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jjeng1989 · 31-35, M
1. For food you can dumpster dive, but you should ask around before doing this. Sometimes gangs claim them. If you have money, buy oatmeal and peanut butter. On the road you need a lot of protein to keep your body together. Oatmeal packs light, and you can mix it with just cold drinking water for your dish. Its great for long term energy. It keeps you full for a while and its cheap. Honorable mentions are cans of beans, canned chicken, and brown rice. You can always busk or beg for food, which ill talk about later. Dont forget soup kitchens and places that serve food for free.
2. For water, many places will let you take tap water for free in The USA. If your in nature a lot you can buy a fairly cheap filter straw that filters raw water into drinking water. Always carry a water bottle with you at all times. Keep it full as much as you can. You never know when you will get lost and need to stay hydrated.
3. Get a washcloth and a bar of soap. Every day or two, go into a public restroom stall, take your clothes off, and use the washcloth and soap to clean yourself. A lot of opportunities disappear when you stink. People are less willing to help if you stink. Your odds of getting sick or infections go way up if you dont keep clean. If you have money, get a gym membership in a chain gym and shower there.
4. For security, keep a knife and some kind of club or mace. Some people tie a lock or something hard to the end of a rope or a bandana. Never ever ever leave your stuff out of sight, even for a minute. Others are always watching to see if you lose attention and they will take it in a heart beat. Im not exaggerating.
5. For begging, busking, and hitchiking, signs are good, but your sign should be about the potential giver and not you. Instead of, "I got stuck," or, "I need money," writing, "Anything helps kind stranger," or, "Feeding one in need makes one sleep well indeed." Always show a big warm smile while remembering the happiest time in your life. It looks more genuine that way. Practice showing gratitude really well. Say thank you with care and poise. People help others because it makes them feel good. So make others feel as good as the amount of help you wish to get.
Also, some people have a dog or cat with them, and that helps with donations too. Dont underestimate the cute factor. Dogs in general make awesome road companions because they will kepe you safe, keep you warm in the cold, and keep your moral up.
6. For sleep, a sleeping bag, pad, and tarp are all you need. Wrap the tarp around the sleeping bag to keep the rain off. Tie your stuff to your body or tuck it deep in the sleeping bag to prevent theft. People will stealthfully take the shoes right off your feet in your sleep, no joke. A dog will wake you up if someone is trying to take your stuff. Choose where to sleep carefully and know the gangs and police patrol to not get into trouble. Alternatively, some people get a loitering or other ticket in some local town. Then they go travel and refuse to pay the ticket. Then when they go back to that town, they get themselves arrested on purpose to get a free warm jail bed and three meals a day, lol. The hobos of old called it, "The Iron Bar Hotel."
7. If you can, keep your smart phone and get a solar charger for it, however small. However, if you cannot do that, go to a cafe and buy the cheapest cup of coffee for a warm place for a few hours and to charge your phone. I know r/vagabond and a few other sites like that are where homeless people meetup and network. They also talk about the conditions in various areas and such. Information is your first weapon of survival. Also learn hobo code. Look it up.
8. For clothing, second hand stores are your friend. Think durable and warm. There are also clothing donation bins you can pick at. Or some places donate to the poor. You gotta ask around and go online to find these places.
9. This may sound cheesy, but every survival book and class will tell you that mindset and moral are the most important factors in survival. It's hard to go on if you give up or dont feel like trying. Being homeless is hard on your mental health. Every problem and setback will seem bigger than it is. So first thing you need to believe no matter what is that you are great, your skills are great, even if others dont see it. Never doubt that. Never tell yourself otherwise. The second tenet for survival is that no matter what happens, The Road provides. The road will not let you die as long as you ask for help and grab opportunities. Third, every day write down 3 things you are greatful for. Saying or thinking it doesnt count. You can write it in the air with your finger if you have to though. The more positive you are, the more people are willing to help you and feed you and stuff. Tenet 4 is the cheesiest of all, but its rooted in the psych of trauma. Do a 10 min mindfulness meditation every day. Look it up. Awareness preceeds control, and you cannot control your emotions if you are not aware of them. So, practicing being aware of yourself through meditation is key to mastering yourself.
