Cooking

Of course there is lots of food out there that doesnt need to be cooked to be consumed, but when cooking is either vital or just makes your meal taste that much better, having a method to cook your food comes in handy.

zipl0ck baggies seal heat in, and if you place it on say the dashboard of your car in the sun for a hour or two, your food will be piping hot and ready to eat in the military they actually cook food on the radiatior of a just recently driven humvee, i dont know if my radiator would cook my food, but some tin foil, and a few blocks of driving might do the trick.

most convienece stores and gas stations have microwaves. They are all over the place if you look for them.

If you can get away with it, build a fire. it will keep you warm, as well as cook your food. Trust me, sometimes you are goinng to want to overcook your food before you eat it. Especially if you swipe it off a table someplace.

friend..."It is easy to make a temporary stove out of tin cans. You can use anything from gleaned paper and small sticks to sterno, or candles to make heat. There are even small fold up stoves on http://www.sportsmanguide.com for under 20 bucks if you want something to have for a longer period of time, but tin cans are everywhere." - Judith756

friend..."Candle stoves are pretty easy. Take a large tin can or coffee can and poke a bunch of holes in the sides. Then nail three or four long nails through the bottom (so that the pointy ends are inside the can) and spear some long emergency candles onto them. Light the candles and place your bowl or pan or whatever on top of the can. The holes in the sides will provide the flames with oxygen. This takes a really long time to cook with, but it'll do in a pinch." - hellparadiso

Gas

No, not what beans give you. Gas. Its probably the most expensive thing you will need to find along the way.There used to be a method of collecting small amounts of gas from shut off hoses at local gas stations, (and probably still are in small towns) You just squeeze the pump, and out comes some excess gas that had been trapped in the pipes since it was shut off. I have tried this to no avail, but who knows.

Once in a while you can find gas, but be careful its not kerosene or something mixed with gas. I found a 5 gallon gas tank full once in a parking lot. Apparently someone put it down then drove off. More for me.

You can siphin gas, but this is technically stealing. So its up to your morals. You insert a tube preferrably plastic into anothers gas tank, and suck on it till gas starts spouting out. Put the tube in a bucket or your tank, and fill till both are equal. (got this from abbie hoffman, but have never tried it)

Apparently you can just ask people for gas. I haven't tried it yet, but soon i may have to, i heard from a friend all you have to do is approach people at gas stations tell them you are trying to get back to someplace, (insert sob story) and they will give you gas. Said he made a roundtrip cross country vacation out of free gas.

friend..."go to a chuch, say you ran out of gas down the street and you have no money. my church has special coins they give out for the gas station down the street, so that they know your only getting gas. try it.

hell, they will probally feed you too." - phortyzz

Im offerring rideshares all over the country. I call it my long distance taxi service. I base my destinations on where other people want to go, and make due when I get there. This saves me a ton on gas money as i make them pay for it, or most of it, i make new friends, they get where they need to go, and for cheeper than a bus train plane etc. and in better company. Try offering rideshares where you are headed. Not only does this save you money on gas but its better for the environment, by carpooling.

Where ive been so far, Where you are currently.

create your own visited states map

Hmm, lets see.

Ive been to... and it was...

Florida. Born and raised till i was 18, and wisked away by the military. Central Florida is mundane, perhaps im jaded due in part to havinng been born there. But other than a semi-tropical climate, old people dying like flies, and humidity that would put a pimple on Michael Jacksons plastic face, central florida is pretty dead. Daytona bch, famous for Nascar, and driving on the beach, is filthy, but i have a lot of fond memories there, some with my entire faimly some with my sister, and skipping school with her, some with my brother, whom i havent heard from in a long time. But wish he would find us again. Orlando with its flashey roller coasters, and water parks which would always clear out durring the frequent thunderstorms and we would stay behind and wait it out, and ride times were sliced, and we would run up and slide down faster than light. or pee in the lazy river. (you cant help it, they dont call it lazy river for nothing) South Florida, where my sister lives, is full of half naked women, turquoise beaches, 100,000$ cars, night clubs, and nothing that really interests me except wild iguanas and cuban anoles. St Augistine is old, and spanish, and the rest of florida is pretty much the same as GA

