I loved when you said all of this is luxury. I yelled amen when you said that. Then for all the reasons you said. Yes! You are very grounded. Sending you lots of light.
You are a brave, smart, intelligent, man. I need to follow your example and get off this stressful grid of never ending bills and a cost of living that keeps going up while wages stagnate
Thanks Christopher. I'm just trying to learn and grow and I have a ton of work to do. Cheers to us both growing and making things just a little better each day.
I'm considering beginning this journey in the next few months. I plan to pay down debt, start freelancing, and just free myself from a stressful lifestyle. I appreciate your mindset about challenge and discomfort. I love having a traditional living space, but in order to drastically change my life, I think discomfort is necessary right now. Great video!
Learning so much from your channel. I do UberEats and just jumped in my car to move from MD to NC. Decided not to live with family and paying for a hotel room makes no sense since all i do is sleep in it. Since I'm in my car all day anyway I can just pull over, catch a couple of zzzz's and off to work. Will be using thr planet fitness for the shower through.
To me, the biggest benefit of living in your car is freedom. Free to roam like an eagle. No matter the time of day, you can go where ever you desire. Freedom from not having to slave away at yard work on some property the government can take back if you fail to pay taxes. Freedom from worry over a roof leak or someone suing you because you failed to shovel the sidewalk after a snow storm. I have looked into a Prius, live in an urban area with a full time job and spend my evenings delivering for UberEats (I LOVE to drive). Some car dwellers seek a larger living area but I prefer excellent MPG so I can spend hours per day just driving. The climate control of hybrid cars is a must, too. I do like the idea of practicing poverty. It provides a different perspective on life and I heard, don't have any research to back up my claim, that thinking about our living situation in different ways helps keep our brains active. Safe travels.
Agreed. And also, everything in moderation. I've enjoyed this experience and unexpected things have come out of it but I think everyone needs to balance a healthy dose of certainty and uncertainty in life. It sounds like you and I might be in the mode of craving uncertainty at the moment. Let's enjoy and be safe. ALSO, if you're like me and you love driving, PLEASE check out my other video on blood clots because I think driving a lot and sleeping in the car could be related to the blood clots. Blood clots are life-threatening and I had one almost one year ago. Be well!
First and foremost I liked your positive attitude.....second as long as you are happy and safe, who cares...let me share with you something: I know some people have 7 figure in their account, big houses, many cars....but they don’t have the blessing to go to bed and sleep ( they take pills to sleep everyday) so we are really blessed to be healthy and happy....Don’t worry about people as the French philosopher Sartre said: Hell is other people.......So do whatever you wanna do to be content and zen......Good luck bud
Hey Alonzo. Thank you so much! Yea, I agree with you. We can't take that stuff for granted and happiness comes from many things we often overlook. Thank you again!
Thank you! I agree that it is helpful to cast aside the negative noise. Working towards goals (and to a larger extent, IDENTIFYING my goals) is the challenge I need to grow in to. How about you?
I’ve done this before . It really teaches u how to be a minimalist and survive with necessities. No rent , no address , no bills , just freedom. Teaches u a lot more than most spoiled people today !!
I really appreciate the videos. Makes me feel somewhat not alone I'm about 2 months into this. I'm in Wisconsin so the weather is not ideal... but it's not so bad. I have a nice comforter that keeps everything but my head warm. I'm partly doing this by choice to be alone and get out of debt. I also have a hard time to swallow my pride to ask a family member/friend to stay there. Other than getting a 200 dollar ticket it's been good. I love the part about making yourself feel uncomfortable and it making you stronger. Everyone fought me on this decision but I told them it took a lot of strength and clarity to embark on this. Tyvm for the videos. Stay safe.
I'm honestly thinking of living in my car cause I want total freedom and rent where I live is ridiculous. A studio cost $700-800 a month. Either I move to another state or live in my car. Thank you for uploading this video!
It's amazing how many people are doing this now a days, I remember the tiny house movement that started around 5 years ago but now it's just many of us just living in our cars. In my case is a convertion van after divorce and losing everything, living on SSI, but it is a great sense of freedom from the messed up system and negativity in this cruel world. I'm happy and proud that there's also people like you, young people, that are doing this and struggling, who are doing it save up thinking about your future. God bless you
awesome video. Huge fan! New subscriber. I live in Miami in my Toyota Prius - I chose the Prius because of Climate control. Especially in very hot, humid climates, you need to be able to sleep comfortably at night and the Prius provides that.
