Entertainment
Living in side a vehicle can be pretty boring. You're stuck in side of your little home on wheels some times because it is too cold to go out. I do recommend that you head out and enjoy yourself out doors as much as you can. But here are a few ideas for things to do that are cheap and will keep you occupied.
In vehicle
Listen to the radio. You can buy a Walkman type battery powered radio for not much. Some times you can get them for a few dollars. The radio can be used to listen to music, news, sports, whatever takes your interest and is available. Small battery powered units will last for ages on most batteries. Unless it is hooked to a massive sound system your vehicle's radio should not draw much power and can probably safely be used for four or five hours without draining the battery. I have accidentally left mine running all night once with no problems starting the car the next day. The radio can be your window to the world when you're alone living in your car.
Reading. Reading passes the time. You can either borrow books or buy them cheap from second hand stores.
Out vehicle
Libraries. Libraries are a great way to pass the time. You can read and borrow books there, surf the Internet for free (in almost all libraries), study, charge your electrical devices (if you ask politely), find out about community events and more. You can borrow books, CDs, DVD, tapes, video tapes and more from almost all libraries. Some even have toy libraries for kids. Libraries also are generally heated in winter and cooled in summer. I like libraries for catching up on my email.
Have a barbecue. If you know the location of some public barbecues then why not head out and cook your dinner on one. This is a bit of a novel change. You may also find that you get more space to cook on that you have in your van. A roll of al foil over the hot plate ensures that your food is not exposed to any germs on the hot plate and makes cleaning up afterwards as easy as peeling off the alfoil and wiping down the hot plate.
