Working

One of the biggest mistakes that non car dwellers make about about people who live in cars is that they are unemployed. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest that this is not the usual case. Lots of people living in cars also work. Here are some tips for holding down a job while living in a car or van.

Cleanliness is important. Use a laundry mat to wash and dry your cloths at the week end. If you need to iron clothing buy a cheap iron and iron your cloths on a bench, or on the lid of a washing machine. If you buy an enamel pot you can fill it with hot water and use it as an iron on almost any flat surface. During world war 2, British prisoners of war filled hot enamel cups with water to press their uniforms in POW camps. The first irons used to be filled with hot water. If you can find one of these really old ones you can put it back into use. A spray nozzle bottle can be used to spray creases in clothing to smoothen them out.

Uniforms can be dry cleaned and hung inside the dry cleaning plastic from a hook inside of your car. Yes, dry cleaning is expensive, but it is also tax deductable.

Make sure you shave. A simple shaver and some water is all that is needed. Of course soap, warm water and a face washer help. Brushing teeth is important as well. A reasonable deodorant will help mask smells to a point, but you should wash up as much as you can. Get to work early if you can and wash up in the wash rooms. If anyone asks tell them you live in a share house and it is just easier to brush up at work. As long as you are clean and presentable most people won't poke too much in to your business.

Shout yourself to some luxury some times. If you work five days a week then consider staying in a motel, hostel, caravan park Saturday or Sunday nights. You can do your laundry, have a proper shower, charge up your electrical devices, lay down to get a good night's sleep and relax.

Check out the communications section for ways of keeping in touch with work.