Hey! Another Prius owner! I'm planning on moving into my Prius as well! (Gotta pay it off first). I love it so much. And yes, climate control is huge in the Prius because it's one of the few cars you can leave on overnight and it uses next to no gas since it runs mostly off of the battery. They are also surprisingly big (117 cu. ft to be exact). New subscriber, by the way! I love your energy, keep doing what you love, and maybe I'll see you on the road someday! :)
My next car will be a Prius for the climate control for sure. I live in Louisiana (read brutal humid summers where it is hotter at night than the day) and plan to do extended camping in this region. Props to all car campers who make it work.
don't forget to compare first to Hyundai ioniq it's the new "move over Prius" car also able to be left on at night but better gas mileage and more interior space with a better warranty. 💡
VERY well said! I'm a nurse and I live out of my 2018 Jeep Cherokee for all the same reasons! Thank you for sharing and providing such profound wisdom!
@@mindful_wander Its going great. Its been 8 months and so far its much easier than I thought it would be ( a bit too easy lol) I too am in Southern California and the temps here make it far easier than many other locations as you know. Its hard for me to imagine going back, I love the freedom too much.
Go to Home Depot and get some reflective you can cut them slightly larger than your windows and then just push them in at the end of the day and pop them off in the morning when you're ready to go
Julie W that's a really good idea. I've heard of those before but I didn't know they could pop off when you don't need them; I thought they were more permanent than that. Thank you!!
If you don't want to (can't afford to) buy rolls of ReflectX, get Dollar-type Store car window sun blockers and cut them up. 😊 It's essentially the same material and they are decorative!
Your the 1st person doing what I'm doing that I can resonate with. I " ran away from home " is what I say lol I still have access to my BFs and my old apt. But that's mostly because of the Covid that came about after you made this video! I'll have to look and see if your still doing this. I'm in Seattle. You would love it up here. I'd be afraid to be in California if you still are- Seattle is perfect for living in your car
love your honesty and you being so up beat! you were my therapy today you made me smile survive another day love love your attitude look forward to watching more of your videos thank you for uploading your video and sharing stay safe! 💗💖
I'm planning to do this starting next month. However, I have a 2013 Civic Coupe and the fit is kinda tight, so I was thinking of upgrading or something. Just curious...how tall are you?
I have a Holden Commodore - in Australia. I think it is the Chevrolet SS in USA. It's bigger, but a nuisance with the back seat. Only a small part of the centre back folds down. I'm setting it it up to be able to live in if I have to. The way things are in the world today makes me think living in the car is a option to plan for. In many countries, buying a home is out of the question, and renting here in Australia, you can be in a queue of a hundred or much more.
Yes, it can be tough. It's a valuable trait to be able to live in very modest means, I think. We just need to be careful about things such as blood clots. I made a video about that as well. I got one while living in my car. Stay safe out there!
Lia the Vegan thanks Lia! I like the idea of knowing how to be well put-togerher but at the same time understanding that there are other things more important than that. It's a good balance, I think.
You need a Tacoma with a camper slide in, solar on top. Best way to go if your going to live in a vehicle. At least getva kindle reader load it up with 50+ books, setup a hammock, read, grab your flyrod hit the streams, get shadowrun crossfire cardgame, kickback way of life, lol.
Regardless of what circumstances cause one to live in his/her vehicle (forced homeless state, financial stress, minimalistic principle, nomad lifestyle), no one should be judged or feel some kind of way about vehicle living.
The simplicity and honesty with which you presented this was refreshing. Thanks for sharing! You mentioned Tim Ferriss and dealing with the fear of taking risks like starting a business - are you planning on starting a business sometime in the future? Now that you're out of the real estate biz, how are you supporting yourself on the road aside from RU-vid? Looking forward to seeing where this takes you and using your tips and positive outlook in my own journey!
Oh wow, thanks Robert. Curious as to what your journey looks like. I intend to go much deeper into RU-vid and right now I've been supporting myself by working for a friend's startup business.
@@mindful_wander Right on, myself I've recently enrolled in a unique Austin-based MBA program, and am gearing up to drive down and live out of my Jetta for the second semester starting in August. From there, who knows! Here's to continued success, cheers.
