fortune in rent for somewhere I hate.

I’m actually debating living in my car/camping full time.

Slept in my car many times before and while it is small- it would be comfortable with bedding. I’d find safe areas to park up that wouldn’t cause nuisance for anyone else.

I’d cook my meals at work, charge phones/tablets at work. Shower when I go to the gym and do my laundry when I visit my parents every weekend.

I’d do it for a year or two which means I can save enough money for a house deposit

AIBU?

OP posts:
Knitjob · 19/08/2018 17:59

I would live in a tent on a campsite but not in my car. Where would you sit of an evening? Just in your seat?

PurpleCrazyHorse · 19/08/2018 18:02

A friend lives in a caravan on an all year round campsite. It was very cold in the winter though, even in a caravan with some heating and a very fluffy dog. She has an awning up now for a bit more space too.

The poster above was right about what you do on evenings and weekends when you can't go to your parents. I would look to swap the car for a camper van and find a site to stay on (toilets, electric, hot water etc and a bit more space to sit in of an evening).

PurpleCrazyHorse · 19/08/2018 18:05

I believe she goes on holiday (with the caravan) one month so she's only there 11 months of the year.

SunnyCoco · 19/08/2018 18:05

Where I currently live there are vacancies for property guardians , they live in buildings marked for demolition, at a greatly reduced rent as the deal is that they are not always residential properties (eg might be an old school or similar) and can get evicted with minimal notice
Some people I know have been very happy with the properties they’ve been guardians at

pandarific · 19/08/2018 18:11

I applaud you for trying to think your way around the problem, and in this YANBU. However, it's really not safe enough for you to sleep in your car for all the reasons people have stated here (very cold in winter, insecure, no booze ever, nowhere for you to be able to relax in the evenings). There are better options people have suggested here though - a caravan on a camping site (you need to move out for 2 months a year I believe for it to be legal but that's easily done), property guardianship where you take care of empty properties, or living on a houseboat. Would any of those work for you where you are?

pandarific · 19/08/2018 18:12

A properly kitted out campervan would be much better and safer than a normal car too.

Italiangreyhound · 19/08/2018 18:14

Good luck whatever you do.

hibbledibble · 19/08/2018 18:18

Are you going to be staying in campsites? At least that would provide a degree of safety and toilet facilities overnight.

I don't see how it could work long term though, especially in the winter, when sites will be closed.

Can you move in with your parents?

RebeccaBunchLawyer · 22/08/2018 22:31

Hi OP,

I did just this for a couple of weeks before the big heatwave. It wasn’t too bad tbh, but possibly because it was a bit of a novelty and for a short time only. I did save a bit of money, and had a spa break at the end of it, -spending most of the saving in the process-

A few things I’d advise:

  1. Get good blackout blinds
  2. Make yourself as comfy as possible with a lilo, mattress topper, good pillows etc
  3. Have personal alarms and other items to protect yourself if need be
  4. Park somewhere visible (won’t be as quiet as a country lane but you will be/feel safer)
  5. Park in roads you feel comfortable in, but move your car every night- do not park outside the same house every night, for example
  6. Let people know where you are and check in every night, but only close people you trust
  7. Consider renting someone’s driveway- I did this and felt the safest I could, tbh
  8. Work hard and keep to a routine, then you will fall asleep easily each night. I believe the routine is vital
  9. Watch car living vlogs on YouTube- I found Katie Carney’s to be helpful
10. Keep on top of your nutritional health- plenty of fruit and veg and vitamin supplements

Good luck, and hope your vehicle is not a mini. If you’ve decided not to do this (haven’t read through thread properly yet!), good luck with saving - it’s worth it in the end!

Buttercup198 · 28/11/2024 02:04

EmpressOfSpartacus · 19/08/2018 15:13

If you're sleeping in your car what would you do for a toilet? And you'd still need an address - would that be your parents' house?

Rent addresses isn't difficult car living is very common now van would give more space but car is doable,

BMW6 · 28/11/2024 02:42

Buttercup198 · 28/11/2024 02:04

Rent addresses isn't difficult car living is very common now van would give more space but car is doable,

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