Internet & Wi-Fi Locations

I've spent tons of my time lately hanging out at a local library. Libraries are absolutely terrific when you are traveling. Lounge around, use their computers, or pick up their wi-fi on your laptop. Catch up on your emails, research where you are going next, etc. If you are good at planning ahead (unlike me), check out www.publiclibraries.com - You can search by state and find addresses & phone numbers of all the libraries you will come across on your journey.

I don't really need to use library computers, I just like to sometimes. I've actually got my own laptop with a little wi-fi antenna. I've picked up free wi-fi at Burger King, Staples, Best Buy, coffee shops, hotels, Subway, Hardees, Panera Bread, etc. Lots of places have free wi-fi. If you want to scope out where you can find wireless internet in your area or where you are headed, check out these terrific websites.

http://www.wififreespot.com

(FREE wi-fi locations - Either click on the categories, or scroll down to search by city/state)

http://www.superpages.com/cities/search_wifi.php

(Search by city/state or zip code - If you check the box for free, it will only list the free wi-fi spots. If you don't check the box, it will include pay wi-fi spots)

ALSO, I heard that there is a free program that you can download from Jiwire (a free Wi-Fi Internet finder), and it will even provide you with Wi-Fi locations while you aren't even online!

Amps, Volts, Watts... Power Inverters & Batteries

I don't have a 2nd battery hooked up yet in my van. All I've been using is a Xantrex power inverter with my cigarette lighter. I am thinking about upgrading, so a good portion of my free time lately has been dedicated to learning all that I can about battery basics and related topics.

I've really ended up learning about all sorts of interesting things that are connected to eachother like a big spiderweb ~ I'm so excited that I finally understand the difference between volts, amps, and watts! I've also learned a lot about batteries in general, wire thickness, and power inverters. It is pretty simple stuff once you understand it, and since it is fresh in my mind, I'm going to type it out in this post. Then I can refer back to this page the next time I need to remind myself how to figure out watts or amps again (cheat sheet). I understand all this now, but I am guessing that I will forget it all if I don't keep refreshing myself on it. Here is what I have recently learned:

VOLTS - voltage (like the pressure of water in a pipe)
AMPS - amperes (speed/quantity of flow per unit of time/measure of current)
WATTS - power

When you have got two of those, you can figure out the third. Here are the formulas:

WATTS = volts x amps

AMPS = watts / volts

VOLTS = watts / amps

(Example: A light bulb that uses 120 volts and has 2 amps running through it is a 240 watt bulb, because Watts=Volts x Amps. 240=120 x 2)

Also: If the watts aren't known, you can figure out the ohms.
Ohms = the value of resistance/force/restriction to flow

OHMS = volts / amps

AMPS = volts / ohms

VOLTS = amps x ohms

Amps are how many electrons flow past a certain point per second. Volts is a measure of how much force that each electron is under. Think of water in a hose. A gallon a minute (think amps) just dribbles out if it us under low pressure (think voltage). But if you restrict the end of the hose (ohms), letting the pressure build up (higher voltage), the water can have more power (like watts), even though it is still only trickling at a gallon a minute. The power can grow enormous as the pressure builds, to the point that a water "knife" can cut a sheet of glass. In the same manner, as the voltage is increased, a small amount of current can turn into a lot of watts.

Anyway, once you make a list of all the things you want to power in your vehicle, you can then figure out all your amps, volts, and watts. One you've got that info, you can decide whether a simple power inverter will work to run everything out of your 12 volt cigarette lighter plug, or whether you should hook up a 2nd battery in order to power your gadgets. You can use your total watts to determine how big of a power inverter you need, or your total amps to determine how powerful of a battery you need, based on battery AH (amp hours).

I used the above formulas to figure out the amps & watts of several of my appliances. That gives me a rough idea of how much power I may possibly need from a 2nd battery (or if I've got a strong enough inverter to hold me over). My laptop adaptor says 19.5 volts and 4.7 amps, so lets see.. that means my laptop uses 92 watts (19.5 x 4.7 = 92). I looked at my old high-power blender, and it said 4.5 amps. So if I assume that it is meant to be plugged into a 120 volt AC outlet, I figure it uses (4.5 x 120) about 540 watts. Another thing to keep in mind is that, even though my blender runs at about 500 watts, I know it takes more than that to start it. I think I've heard to double that amount, so I will assume that my blender would take 1,000 amps to start it, which is how many cranking amps I would also need in a battery.