S.Korea. and it was eye opening, poor, cordial, and the people would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it, even though they had nothing. The DMZ was a joke, like being in a movie from the 50's. I got spit on by a college student for being an American there, as they are not fond of being occupied, and Americans tend to look down upon Koreans, even mock them quite frequently. I spent a year in S. Korea, and it changed my life. I remember when i came back home American greed, and obesity really struck a nerve with me and i decided I wasnt goinng to be that type of person. I became anti-war, anti-corporation, anti- alot of things really. I suppose I was to some extent before, but not like this.

Georgia. With its laid back atmosphere, and front porch rocking chair townsfolk is wonderful. Syrupee sweet tea is drank like water, and the summer nights are filled with musky air, starry skys, and millions of critters sinnging the blues. I do love hot GA summer nights. Savannah is a great place. Atlanta, not so much.

South Carolina is heading backwords in time, with its rediculous ledgislature, (like how i spell redickulous ledgislature) plenty of segrigation, and stupid cops, and homophobia. The only reason i went to SC was to hang out with friends in the capitol which appropriately flew a rebal flag over the courthouse. I got frisked by a douschebag cop walking with the african americas at the MLK day parade, cause they thought i was gonna start some shit, wearing a peace sign. Go figure.

NC is beautiful, camped out in the Mts, on the blue ridge pkwy, saw a car drive over the cliff one foggy summer night, swam in the clear freezing white waters, visited the hippie comune bubble known as ashville, where everyone is a freak, and if yourew not, youre not welcome. I love the mts.

Pensylvania smells like cow farts, and pig farms, but its super green. everytime i go there the grass is the greenest i have ever seen, i think its all the manuer.

The virginias are prety much the same, west is a bit more yankee, regular is a bit more flat, and the cops in regular virginia are sticklers. Dont speed through there like i did and have to go to court. Its a pain in the ass. These two states are nestled in the middle of the appalachian trail, harpers ferry where john brown took slavery into his own bloody hands, is the centerpiece. Very laid back country here. Highly reccomended for people who love mts, and slow pace of life.

Maryland, and DC are fun to visit, but let someone who lives there drive. Christ, this is where the real New England starts, and the driving is intense. Snuck innto an organic consumers convention and purchased an overpriced book from some communistic union hobos at red emmas book cafe, went to the touristy places in dc in about 3 hours, so I didnt see much, ill have to go back, but only for an anti-war protest or something worth my time there. As my mom ensured me, if i decide to lobby congress about the ad voloreum tax, shes got a list of things i should lobby about in her mind as well.

NYC. Home of immigration, and roughly 9 million egotistical, backstabbing, trendy, poor driving, cracked out, divas. And tourists. which is the only thing ill ever be in nyc. Got my pocket knife confiscated at the ellis island ferry, rode the elevator to the top of the empire state building for free by pretending to be in the military, slept in my car in upper manhattan in 5th st, spent a day in the natural science museum, (everyone should do that) strolled around the metro museum of art, (another everyone should see) go tlost in lower manhattan several times looking for greenwich village, (never really found it) and starved thanks to millions of thrifty homeless people who ramshackled all the trash where i would have gotten some substanance. Visit nyc, but never drive there if you can avoid it. But i do love the subways, there is just something overbarringly romantic about nyc subways. Its my favorite thing about nyc.

Boston rules. There is no way to discribe that place. I want to live in boston, as long as it doesnt get cold, which it does, so i suppose ill never live there. Nothing but scully caps, free food, good looking women, top notch party schools, and dropkick murphies on the radio. Starbucks puts out free food all over boston, the nightlife is amazing, and drivinng was a breeze, (even if it was confusing, it was wayyy better than anywhere else in new england. Yeah i could live in boston.