Everyone needs to go camping with the intent on learning to live with basic survival. Camping is a good exercise in simplicity and earth survival. There are many levels of survival. It is good to learn and exercise basic survival skills. The world man has created with fast food and convenience is artificial and not real. Gardens fruit trees are real. I go to the coast and use my dive gear to get my dinner. Every family should go camping and practice basic survival.
Yea, camping has so many positive lessons that can be learned from it. Have you heard of this ancient ritual in Mexico known as temazcal? It involves ideas similar to what you are saying and I just experienced while in Mexico. I am making a video about it now.
How many weeks in the comfy car? Try it in a small pick up who's seats don t recline for two years while holding down a full time job doing construction.
Hey George. That sounds rough! After my blood clot, I wouldn't even consider that as an option for myself. That's just me though. Sounds like you're speaking from first-hand experience.
if you had tinted windows would help so much and be much safer----the cowboys and indians used to ride their horses and only have a sleeeping bag or a teepee,now that was truely the free life and lots of peace,,,,so living in a car with a roof over your head ant so bad ,,,,GOD BLESS YOU ,,please be careful out there
Oh, no doubt about that! Though, living in a car for me, as I mentioned in my videos, is not about necessity or poverty. I am privileged to be able to say that, I know, but this has still been a worthwhile experience for me, in my humble opinion.
Did it two weeks on a 2008 civic, traveled from Chicago to Key West Florida. Still enamored with this lifestyle... but I think it would be better to do it on a Prius. Looking for work to get a Prius. it's really not as bad as most people think. the freedom and the adventure far outweighs the drudgery of an ordinary life.
Good for you! I’m a pretty successful corporate person, a woman, who sold everything and lived in a van/rv then in a Prius V for a while- 7 months. My adult son was very supportive of me. I guess I raised him right. I have the ability to rent an apartment tomorrow and get a job. Rock on!
I have the same car you have. You didn't remove the latch that holds the back seat closed when I slept in my car I kept on hitting my face on it and that wakes you up lol. second all these videos nobody ever talked about how the windows get fogged up. Good indication that someone's in the car. if I lived in my car I'd be thinking about bringing it to a mechanic and have them make the whole to the trunk bigger it's way too small. If you don't mind me asking how do you get the money to live in a road and who's address do you use for car insurance. Nice videos good luck dude.
Hey Brian. I totally know what you're talking about, haha. I don't think I've been hit in the face with it fortunately. Yea, you're right about the fogginess. Sometimes I would leave the windows ever-so-slightly cracked open but depending on how much you do that, it is also an indication that someone is in there. Throughout the time I was living in my car I was both in between jobs and had a full-time one. I would stay local and drive out to places on the weekend or sometimes during the week too. Mail would either be sent to my parents' address or my work address.
I saw a video the stuff that they have inside the little bags that they put in the shoes so they don't go bad I forgot what it's called but you can buy a containers on eBay of it. You put it in a sock and it absorbs the moisture so the windows don't get fog up. then you can put it in an oven to heat it out to take the moisture out of it and use it over again. Or you could probably leave it out in the sun they have some that change colors from moist to dry so you know.
I've lived in a 3rd world country as well. Most Americans do not realize the wealth we have. Thanks. A good video giving some sanity to our over-consumption. I'm 72. Have camped in my Prius.
Going 2 Thrive I now have a Prius Prime. Very cramped compared to my previous 2013 Prius because of 4" hump due to bigger battery. I am trying to ready a space to sleep in the cabin of my 2012 Ridgeline. I think I figured out how to free up flat space for my 5'11" frame to sleep on. Working on a template. I can sleep in the truck bed in good weather but only with tailgate down.
Hey Richard. Thanks for asking! I've made a couple of videos about my living situation since this one. Currently I'm living in an AirBNB that started with a one month stay and turned into a year. I also moved to a different car and will be taking out the back seats in order to be able to lie down in it. There may be some car living in the near future. Have you been living in a vehicle?
You can buy a roll of Reflectix (foiled/air bubble) insulation at home depot for $25 and cut custom window covers for all your windows, including your windshield. Use paper as a template and make cut them slightly oversized so you can snug them into your window frames. You will keep the car warmer and if you put black fabric on one side it will look like your windows are tinted. The remaining Reflectix you can line your trunk with it.
I do have a camp stove but I didn't use it much. It caused more work and cleanup and I just don't care enough about food (so long as it functions for health and energy) to worry too often about heating.