POWER INVERTERS:

To figure out how big of a power inverter you need in your vehicle, determine the total watts of everything you want to operate. Remember, amps x volts = watts. If you only know the amps, multiply your amps by 120. Your amps x 120 = watts. Once you've got your total watts, pick out an inverter that supplies at least that wattage constantly. I've also heard that it is important to add 15% to your total watts, just to make sure you'll have enough power to meet your requirements. Inverters have both a peak rating and a constant rating. This means that a 400 watt inverter will supply constant supply of 400 watts, but will deliver a peak of 800 watts. The peak voltage doesn't last very long, but it allows extra starting power.

I found a neat list of various devices and the approx. number of watts that they each use.
Here are some of the common wattages for several appliances:

full size microwave (1400-1750 watts), 42" fan (1235 watts), chest freezer (1200 watts), mini microwave (1000 watts), coffee maker (600 watts), portable vacuum (525 watts), computer & monitor (450 watts), blender (450 watts), refrigerator (360 watts), home stereo (350 watts), 3/8" drill (320 watts), tv/vcr combo (300 watts), quartz halogen spotlight (250 watts), 3-speed fan (130 watts), computer printer/fax (150 watts), laptop computer (90 watts)

BATTERIES:

I started looking around at different batteries, trying to pick out what I would like, and I discovered several things. First, a Marine Deep-Cycle Battery is definitely the type of battery that should be used as a backup power source in a vehicle. Deep Cycle batteries provide continuous power for long periods of time (a trolling motor for a small boat, auxiliary RV power, traction power for a golf cart, etc.). They can also be used to store energy from a small wind turbine! (neat fact) They are designed to have a long, continuous discharge period, followed by a complete recharge. They've got fewer, thicker plates (in order to have a greater capacity) and a low cranking ability, but they have lots of reserve capacity. They endure a lot more discharge/recharge cycles than starting batteries. I found this site, titled "Deep Cycle Battery FAQ," which has tons of good info. I also read that AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries are one of the best types of deep cycle batteries out there.

When I drove around, looking at deep cycle batteries, I discovered that they have AH (amp hours), Reserve Capacity, and Cranking Amps. One battery I looked at had 44 A.H., 78 min, Reserve Capacity, and 1,200 Cranking Amps. Another one had 52 A.H., 124 min. Reserve Capacity, and 1,100 Cranking Amps. That gave me more researching to do...

AH (Amp Hours) = amount of amps flowing (load in amps) x number of hours used.

In other words, amp hour capacity of a battery is the certain amount of amps that a battery may deliver for a period of time, depending on the battery's size.

AH / load in amps = estimated life of that battery (amp hours divided by the load in amps = how long the battery will last)

Example: a 72 A.H. battery, with a 10 amp load should last 7.2 hours (72 / 10 = 7.2)
Example: a 100 A.H. battery can deliver 5 amps for 20 hours (100 / 5 = 20)

If you determine that all the appliances you want to run equal, say, 20 amps, then you could run everthing simulaneously for either 2.2 hours on a 44 A.H. battery (44 / 20), 3.95 hours on a 79 A.H. battery (79 / 20), or 4.6 hours on a 92 A.H. battery (92/20). You probably won't be running everything together, however, for that entire time. That was just as an example to test my math skills :)

Now onto Reserve Capacity. Reserve Capacity is the time in minutes that a new, fully charged battery will deliver 25 amps at 80 degrees and maintain a voltage of at least 1.75 volts per cell, or 10.5 volts for a 12 volt battery (I had to look up that official definition). It represents how long the battery will continue to operate if the alternator or vehicle generator fails. Basically it is the battery's ability to sustain a minimum vehicle electrical load, in the event of charging system failure.

Cranking Amps are also listed on a battery. There are regular cranking amps (CA), and then there are cold cranking amps (CCA). In a round-about description, regular cranking amps determine how much power you have to start your car in most climates, and cold cranking amps determine how much power you have to start your car on cold winter mornings. It takes more power to initially start something up (ex: starting your car), which takes a high discharge rate in amps for a short period of time. To start something, the battery must "crank" (rotate the crankshaft) while it maintains a sufficient voltage. The higher the rating, the greater the starting power.