Ohio. The football stadium in OSU is freaking huge!!! Like seats 100,000 people, and the students cant even get tickets. It was bizzarre, houses are stonewalled. people are fairly republican and close minded, not too informed, and the land is flat, and barron. But its the home of wendeys and there are white castles everywhere. Cleaveland was nice, small, but nice, and lots of parks, and kyackinng teams.

Chicago was a great city, tons of good food, supposidly if youre white you get more perks than if your black, but who knows. The gay district was campy, (over the top), and i hear the museums are awesome, im deffinately going back to chicago. (one of these days)

Philidelphia was big, and confusing, but it had its nitches. Chinatown was warm and welcoming, and i saw a great movie in a park in chinatown, there were tons of murals all over the city, perhaps to keep grafiitti down, but they were great.

Minnesota is different than anywhere i have ever been. Its cold im sure in the winter, but i imagine its nice, summer in minnesota, is full of ticks, which i had never seen before, and was kindof freaked out by, there were bald eagles everywhere, and skunks, and apparently moose. People are nice, and have funny accents, and there are wild christmas trees all over. Duluth is rich, and small, and minneapolis is fair. Its welcoming if you know how to navigate it, but its pretty nutral.

Iowa, nothing but green pastures, and wind farms. If you have never seen a wind farm check out iowa, its breathtaking, literally.

New orleans, ive never seen anything like this place. A mixture between 1950s europe, miami, and 1920s well, honestly, i dont think there is anything like it anywhere on earth. The people are just as friendly as can be, talk real twangy, always say hi, rarely honk at you if you stop on the road, the dumpster diving is good, you drive down one block of million dollar homes, and the next is delapitated ghetto, hurricane s destroyed already failing structures, women as big as semi trucks dance in the streets, there are more beads than leaves in tress well into oct. now where near mardi gras, the music has its own flavor, new orleans funky brass bands rule the night, and everyone loves them. Havent tried the food yet, but i cant wait!

Making Money

Craigslist is a great place to find day labor under the table jobs like moving furniture, or painting a fence. Really any classified ad is a good place to start. There are day labors in every city just about, ask a homeless person where to find one if you are hurting for cash. Sometimes they will feed you in the process. But these are long hard hours, and you dont get paid enough for your hard work.

If you have nothing better to do with your life, cans and bottles will make you money. But while you are at it, pick up every penny you see on the sidewalk, pick up every scratched off lottery ticket and double check it, (sometimes drunk people scratch them off but cant figure out the rules and toss them not realizing they won) pick up cok3 caps, and sell them online, sell scrap metal, sell your time on craigslist, sell your soul on ekbay, sell the world to aliens on a cb radio, there are a million ways to make money, use your head.

There is always street performing. I saw a guy once holding a radio playing music, and lip singing to it, at the line for the Ellis island ferry. He was actually making money! This made me think. Technically you can just ask for money, but why not do something entertaining for it? Like read a book out loud. Since ive seen several street performers, and they all do something anyone can do (for the most part) so i think when i got some free time, ill give it a whirl. Although talking to some of them, in some areas they have to have city permits, otherwise they get slapped with hefty fines. (what kind of bull crap is that?)

my friend vegasjay rented a 70$ gorilla suit, and got tourists to take a picture with the gorilla for 5$ a pop, he banked on that one, and think about the naked cowboy, play guitar naked on roller skates, and people will pay you. Theres a million things you can do for cash.

which brings up another suggestion i heard today. If you can find a willing significant other, and a cheap ring (maybe from a thrift store or something) you can always propose as a scam to get things for free. People love lovers, especially newly weds, so take a knee whenever wherever, even get some resteraunt staff in on it, you might even get better seats at that event you have been wanting to go to.