Great video thanks for showing us, I feel weighed down by all things I have and have to upkeep it's hard work at times and I don't need much to survive so I need to downsize. Stay safe and safe travels. 🇬🇧👍🍻
If you check on RU-vid, there are so many ways to remove the backseat and create a completely flat sleeping platform using simple materials from HD. Your blood clot in lower leg could be due to sleeping on an uneven sleeping surface for a prolonged period of time
Where do you sleep when your car needs repairs? Also, if the car suddenly broke down what is your plan at that very moment? It's a lot to remove after being towed. My guess is you'd get dropped off at a hotel first? How would you do this? I mean, you could be anywhere and this happens.
Just out of curiosity, do you have to turn off the engine during cold weather? I have not experienced it but you never know what life has in store for a person, never say never.
Don’t regret buying your car. I know the debt is not fun I been there. I hated owing money to the bank when I got my RAV4. However now I have a peace of mind knowing that after I paid off the debt I have a reliable car that potentially will be around for when I’m teaching my kid how to drive. Just pay off the car and keep the car you already have for as long as you can. Make all that money you spent on that car worth it.
Hi Mike! No, I have made some videos about the living situations that I've gotten into since the car and I still have more to make before I catch up to current-day. Are you living in your car now?
I wish i had been where you are at ur age. Im 68 and i realize from watching videos like yours i could have led the more uncomplicated way. You seem to have your head together. Im still checking into going places in my car its a honda civic and it would be a real challenge with the health issues i have.
I love that you chose this lifestyle so you can pursue your sport. Roughing it and loving it like you say prepares you for most anything that may come along. I'm an old lady. I love camping trips in my car to go fishing, insect and spider hunting and photographing and logging them into a personal field guide. When I retire soon I plan on doing that full time and selling an leaving all the material things behind. Good for you! Go grab life and love it!
.......so lovin' the way you think.....if my granddaughter ever goes this way, hopefully she'll meet a man of your caliber....then, to finish with the piece de resistance'.....you guyz will have a life-altering encounter with Jesus Christ....✨
With your car not only would I have the access hole between the back seat and the trunk widened by a mechanic or do it yourself. But you can get a tow bar that holds a container that is off the ground that will give you a lot of extra storage space. Do it yourself about $100,to$200
You're single ( I assume ) and you don't have kids ( I think ) I don't get why anyone in your position wouldn't live in their car. I pay 1200 a month for rent and I know to some living in more expensive areas would be like "Lucky" but I have a fiancee and a daughter. For anyone in his position, if you are looking into saving crazy amount of money. Live in your car for about 2-3 years.
Yea, we just get so accustomed (at least many in California) to paying huge portions of our take-home pay to rent/mortgage. I started to see that this could be a trap.
I like your philosophy of life energy! Nice to be in Huntington Beach. I grew up there but can only afford to live in Garden Grove now and pay a lot to live here. Good for you for living the life you feel comfortable living. 🙌👍
Thank you Ellen! Just trying to live life to the fullest. Fortunately I don't need much in the way of material possessions. Garden Grove is a great area too. Amazing Vietnamese food :)
Some people are very negative about car life. I will be doing it and recording it to post here very soon, but my almost-ex husband insults me for it, tells me I'm crazy, stupid, I'm gonna fail with it, I'll get arrested, etc. So I come here and talk to other car dwellers to stay positive.
Unexpected Freedom It's true that some people are very negative about it but ultimately hearing those comments helps to weed out those that just might be toxic for us. The people that may be best for our souls might be the ones that simply offer to be there for us if we are in need, even if they don't fully understand our decision. Afterall, we're not hurting anyone and our intentions are good 😊
I use limo tint in the back windows and cover all my windows with black sunshades. So unless someone really really looks. The windows just to be very tinted very dark. There is a tint shop around salt lake. Just look up pre cut tint salt lake City. And you can do the tint yourself. Save you a few hundred dollars.
Katie (another car dwelling youtuber) brought up a very good point about tinting your windows: It makes total sense as far as privacy goes but if your travelling state to state you have to then concern yourself with the individual laws pertaining to window tinting of each place that you go. Forget blacking out your windows for sure. To be on the safe side youd have to be as conservative as possible with the tint level so at the end of the day it wont do you much good.
Just an idea for window coverings go to Dollar Store they have the silver looking covering buy 2-3 of them cut them to match the size of your windows they also carry Velcro and scissors and tape to cover the edges once cut. Would look pretty sharp !!