Misc. Basic Informational Tidbits:

Household electrical current is 110/120 volt AC (alternating current - an electrical current thats direction reverses cyclically/the direction of energy flow periodically reverses)

Automobile/battery current is 12 volt DC (direct current - an electrical current that flows in a constant direction)

Extention Cords:

While reading about power and amps, I also came across a neat chart regarding extension cords. I do need to get a new extension cord for my van, so this chart is pretty handy... (I use an extension cord to plug the outside of my van in to any regular 110/120 AC outlet, and it powers the wall outlet that I've got near the floor inside my van). Here is the table that shows the wire thickness (gauge) required in an extension cord, depending on the cord's current draw in amps and the length of the cord: (The larger the AWG number, the thinner the wire, and the less current it can bear. So if you want to power 14 amps and have a 50' cord, the chart recommends that it should have a 14 AWG thickness. If you don't have a 14 AWG cord, then you can use a 12 (but not a 16), - you can go to a smaller number, which is a larger size):

Well, most men out there probably already knew all that stuff since it is really basic info.
But I like having it all typed out anyway :)
My next step is to find a battery that I want and then learn how to hook it up in my van with wires, an on/off switch/solenoid? etc. OH - and I need to figure out where I'll put it, so I can measure and figure out what size battery to get. The batteries I've looked at were all sorts of different sizes.

When I figure out exactly how to hook up a 2nd battery, I will let you know. I really enjoy teaching myself stuff. I think it is a positive way to spend extra time.

**Also, thanks for the tip, via the comment!! Definitely check out How To Have Electricity at cheaprvliving.com! Bob has some wonderful info there, and it is extremely helpful.

amps	25'	50'	75'	100'	125'	150'	175'	200'
0-10.0	18 AWG	18 AWG	16 AWG	16 AWG	14 AWG	14 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG
10.1-13.0	16 AWG	16 AWG	14 AWG	14 AWG	14 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG
13.1-15	14 AWG	14 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG
15-18	14 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG	12 AWG

Personal Hygiene - Showering and Keeping Clean

It is still very possible to take care of yourself while you are living a mobile lifestyle. I eventually just got used to not waking up and heading straight for my bathroom anymore. When you don’t have a bath “room,” you just find ways to improvise. Lots of people on the road have different tricks and methods, so browse around and figure out what will work best for you. This is just an over-view of how I get by. I like to stay clean. I have various ways to brush my teeth, wash my hair, and maintain personal hygiene, even though I don’t have my own faucet running or a tub to climb into.

Face & Body Wipe-Downs

For quick wipe-downs, I use a spray bottle containing water, a washcloth, and a tiny dab of camp suds. (That spray bottle is also used for keeping my plants happy, and I re-fill it at drinking fountains) Wet-wipes are also extremely handy for helping to keep your body clean - your hands, armpits, wherever. Every time I wipe myself down, I put on fresh deodorant (aluminum-free) and spritz myself with a very light lemon~scent (Have a favorite perfume or essential oil? That will work too). For my face, I like to wipe it down with Witch Hazel (a mild, natural astringent that you can find and purchase inexpensively in Dollar Stores). Doing that always makes me feel refreshed and removes excess dirt & oil from my face.

Brushing Your Teeth

For brushing my teeth, there are a couple options: In my van, I just pour a little water over my brush and add a tiny dab of my normal toothpaste. When I'm done, I just swish a little water around in my mouth (from my water bottle) and spit it outside my van or into a container (and dump it later). My favorite option is to just use a public bathroom somewhere (a library, gas station, grocery store, Walmart), and not eat again that night after I have brushed my teeth. Baking soda also works well for brushing your teeth in a vehicle, since it is very simple and cheap to do. Click here if you'd like to read more about that. BUT don't use baking soda as your recommended method for brushing your teeth, as it will eventually strip your teeth of their enamel. It is good in a pinch, for occasional cleaning and whitening. It is extremely important to take care of your teeth, whether you are living in a vehicle or not.

Washing Your Hair

Amazingly enough, whenever I feel disgusting and crave a shower, simply washing my hair will often suffice. If you are unable to easily shower nearby, you can truly feel better by just washing your hair & face. For an inexpensive hair wash, click here to learn about using baking soda and vinegar. I will try that sometime, but I have still been trying to use up my normal minty-fresh, Biotin-enriched shampoo...

I have read different ways that people actually wash their hair inside their vehicle, but they all just sound too messy for me at this time. My hair isn't very short. Here are 3 ways that I have washed my hair:

1. If I'm feeling lazy and don't want to leave my van, I use a no-rinse shampoo instead of my normal shampoo. Just lay down a towel, use a spray bottle to get your hair wet, tilt your head upside-down over the towel, pour some of the no-rinse shampoo over your hair (or put it in a sprayer and just spray it on), rub it in, and towel it dry. It really isn't as bad as it sounds! :)

2. Sometimes it is convenient to wash my hair at the beach, in a lake, or a river. I get in, swim around, and wash my hair with a tiny dab of camp suds or Dr. Bronners. I try to do it where there isn't really anyone around.