Good luck, and thank you for coming to my Ted Talk lol.
2. For water, many places will let you take tap water for free in The USA. If your in nature a lot you can buy a fairly cheap filter straw that filters raw water into drinking water. Always carry a water bottle with you at all times. Keep it full as much as you can. You never know when you will get lost and need to stay hydrated.
3. Get a washcloth and a bar of soap. Every day or two, go into a public restroom stall, take your clothes off, and use the washcloth and soap to clean yourself. A lot of opportunities disappear when you stink. People are less willing to help if you stink. Your odds of getting sick or infections go way up if you dont keep clean. If you have money, get a gym membership in a chain gym and shower there.
4. For security, keep a knife and some kind of club or mace. Some people tie a lock or something hard to the end of a rope or a bandana. Never ever ever leave your stuff out of sight, even for a minute. Others are always watching to see if you lose attention and they will take it in a heart beat. Im not exaggerating.
5. For begging, busking, and hitchiking, signs are good, but your sign should be about the potential giver and not you. Instead of, "I got stuck," or, "I need money," writing, "Anything helps kind stranger," or, "Feeding one in need makes one sleep well indeed." Always show a big warm smile while remembering the happiest time in your life. It looks more genuine that way. Practice showing gratitude really well. Say thank you with care and poise. People help others because it makes them feel good. So make others feel as good as the amount of help you wish to get.
Also, some people have a dog or cat with them, and that helps with donations too. Dont underestimate the cute factor. Dogs in general make awesome road companions because they will kepe you safe, keep you warm in the cold, and keep your moral up.
6. For sleep, a sleeping bag, pad, and tarp are all you need. Wrap the tarp around the sleeping bag to keep the rain off. Tie your stuff to your body or tuck it deep in the sleeping bag to prevent theft. People will stealthfully take the shoes right off your feet in your sleep, no joke. A dog will wake you up if someone is trying to take your stuff. Choose where to sleep carefully and know the gangs and police patrol to not get into trouble. Alternatively, some people get a loitering or other ticket in some local town. Then they go travel and refuse to pay the ticket. Then when they go back to that town, they get themselves arrested on purpose to get a free warm jail bed and three meals a day, lol. The hobos of old called it, "The Iron Bar Hotel."
7. If you can, keep your smart phone and get a solar charger for it, however small. However, if you cannot do that, go to a cafe and buy the cheapest cup of coffee for a warm place for a few hours and to charge your phone. I know r/vagabond and a few other sites like that are where homeless people meetup and network. They also talk about the conditions in various areas and such. Information is your first weapon of survival. Also learn hobo code. Look it up.
8. For clothing, second hand stores are your friend. Think durable and warm. There are also clothing donation bins you can pick at. Or some places donate to the poor. You gotta ask around and go online to find these places.
9. This may sound cheesy, but every survival book and class will tell you that mindset and moral are the most important factors in survival. It's hard to go on if you give up or dont feel like trying. Being homeless is hard on your mental health. Every problem and setback will seem bigger than it is. So first thing you need to believe no matter what is that you are great, your skills are great, even if others dont see it. Never doubt that. Never tell yourself otherwise. The second tenet for survival is that no matter what happens, The Road provides. The road will not let you die as long as you ask for help and grab opportunities. Third, every day write down 3 things you are greatful for. Saying or thinking it doesnt count. You can write it in the air with your finger if you have to though. The more positive you are, the more people are willing to help you and feed you and stuff. Tenet 4 is the cheesiest of all, but its rooted in the psych of trauma. Do a 10 min mindfulness meditation every day. Look it up. Awareness preceeds control, and you cannot control your emotions if you are not aware of them. So, practicing being aware of yourself through meditation is key to mastering yourself.
Good luck, and thank you for coming to my Ted Talk lol.