I lived in a car for 9 months to save money, I stay warm in winter with 3 tips
RENT can be expensive and many people think outside the box when it comes to their home to save some money.
Adventurous Kierra, who posts below @lifewkierratold how she lived in her Toyota Prius for nine months now and love the freedom it offers.
She talked about how she feels good at night in her sleeping bag and watches episodes of Gossip Girl and showers at her 24/7 gym.
She has one small refrigerator and campsite stove for meals and free camping sites or safe overnight parking.
When she’s not working or studying, she’s also taken a 10,000-mile road trip to explore the United States.
But why does she do it?
She explained that it gives her “freedom, independence and adventure” and that she is “saving up for a van.”
Kierra said, “I have a job and personally I enjoy living in my car more than living in an apartment.”
With winter approaching, Kierra shared her top tips for staying warm in her car.
She said: “I’ve been living in my car for nine and a half months now and winter is coming, so how do I keep myself warm during winter?
“The first thing is that I have a minus 20 degree sleeping bag, which keeps me warm even on the coldest nights.
“The reason I looked at a Tesla is because it has a camping mode, which I don’t know much about, but I’ve seen a lot of other car makers living in Teslas, and that was really intriguing. for me.
“But ultimately I decided it just wasn’t an affordable option for me.
“I ultimately decided on a Prius, and the Prius is great because it’s a hybrid.
“This allows me to run my heating a little longer without having to spend a huge amount of money.”
Kierra said she doesn’t have a heat all night, and has only done it twice when she fell asleep.
I have a job and personally I enjoy living in my car more than living in an apartment
Kierra
She added: “I usually leave the heating on for twenty minutes before I go to bed to warm up my car so I can fall asleep.
“Then my sleeping bag does a pretty good job of keeping me warm all night.
“Even though it’s really cold when I wake up and I have to go through that to turn on my car.
“To turn my car on, I have to press the brake button, but then it heats up pretty quickly, and I’m good to go.”
2
2
Stay safe
Kierra said one of the most common questions she is asked is about whether she feels safe as a woman.
She replied: “The answer is: not always, but I do what I can to be as safe as possible.
“If you live in a car, it is important to be aware of where you park.
Is it legal to live in a van?
IF you want to live in a van to save money or travel, you’ll be happy to know there are no UK laws stopping you.
However, you must ensure that your vehicle has passed its MOT and is fully road legal.
There may also be restrictions on where you can park to sleep in your van.
For example, local authorities place restrictions on certain streets or parking spaces, and you could be fined if you spend the night there.
It can also be unsafe to stop at certain locations, especially at night.
Check the The highway code guide for guidance.
“My personal favorite activity is parking in places where I blend in with others cars.
“A great way to find these types of places is to look for businesses that are open 24/7 and have a fairly full parking lot.
“Another place I like to park is free campsites.
“Tinted windows are also a must.”
Kierra has amassed nearly 40,000 followers who love watching her adventures and learning about her tips for car living, from storage to meal ideas.