3. A good option for washing my hair on the road, however, is the same as my favorite place to brush my teeth - I use a sink in a public restroom (one made for a single person, not a multi-stall bathroom). There can be a nice personal restroom in a library, bookstore, grocery store, fast food restaurant, on a college campus, at your job, etc. Gas stations work, too, but they are often pretty gross, so I'd recommend sticking to one of the others. It doesn't look odd for a woman to carry a large purse or tote-bag, so I use one to carry the following items into a public bathroom - a small handtowel, my spray on conditioner, a hair-pick, and shampoo. If I feel like being more inconspicuous for some reason, I might wear a hat into the business and also wear it back out (so it isn't as obvious that my hair is dripping wet). I have mastered washing my hair in a sink, although shorter hair would be an advantage in this situation. Once I get into the bathroom, I'm quick! I whip off my shirt, drape my tiny towel over the edge of sink (if it will stay there), and I get my hair wet (First I lean over the sink, forwards, and wet the under-side of my hair. Then I flip around, squat down, and bend over backwards to wet the top side of my hair). I lather up my hair with shampoo, and rinse it by again first leaning over the sink forwards, and then leaning over the sink backwards). I towel it dry as best as I can, spray on some detangler, pick thru it to make it straight, throw my shirt back on, and pack my things back into my bag. If I am in a bathroom that I don't think anyone is waiting for, I will take a little more time to brush my teeth, clean myself more thoroughly, and use the bathroom.

Showers

I love taking showers, and I am assuming that most people are like me in that sense. If you live in a vehicle and there is ever a free shower available to you, I'm sure you definitely take advantage of that opportunity. They can be somewhat difficult to come by for free. I was recently reading "Ten Consecutive Years Living in Cars," and he showers in approx. 90 seconds by simply standing outside his car door (behind a business/store or out on a secluded road), lathering up his hair and privates, and pouring 2 jugs of water over himself. I haven't tried that, but I think it would work best for someone with really short hair and who doesn't necessarily need warm water. I personally think that a solar shower is essential to have if you live in your vehicle. Just fill it with water, warm it up on your dash, and have a hot shower outside in the woods or somewhere secluded. I am planning on eventually hanging a shower-curtain around my van's rear-hatch when it is open. Then I can use a solar shower to comfortably take a shower from the privacy of standing behind my van. Here is a list of possible places to shower:

Friend's or Relative's House - Free

Public Beaches - Free

Your Job - (I have worked at places that had showers available)

County Parks - I have occasionally found little county parks that have showers available. I'm not sure if they are just for campers, but I haven't seen any signs. They are open, available, and free.

College Athletic Facility - Can be an excellent opportunity for a free shower, since many colleges do have showers available. Perhaps ask around to some students walking on campus.

Hotels - Many offer usage to their pool/hot-tub area for a small fee (I found a local AmericInn that charges $3.00). Another option, (shhhh...) may be to sneak into a hotel pool area. Park along the side of a hotel and see if you can get into a side door. If it is a busy hotel, you could wait and head towards the door right behind someone else, and enter the hotel with them. Carry a tote bag with your towel and bathing suit, dress like a hotel guest, and perhaps carry a can of pop and wear a headset. The key would be to look like you belong there. Head to the pool area in your flip-flops & knock on the pool door if it requires a room key. Pretend you forgot yours in your room, and that your room is way up on a high floor. If you put some plastic baggies in your tote, you can fill up on hotel ice for your cooler on your way out of the building.

Public Swimming Pools - Go for a swim, use a hot tub, and then shower! Costs a small fee, but definitely call and ask when the cheapest swim times/nights are.

Gym/Health Clubs - Will cost a daily rate or a monthly membership fee. Might be worth it, depending on your situation and your desire to exercise. Depending on where you are living, some gyms offer a membership that is nationwide, such as 24hr.Fitness.

Truck Stops - Usually costs around $7 for a shower (sometimes more, sometimes less). Call ahead and ask if you are curious. If you are sleeping there anyway, ask around for a free shower coupon. They give them out to people who buy certain amounts of gas, and some people living in their big RVs might not need their coupon if they've got their own RV shower.