While were on the subject of scams, you can also purchase (or dive depending) some military camo, then wear it, clean shaven and stroll around and see if you can pray off of peoples patritisim. The other day i really wanted to go to the top of the empire state buildinng, (for the elevator ride) but it was outrageously 18$ per person! At the bottom of the sign it said discount with military id, and free for men and women in uniform. So i went back the next day shaved, and in uniform, no joke i got escorted to the front of a 2 hour line, they didnt even check my id, and escorted directly up and down the buildinng.  When i came down, i even got an elevator all to myself! It was fantastic! So keep that in mind

Laundromats

Probably the most useful places on earth for homeless, besides the library.

Why?

You can clean your laundry, fill your water bottles, find an electrical outlet to plug in a computer, or cell phone, take a bird bath, take a dump, charge youre electronics, search for change (from under the machines, and inside the machines as well), collect clothing (from lost and found piles, if not downright take some depending on your morals) Rest for a good few hours as a patron, and not get hassled, meet hot women, and in some cases get on the internet all in the same place.

Chat it up with locals, and get info from them on a number of things, even perhaps a good meal if you play your cards right, and in some movie script cases, a date! Whats not to love about laundromats?

 

Cops and Law Enforcement

Never ever consider a weary cop a friend. Cops hate homeless people, and I think its due to the nature of their job. Cops are not hired to protect people, their job is to protect private property. Therefore homeless do not own private property, and are scum deamed to be fucked with for this fact. The best thing you can do to an inquisitive cop is approach them first with legit blue collar question. "Can you tell me where the nearist bank is? I need to make a deposit." "Where is the best mechanic shop around?" these type of questions establish you as a worthy citizen of society, and generally the cop will change their mind about you in an instant. Cops are tools. They are not your friend, but dont make them your enemy. If you anger a cop, you are liable to have a miserable time. So kiss their ass, and be polite, then take your frustrations out on a pillow as soon as they leave. Because although you can learn alot of useful street information in jail, you most likely dont want to be in there. If you do find yourself in a situation, ask some professionals on a legal advice forum where both cops and legal consultants waste their time for free such as findlaw.com

Bathrooms

Where do I take a you know what?

Well friends, there are a million places for you to take a dump or a pee. (Unless your in NYC). Ladies you think you cant drop the kiddies off at the pool like guys do, but in all honesty, you just think you cant do it. When you see a hooker pop a squat in an alley, and be perfectly content with it, you know you can do anything. After all when you have got a turtle head pokin' out, you have got to go. And why should you prarrie dog it?

In South Korea people squat regardless. They are trained to do it. They even have squatters made for that thing. There is no comforting cold toilet seat to sit on. Ive taken a dump like this several times when there was no other place to go. What can you dodo? Just make sure you always have some sort of toilet paper on you. If you dont have the money for toilet paper, snatch up some napkins form any random restaurant you may visit. Really any store with a bathroom is subject to having free TP. Or something of the equivalent.

Dont be ashamed you have to poop, its a part of life. Do your thing and be done with it.

Guys i dont need to tell you where you can pee. Ive seen guys pee in alleyways, off rooftops, off boats, on cars, out car windows, in bottles, you name it, they have done it. Especially when they are drinking. But ladies, its not as easy for you is it? I suppose you could carry around a funnel to direct your flow better, but thats up to you. Since i cant really say much about you, any ideas from the estrogen family would be highly appreciated.

When it comes to places to use public bathrooms, you have the usual. Libraries, fast food joints, grocery stores (yes they have them always you just have to look for them, sometimes go in the back through the employee doors like i did yesterday) shopping malls, super-centers, public parks, schools, and the list goes on.

My favorite bathrooms are handicapped bathrooms, cause you can do so many things in there. Shower in the sinks, poop, read, sleep, procreate, its very private. The possibilities are endless.

Feel free to clog the toilets as well. Its sort of my calling card. I like to do it because i like to disgust people from their jobs, and plant a seed in their minds that they dont need their jobs as much as they think they do. In an obscure sort of way, its my way of telling people to up and leave and venture out on their own. To reassess their direction they have chosen in life. All with one simple unflushable poop.

