I’ve lived in my car for 9 months to save cash & I never leave the heat on all night – I stay warm in winter with 3 tips
RENT can be expensive and many people are thinking outside the box when it comes to their homes in order to save some cash.
Adventurous Kierra, who posts under @lifewkierra, shared how she has lived in her Toyota Prius for nine months and loves the freedom it provides.
She shared how she cosies up at night in her sleeping bag and watches episodes of Gossip Girl, and showers at her 24/7 gym.
She has a mini fridge and camping stove for meals and picks free campsites or safe car parks at night time.
When she’s not working or studying, she has also done a 10,000 mile road trip to explore around the States.
But why does she do it?
She explained it provides her with “freedom, independence, and adventure” plus she is “saving up for a van.”
Kierra said: “I have a job, and I personally enjoy living in my car more than living in an apartment.”
With winter approaching, Kierra shared her top tips for staying warm in her vehicle.
She shared: “I’ve lived in my car for nine and a half months now, and winter is coming, so how do I keep myself warm during the winter?
“First thing is that I have a negative 20 degrees sleeping bag, which keeps me warm even on some of the coldest nights.
“The reason I was looking at a Tesla is because it has camping mode, which I don’t know too much about, but I’ve seen a lot of other car-life creators who live in Teslas, and so that was really intriguing to me.
“But I decided in the end that it just wasn’t an affordable option for me.
“I ended up settling on a Prius, and the Prius is great because it’s a hybrid.
“This makes it so I can run my heat a little bit longer without having to spend an enormous amount of money.”
Kierra said she doesn’t run her heat all night, and has only done it twice when she fell asleep.
I have a job, and I personally enjoy living in my car more than living in an apartment
Kierra
She added: “Usually, I just run my heat for like 20 minutes before I go to bed to warm up my car so I’m able to fall asleep.
“Then my sleeping bag does a pretty good job of keeping me warm through the night.
“Although when I wake up, it is really cold, and then I have to push through that to turn on my car.
“With my car, in order to turn it on, I have to be pressing the brake button, but then it warms up pretty quickly, and I am good to go.”
Staying safe
Kierra said one of the most common questions she gets asked is about whether she feels safe as a woman.
She replied: “The answer is, not all the time, but I do what I can to be as safe as possible.
“When you live in a car, it’s important to be intentional about where you park.
Is it legal to live in a van?
IF you are looking to live in a van to save money or travel, you'll be pleased to know that there are no UK laws stopping you.
However, you must ensure your vehicle has passed its MOT and is fully road legal.
There could also be restrictions on where you can park up to sleep in your van.
For example, local authorities place restrictions on certain streets or lay-bys, and you could be fined if you spend the night there.
It could also be unsafe to stop in certain locations, particularly at night-time.
Check the The Highway Code guide for guidance.
“My personal favourite thing to do is park in places where I blend in with other cars.
“A great way to find places like these is to look for businesses that are open 24/7 and have a decently full parking lot.
“Another place that I love to park is free campsites.
“Also, tinted windows are a must.”
Kierra has racked up nearly 40,000 followers who love seeing her adventures, and learning about her tips for living in a car, from storage to meal ideas.