Campground/RV Parks - Free if you are already camping there anyway! But if you are planning to camp there just for a shower, it would probably be cheaper to go use a public swimming pool, truck stop, or someplace else.

Laundromat - I have yet to find a laudromat out there that has a shower available, but I have heard that they exist...Can anyone tell me if they've ever found one? Oh well, if you can't find one with a shower, you can at least wash your clothes there and charge your small appliances from a 120 volt AC wall outlet while you wait.

As of right now, I am still enjoying my showers at a local gym and several friend's houses.. Once I'm on the road again (the 24th of this month!!), I will continue to keep you posted on the situations that arise.

Overnight Parking Locations

List last updated: 2010 (sorry if some of the links no longer work!!)

I have made an extensive list (with additional information & pointers) of possible overnight places to park. I have tried many of them, but there are also some that I have only heard about people parking at. For your convenience, clicking on several of the stores listed will take you to a page of that store's locations. Here are three sites in particular that are valuable resources for parking overnight:

www.parkfreeovernight.com & www.freecampgrounds.com (includes parking lots!) & http://freecampsites.net/. Also, if you are near California, check out http://desertdutch.org/ (Free Campgrounds in Southern California).

If you are interested in staying somewhere long-term, check out the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) - Their site contains information about Long Term Camping on Public Land!

In populated areas, always remember to be as stealthy and inconspicuous as possible. You don't want to get busted living in your vehicle - Your goal is to blend in and be left alone.

OVERNIGHT PARKING POSSIBILITIES:

Walmart - a very popular place to park overnight! Join yahoo group: walmartrving for lots more specific info or if you have questions. Not all Walmarts allow overnight parking, so here is my advice: Call 1-800-walmart and type in the zipcode of a town you are thinking about staying in. It will give you the phone number to that Walmart - use it to call the store manager and ask if that particular store allows overnight parking.

Many K-mart, Sam's Club, and Camping World stores allow overnight parking, but it is always best to ask the specific store to make sure.

24-hour Businesses - grocery stores, restaurants, health clubs, laundromats, manufacturing companies (that have a night shift), department stores, etc. My favorite 24-hr. spot to park has been Meijers. If the store lot you would like to park in isn't open 24 hours, I have heard about parking there with a "For Sale" sign (with a random local phone number) in the front window. Pretty unique idea! Just make sure that nobody can see you inside thru the windows, in case they come to check out the sign.

Casinos - a great place to park overnight! You can always rely on parking in a Casino lot, I've done it several times. They are 24-hours and you can blend right in if you are living in a car or a van. If you are in an RV, go to CasinoCamper.com to find "RV Friendly" Casinos. You can also read tips there about Casino parking "etiquette."

Highway Rest Areas & State Welcome Centers - fairly good spots (plus you can wash your hair in the sink...). You may find the Interstate Rest Area Guide to be a handy resource, since it lists rest areas & welcome centers, organized by state.

Airport Terminal Parking Areas - I haven't done this, but I know that it is a possibility. Be aware that there might be a fee, depending on the size of the airport.

Some Shopping Malls/Plazas - look for signs regarding parking regulations

Hospitals - (good every once in a while, but I don't recommend parking at them very often)

Parking Garage - parking here will cost you something, but it might still be handy in a busy metro area that has limited parking. It would be a good option if you want added security. I've done this overnight in South Beach Miami and Chicago.

Apartment Complexes - look to see if people have parking permits or passes hanging in their vehicles. If not, these can be an excellent place to park overnight. It is best to park off to the side of the lot, but near other vehicles. Try not to be near the main entrance or windows. Don't stand out like a sore thumb, and park in a direction so that people aren't as likely to see in your front windshield. The IDEAL parking place would be a combination parking area, near both a 24-hr. store AND an apartment complex... It would look like you could either be living or visiting someone in an apartment, or working in the store.

Hotels (medium sized) - larger hotels may do frequent license plate security checks, and tiny motels could easily notice that you are there. Pick a medium sized one and feel it out. Hotels are not always recommended, but I have parked in several hotel lots with no problems. I like them quite a bit actually, but I only stay in them for one night and then move somewhere else.

City Streets - some cities allow overnight parking on their streets. Look for signs. People do tend to wonder about unknown vehicles parked outside their homes, so I'd recommend usually only doing this if there is an apartment complex nearby or if you know someone that lives on that street. If neither of those are the case, and you'd still like to park on a street in a residential neighborhood, try to get there pretty late and leave early in the morning. (just go move your vehicle into a grocery store lot and go back to sleep) Also try to park between two houses so it would make it more unclear as to whom you may be "visiting."