Safe Places to Sleep

Some places are more safe than others. Trust your gut, and what others tell you. The best place to sleep is in a house in a bed. We all know that. But you dont have a house, and most likely dont have a bed.

Therefore, check out couchsurfing.com to find a friendly bed near you. You may hve to do some serious asking multitudes of people, after all its a free site, hosted by people with lives of their own. So try it first. If you cant get a place on there....

You can try local community shelters. However shelters are often filled with the homeless people who are homeless because of outside circumstances. Most of these people are lovely people to chat with, but some are paranoid, drunk, theives. So hold onto your valuables tightly.

If you have a car, this is also another very safe method, contrary to popular belief. The most hassle you may have to deal with is construction in the morning waking you up, or an occassional cop making sure you are not dead, or taking up a private spot. As for where to sleep in your car, wal-mart parking lots are great, you can use the bathrooms 24 hours a day, and there is security as well, and usually a bunch of other people sleeping in their cars / motor homes around you. if you cant find a lot like this, you can sleep at bus / train stations, churches, apartment complexes, houses that are up for sale and vacant, and the list goes on. I dont recommend parking garages, or private lots, as you might be woken up by the sound of a tow truck hauling your car away, who may still charge you even though you are in your car.



If you dont have a car, the best thing to do is sleep during the day, and move at night. You can sleep in public parks with no hassle, (yes even central park) landromats, libraries (sometimes), beaches, college campuses, the subway, the bus, the bus stop, behind buildings, rooftops, ect.

At night its a different story.

I have seen people sleep in multitudes of places, some out in the open, some hidden very well. Most people who do sleep at night find places off the beaten path where their likely hood of being spotted by cops or other bums or college kids looking to f with them is slimmer. The problem with this method is that if something were to happen, you are secluded and generally helpless outside of your own self defense. I have seen homeless people make tents out of tarp and suction cups and sleep under store fronts, bridges, bushes, trees, parked cars, you name it, anywhere they can find they will sleep. Remember, if you are asleep outside someplace you are libel to be hassled, no matter what time of day.
Therefore, you can always look for a place to sleep inside. Some call this breaking and entering so be careful where you sleep. You could be arrested. i have slept in abandon houses, houses for sale, and college dorms during the off season, but you can sleep in barns, sheds, treehouses, basicly anywhere you can get in from the elements while not causing a scene.

climate has an important role in his decision....

i really should update this part of the blog, i think ill go do it.

in the meantime,
a decent $20 sleeping bag will do the trick at night, durring the day, if its not to cold the sun does wonders for heat.

usually being awake at night has many advantages as well, its cooler to move about, you can find food easier in dumpsters, etc. and all sorts of other things....

by about 4 or 5am you will be tired and by then a nice hour or two nap is convenient, as cops are off doing other things, people have left the bars, and everything is pretty calm,

Related Homeless sleeping news

Clothes

Clothes are not optional in the majority of urban united states. Unfortunately. therefore you must pack them for your travels. What you pack depends on a variety of different things.

If you venture to a warm climate, shorts and skirts might be more appropriate. as would sandles.

whereas a cold climate you will need warmer clothes to wear lots of layers. Layers are the key, big imobile coats wont do you justice. You can improvise layers with newspaper, or anything that can puff out your clothing. This is not about fashion. If you are into fashion, dont become homeless. As all your clothes must serve some purpose.

From a friend..."If you're just road tripping, only take a few changes of clothes and LOTS of underwear and socks.  I learned this when I backpacked around Europe a little.  Unless you get really dirty, clothes can last you several days without having to be washed.  Underwear is another story...

Also, if you want room in your suitcase or backpack for souviners or whatever, pack your oldest, most worn out underwear and socks.  Then as you wear them, throw them out.  Instant room!" - starving_artist

Clothes should be durable, lightweight, warm, dry, match your situation or character (see the food section) in case you have to look a certain way to be someplace, and clean as much so as possible, cause again, nobody likes a smelly bum.) ((except my friend lilac. she seems to find them exoticly attractive.))