Omg...I LOVE that: purposely being uncomfortable, purposely living at a poverty level. I do that everyday right now. I "live" in a studio apt, but I actually LIVE like I'm homeless (somewhat, that is). No heat, A/C, running water, plumbing, refrigeration, stove, microwave, cable, bed, washer/dryer. Its a start to prepping myself for when there is no "modern" conveniences. I believe that homeless people are the STRONGEST people, because they sleep on concrete (actually heard that from a homeless woman) and know how to survive. Someday we will ALL probably have to deal with that. Better to get ready NOW. This guy here living in his Honda Civic is so SMART and way ahead of the game.
I have did this In a pt. cruiser for almost three years, not by choice but that's the way It Is, I'm 69 years old retired on very little money but have been all over the U.S. just checking t out
Sorry pushed the wrong button, but eat, sleep In this thing and enjoy It, only thing that worries me Is not sleeping flat, my feet are swelled but I do walk around quite a bit In the day and try and stay healthy, just hope I don't get a clot sleeping like this, I take a small aspirin to keep my blood thin and hope that's enough, beleave It or not I sleep and dream better then In a regular bed.... Go figure, I go to blm and other free sights aswell as rest stops on the hyway and haven't had any problums, like I say not by choice.
Hey Eugene. That's really great of you to share that. I hope that you are doing well and I'm glad you are aware of the dangers of clots. It's no joke. Is there a way for you to have access to a medical help? Even if you don't have a clot, my guess would be that swelling of any kind is your body's way of raising a red flag about something. Get it checked out. Stay healthy and strong! What are some of the places you've been and things you've done while on the road that are meaningful to you?
Where is your food? How do you cook? You need to invest in window reflectix. What do you do for entertainment? I would imagine that stealth camping is impossible when you do not have good window treatment. I think you also need blankets also to make you sleeping more comfortable. I have a Honda Civic. I have not tried to sleep in it yet, but I am going to.
@@mindful_wander no, I have a family. But I love the minimalist philosophy and people who live authentically. I hope to travel in a van someday, though. Be well.
I have def lives n a car an I think it’s diff for traveling nomadic ppl . Anybody who thinks this cool remember suntimes u have to poop at 3 am an ur parked n the ghetto so u go to the gas station then a gang shooting breaks out true story Fresno ca rolling shoot out from Dakota n Blackstone to Shaw n Blackstone . I think ppl who live n cars r crazy. I also noticed a lot of ppl who do this put a pot of money n to the lifestyle
Oh, it's totally different. There's no doubt. I think I mentioned it in the video but I agree that it is very different than living in a car because you have to. I also will be the first to admit that I had a very easy, loving, supportive, laid-out upbringing. Not everyone is so lucky and I did nothing to earn it. Let's not let this video take away from other people's own, unique experiences that may cause them to live in a car for more dire reasons.
@@mindful_wander I haven't, but really close. I lived outside (homeless) for a bit over a year. So I can see the sort of difficulties someone in a car may have. It's less convenient than in an apartment but more convenient than living outside. Everything's 10x more difficult. Now I'm in a transitional living program and almost have $10,000 saved up to put down on a car. It truly feels like, with a car (with warranty/insurance) that I'll never end up in that situation ever again. There is security in owning a car. You can more easily build yourself up, but without it is a uphill battle. (Note that at the time I didn't have my drivers license or else I could've bought an old vehicle which would have 'worked' lol)
@@MaikeruT oh yea, I can only imagine how difficult it is to live outside. SO many other factors to consider. But, wow, having $10k saved up is no small feat. Good for you! I recently sold the 2013 Honda Civic you see in this video (it was an irresponsible purchase in the first place) and bought an old 2006 Honda CRV for $2k. Since I had money left over after the sale, I used that to pay off the rest of my debts. With your $10k, I'm sure you can be creative in making the most of it. All the best to you, Michael!
You are so dope! Glad I found your channel. I have lived out of a military vehicle in the dessert and was surprised at how I could still have peace and a level of comfort while baby wipw bathing and sleeping in freezing temps in only a sleeping bag. Being in the army at that time was far more uncomfortable than the physical conditions I just described because I felt owned however it is true that you grow stronger from uncomfortable situations. So glad you brought that up.
I think your lifestyle choices are a sign of the freeing of our technology.....face it you wouldn’t do it if you didn’t have WiFi....times change, judgements need to change....more power to you!