Parks/Campgrounds/RV parks - parks can include county parks, city parks, state parks, or national parks. Any of these options will probably require a fee, so they are fine if you don't mind paying for a few luxuries. Every once in a while they are nice. If you are car/van/RV/or even tent camping, definitely check out the U.S. National Forest Campground Directory. It's very informational!

County Roads/Scenic Overlooks/Natural Areas - free, but a little more risky. Not always the best, but definite possibilities. If you are a little ways off a main road they can be pretty nice.

"Dispersed Camping" on National Forest Land - this is free, but you will pretty much be in the middle of nowhere. If you are interested in doing this, look up a national forest in your area. Ask a local ranger where the dispersed camping area is located. Here are 3 sites to help you find a National Forest - U.S. National Forests and Forest Service Guide, US Forest Service, and Find a Forest by State

Federal Wildlife Refuges - (not "Wilderness Areas," which is where vehicles aren't allowed). I haven't parked at one, but I've heard of people doing so.

College/University Campus - there may be a visitor parking area near the student dormitory lots or somewhere else on campus. The best spot would be in a combination lot between the campus library and the student dorms. Campus libraries typically stay open really late and open pretty early in the morning. It could then look like you were either studying/working in the library or working/living in the dorms.

Friend or Relative's Driveway/Yard/Property - by far the best option for overnight parking! Not very possible, though, when you are traveling.

some "Cracker Barrels" - I've never parked at one, but I've heard that some Cracker Barrels do allow overnight parking. If they do, I guess it is usually behind the store, where there are long, designated bus/RV parking spots. Certain "Cracker Barrel" highway billboards have a tiny little bus silhouette in the lower, right-hand corner, which means they've got the designated parking spots. Check them out! They are pretty cool. My recommendation? Always ask a Cracker Barrel first.

Your Job - will they let you park there overnight? It never hurts to ask (unless it will get you fired)

Private Property - if you have permission to do so, it is definitely very safe to park on private property. I read about a guy that lived in his vehicle, traveled a lot, and had excellent references. He would ask real estate agents about opportunies for house-sitting/farm-watching/commerical-sitting/"caretaking" (outside, just "keeping an eye" on people's property). Every once in a while I guess he found a place to act as a temporary property "security watch." Plus he got paid! I wonder how likely of an opportunity this would be.

Large Farms/Ranches - I probably wouldn't do this, but it is similar to the last one I wrote about. I have read about people who ask large farms or ranches in the west if they could just park there for a night...

Truck-Stops - I HIGHLY recommend truck stops. They aren't just for truckers anymore, as RVer's give them lots of business. This is why many truck stops have changed their names to "Travel Centers" or "Travel Plazas." Truck stops can provide all sorts of services... laundry, showers, food, gas, ATMs, Wi-Fi internet, etc. When you are on the road, here are the top two sites I have found for locating truck stops (with phone numbers listed!):

American Trucker Truck Stop Directory & America's Independent Trucker's Association

MANY truck stops have a designated auto/RV parking area - and if they do, you don't have to ask to spend the night. Don't park among the truckers or in their designated area! Park in the auto/RV area only. Here are the Truck Stops that are most well-known for welcoming RVer's and smaller vehicles...I have personally read MANY positive reviews about various vehicles parking overnight at both Flying Js and T/As. I personally LOVE parking at Flying J's, Pilot Travel Centers, and T/As. They are great.

Flying J Travel Plaza

Always welcoming and friendly to any vehicle. #1 Recommended Truck Stop.

Travel Centers of America (T/A)

They "have RV parking spots at locations from coast to coast"

AmBest Truck Stops, Love's Travel Stops, Pilot Travel Centers, & Petro Stopping Centers

These four also often have auto and RV parking.

Petro's site specifically mentions separate auto parking.

If you wonder EXACTLY which truck stops are RV/auto friendly (or what services they have available) without clicking around on the net, I HIGHLY recommend buying this book somewhere: "The RVer's Friend," (by Trucker's Friend). Click Here for some info about that particular book.

My Cost of Living (& Living on a Budget)

I have been living on about $575 per month for quite some time, and I'm going to share with you how I do that.

Consider me kinda wierd, but I love making a budget and sticking to it. There is something really wonderful about knowing exactly where all your money goes and that you are not just throwing your hard-earned cash into the wind.