When packing clothes, the best space saving way to pack them is to roll them up. This method not only saves you space in your pack, but also keeps them relatively wrinkle free

Clothes can double as napkins, bandages, satchels, rope, weapons, life jackets, shelter, and several other things depending. So chose your clothes wisely.

You can find clothes in several places, but the best place is donation centers. These can be churches, goodwills, shelters, etc. Dumpsters turn out their fair share of clothing, as do lost and found departments. Dont be afraid to take some more clothes and switch out your wardrobe whenever feasible. You can always change your wardrobe in a goodwill. leave your old clothes and change into new ones. then put your old ones back on a rack so as to not look suspicious.

Some people steal clothes, but there really is no need to. They can be found for realitively cheap, or free in multitudes of places. Thrift stores and army navy stores are the best though. and be sure to check their donation bins during off hours. You will be supprised how much you can obtain this way. The signs generally say please do not leave clothes out front or outside bins during non-buisness hours, and therefore its not stealing. its cleaning up after ignorant people.

Water

The most useful, and predominant item you will need. You need it to shower, to wash your clothes, your dishes, and filter your body. Where can you find it? Just about everywhere. When you cant find it, you will be in trouble. Therefore everytime you are near some, take some. Always have as much water on you as you can carry. There is never too much water you should have on your body. Fill several nalgines, (classy water bottles) or any bottle you can find with it. You never know when you might not have any access to fresh water.

Drinking water can be found in libraries, schools, resteraunts, grocery stores, parks, laundrymats shopping malls, and some fresh water streams (if need be iodine or chlorine tablets can be used to purify water you feel might be contaminated which you can pick up at any army navy store ((army navy stores are a homeless persons dream shop, scour them with great pride.)))

Water to wash up in can be found in any public place. I prefer handicaped restrooms to be used as bird baths (sponge baths) as the privacy and space can be idealy used. But you can wash up just about any place you have access to some water. make sure to hit the private parts when possible, these places (under arms, groin, buttocks, feet, and face) get the most dirty, and you always want to have a clean appearance. Clean bums get more privlidges than dirty ones. Nobody likes oder.

Showers can be found for a few bucks at YMCA's, colleges (sometimes) parks, truck stops, and public pools. You can also find a friend rather easily who might be willing to let you shower. Couchsurfing.com is a great place to start. I just put an ad in craigslist saying i was traveling through, and in need of a shower, as i kept waking myself up at night when i rolled over. My ad was asking anyone in town if i could use their home shower. Got several responses. You have to be careful with this method however, trust your gut instinct, dont go to some creepy old dudes house for a shower, and get raped. Take everything into consideration.

Washing your clothes can be done in a clean river, a laundrymat, a pool at night, a bucket of water, etc.

Food

Food is the most abundant, yet most needed nutrient (apart from water) your body needs in order to function. Do not deprive yourself of food, cause you dont have any money. There are several places you can find free food.

First and foremost, just ask for it. Yes just ask for it. There are a few methods that will get you food this way that you should be willing to try. First off. Dress the part of your audiance. (I.E. if you are trying to get food from truckers, passing as a hitchiker, is a good idea. If you are trying to get food from a blue collar buisness owner, dress like a blue collar worker who is down on their luck. If you are trying to get food from a 5 star resteraunt, dress as fancy as possible and complain about everything)

How to ask for food is an art form. Some people will ask the store owners if they can rummage through the trash in the back without making a mess, and often times the owner will be embarrassed by this, and just give you food. Others make up this ellaborate story of how they are down on their luck and traveling, and yadda yadda yadda, but be careful with this method as most people are impatient with bums and mooches, and will refuse you anything. The most successful method is to offer to work off a meal. Sometimes they wont even have you work, but will be so supprised you want to work for it, they will give it to you free of charge. No work involved.