At the start of every month, I re-evaluate my financial situation and create a budget: First I write down how much money I actually have on hand. Then I figure out how much money that I can (and will) earn that month, based on how much I've been making (or know that I will be making). If I won't be earning any money (that I know of), then I dedicate all my time to finding work and making some cash.

I am not a bum.

I am willing and able to work.

Based on that "financial picture" (how much cash I've already got plus how much I know I can earn that month), I figure out what I can reasonable afford to spend that month, and I make a strict budget for myself. If I don't have as much money one month, I cut out any unnecessary splurges. But if I have a little bit extra, I might get a few extra cappuccinos, check out a museum, go to a movie, or go bowling. (I'm still a light spender).

I always try to make my spending budget as tight as possible, and I stick to it solidly for that entire month. On top of that, I love to always play this little game, where I try to live even tighter than my budget. I find it pretty fun, trying to "beat my budget," and live even cheaper than I did the month before. It helps me get creative and find new, fun (and inexpensive) things to do. Then I am able to maybe save a little money for the next month, whenever I can't find work, emergencies, whatever. Having a little something saved is extremely important. Even if it is only a couple hundred bucks. Any money I've got leftover each month is not spent. It's saved.

Every month, my spending plan is usually pretty much the same as the month before, but I still take the time to re-evaluate it and make sure than I'm not over spending. I've gotten myself into a nice routine, spending about $575 to $625 per month. That is about $650 per month less than what I spent when I had my house mortgage or was renting my apartment (due to the payment itself/interest, homeowners/renters insurance, property taxes, gas bill, electricity, water, garbage pickup, house maintenance/repairs, furniture, dish soap, draino, etc...)

Here is a rough idea of where my $575/month is spent:

$200 - food ($7.00 per day)

$200 - gasoline ($50 per week)

$65 - cell phone

$10 - laundry

$50 - my AAA van insurance

$25 - gym membership or tentative cost of shower usage

$25 - vehicle emergency fund (maintenance/parts)

$50 - entertainment/fun (if i actually spend this, my monthly budget is $625 instead of $575)

Ok, let me get a little more specific here on a couple of those topics..

Jon, from Clearwater, recently emailed me and asked me (word for word) "You eat on 7 dollars a day? How is this possible? Is it really that cheap if you cook all your own meals? Are you a vegetarian?" This is how I responded:

"I really do only spend about 200 bucks a month on food, which calculates out to 7 dollars a day. Sometimes, sure, I might spend over 7.00 on food for one day. But then I have leftovers and eat that for another day or so, so I don't spend any money on food for those days. Kinda like that. I eat mostly vegetarian, but I also buy things like jerky, cans of tuna fish, or a box of cereal and munch on those for several days. I rarely cook. But if you do want to cook and spend 15.00 on enough things to cook a meal, then I'm sure you'll have some leftovers and be able to eat what you made for 2 days. Then it is still like you spent 7 bucks a day. Even if you eat out and get 2 cheeseburgers at BK for lunch, that is only 2.12 out of your daily food budget. That leaves you with 5 bucks left for breakfast and lunch. I buy a big, cheap container of quick oats and mix them with hot water (I also mix chocolate protein powder in there and sprinkle on a little cinnamon to make it taste even better and to make it more healthy). Oatmeal is so cheap and you can live off it for SO MANY breakfasts!! So if you spend 2.12 at BK for lunch and eat the oatmeal you bought the week before, you can spend 5 bucks on your dinner, which can get you lots of things. Going out to eat is what gets expensive. But buying your own stuff? Not too expensive. I snack on granola bars, crackers, apples (get a big bag for pretty cheap), stuff like that. I buy things that are on sale and just kinda snack all day. I don't eat huge meals." I have also heard that sometimes when you think you're hungry, you are really just thirsty. I drink lots of water and drink lots of green tea. Quite often I end up not being so hungry after I drink my cup of tea.

With gas prices all over the place, $200 per month is just an estimate. I used to spend $25 per week, before I was actually living in my vehicle. But in my van, I'm always on the go. Often traveling to a new city or state, always driving somewhere. Always moving my van to different places to park & be inconspicuous. Things like that. It all takes gas, and my van isn't very fuel efficient. You definitely have to allow yourself enough gas money. And if you really don't want to spend much on gas, park in a friend's yard or driveway for a while. Or go head up into the hills and camp for quite a while. Park for free in "dispersed camping" areas out on National Forest Land. Lots of possibilities. Or if your vehicle is diesel, do you know anyone who makes bio-diesel for cheap? Gas is actually really cheap right now though. I am thankful for that!! You should definitely be able to get by on $200 per month (or much less, if you aren't traveling around). If you are staying in one city, I bet you can spend closer to $125 per month on gas (about 30 bucks a week) or less.

If you can get a cheap cell phone plan, maybe you'll be paying less than I do, at $65 per month. I am still on an old Cellular One plan (before it switched to At&t), which is great, because I have a nationwide plan, unlimited nights & weekends, free mobile-to-mobile, 200 texts, and like 1600 anytime minutes. I don't even use 1,000 of those, so that is pretty nice. You can't get a plan for that much with At&t anymore though. I guess I am grandfather-claused. Or whatever you call it. Also, some people have the internet right on their phone plans, which could be convenient for you. My boyfriend has an Apple i-Phone 3G, with unlimited internet, and I think he pays $78 per month thru At&t. It really is convenient, I love his phone. But I am cheaper, so I use the free internet on library computers or pick up free wi-fi on my Sony Vaio laptop. I have a little clicker in my van that lights up with how strong the wi-fi signal is in my area. It's really handy. I bought it at Radio Shack for $25 or $30.

Lets see.. I think $10 per month is probably what I spend on laundry. I just try to save up all my change for that occasion, and I do laundry maybe every week or 2 weeks. Laundromats can be a nice place to hang out and relax. You can meet some real characters there! I also put a "spring-bar" type curtain rod (stays in place with pressure) up near the ceiling in my van, between the two front seats. I use that to hang any special laundry on to dry, that I don't want to put in a dryer. I also hang my wet beach towel and bathing suit up there to dry. I don't really like dryers that much. I also sometimes hang laundry to dry by draping it over the bike rack on the back of my van. Oh, and I also have some clothes pins and a cord that runs along the inside of my van, next to my bed.. That is perfect for hanging wet washcloths, socks, small things. The cord actually came in my van, and I think it was intended to hold my curtains up against the wall. But I'm not sure. I think it makes a nice little clothesline.

You definitely need vehicle insurance, and it can cost more or less than $50 bucks a month. I got the best deal with AAA. I love AAA. I wrote an entire post about them. I highly recommended them for insurance. I used to be with State Farm until I realized what a rip-off that was.

I put $25 in my monthly budget for a gym membership, because they are so handy for showers and getting in some exercise. However, if I am traveling, I obviously don't get a month-long membership. In that case, I use this money for "walk-in" daily passes at some gyms. Or i use this money to maybe get a shower somewhere else for cheap, like a public swimming pool, pay a friend to use theirs, or do a walk-in rate for the pool & hot-tub at some hotels (call around..I recently found a local AmericInn that charges 3.00 to use theirs)

Always be sure to allow a little emergency fund (in my case, $25) for vehicle maintenance and parts. If you don't use that money one month, still save it in an envelope towards vehicle maintenance!! Obviously you might not have many maintenance expenses one month.. But the next month, you might have a big problem that costs you $150. I can't recommend AAA enough. If you have a problem on the road, they will come and help you. Read my post about them. They will even give you money towards your food, lodging, & whatever else when you've got a problem! This may help you so that you don't have to tap into your emergency vehicle fund for towing or a locksmith or something like that.

Lastly, I sometimes give myself a $50 fun-fund. Sometimes I've been doing so many of my favorite free activities that I don't spend any of that $50 bucks. Other times, I really just want to splurge here and there. I use this fund maybe once every other month. Or use $25 bucks a month instead of $50. But again, any extra that I have, I just save it for some rainy day when I really need it. If you find that you spend more than this, maybe look into finding some cheaper hobbies. Then again, if you have a steady job and can afford to spend a little more on fun, have at it! Who am I to say? I am just happier when I'm not spending my money on things I don't really need.

As a final note, there is more great info on the cost of living in a vehicle on Bob's Cheap RV Living site. He lays out some neat budgets on his main page, living on $500 or $1,000 per month. I notice that I allow myself more food money than either of his budgets, but everyone's costs are going to be a little different. I'm sure you can live on hardly anything at all if you are willing to eat lots of ramen noodles and oatmeal, able to park in one area all the time and ride your bike around, use a calling card at payphones (no monthly cell charge!), find free places to shower, and have cheap habits like reading books (or renting dvds!) from the library or going for walks & taking photos. You'll never know how cheap you can live until you try.