some tips on asking for a handout are...

always ask for something lower grade than what youre shooting for, for example, if you want a soda, say you want a cup of water, (if they dont upgrade you, you can always fill up at the soda fountain like they care anyway) another example is some friends swear by the approach of just asking the people if you can sift through their trash, and mention you are traveling through town. they say the owners generally give you stuff rather than have you out back diving.

look semi-clean. nobody likes a smelly bum anywhere, be polite, and friendly, and accept defeat if you dont get anything. there are plenty of other places to ask.

managers, and franchises are less likely to give handouts as opposed to one of a kind and mom and pop places.

dont hold up the line chit chatting, wait till the line dies down, and if it doesnt, go elsewhere. Lurching about not buying anything is a bad idea.

A friend recommends "don't pass up any church function - Tell em you're hungry and smelled their chili supper or pancake or fishfry-ask if you could help with the dishes or clean up- for a plate of food- and stand by afterwards waddle back to your bike -if they'll let you leave-

and along with church functions protests, weddings, and tailgate parties are also a good start to look for food. Just walk around mingle, pretend to be interested, and eat food.

shelters generally have a food donation bin, but you have to be on it, cause people in shelters have a homing device for the donation trucks, and if you arnt there within the min the truck arrives swinging fists of fury to get a handout, you miss out. Its cut throat at shelters, and this is a last resort. but none the less an option.

heck today i just strolled into a casino, took some food off a table at the buffett where someone had been sitting, then proceeded to go up a few flights of stairs only to find a caddy with room service food on it, i took it of course, cause the people are going to call complain, and the hotel will just cook them more food, and i get a free meal out of it.

If you're living in a campground at a lake or park- Ask the weekenders if you could have any leftovers they may have- don't forget to ask for the alum. cans! Do this Early Sun Morn. I've been given the entire camp- tent, cooler and all" Gnarlychattles.

Another friend said "I used to hang out at local fishing spots where a lot of people went everyday and when I saw someone throw a legally keepable fish back then I'd ask if they could let me have the next one or two that they might catch. They always said yeah and that they loved to catch fish but not clean or cook or eat them." - ursusdave

Friend..."A lot of commercial growers will let you glean. Sometimes you have to do it through an organization, or you can just ask. They can't get everything in the field, and a lot of times they can't sell everything. When I lived in WA, I was part of a gleaning network--we would go pick great apples, cherries, plums, and all kinds of things. My kids and I picked a few hundred pounds of apples and made them into cider, pies, ate fresh, etc. We also got potatoes one time. Some gleaning programs get all of the excess food from stores and distribute it to the members. A note about the corn--sometimes a few rows of corn on the outside are feed corn, not sweet corn, so make sure you get the right stuff." - terra

local markets are good places to find cheap food as well, if not wait till its over and dive the bins. People toss tons of stuff away that they didnt sell durring the weekend.

If you dont want to ask you can swipe it. This is a little different than stealing in that, you just walk in, take what is offered to the public free, and make out like a bandit. For example. You can walk into any free continental breakfast serving hotel and act like you spent the night. Chances are the night shift switched out long before the breakfast is served and therefore the front desk has no idea if you stayed there or not. Take as much as you can eat and stuff into a baggy. The same goes for taking free samples at grocery stores and displays in the mall or wherever you find them. Take as much as you want, who cares? If the place can afford to have them you can take them all if you like. Go to the deli and ask for a slice of a couple diffrent meats & cheese. Resteraunts often have free salad and breadsticks. Eat them while drinking water, and leave, (leaving a few bucks for the waitress if you like, after all its not her fault she has to serve a bum). College campuses have tons of free food especially around orentation week. If you look like a student, not only can you eat lots of free food, but mingle right and you can han gout at parties, and maybe even go home with a few dates!

There is always dumpster diving. Grocery stores, drug stores, basicly anywhere that serves or offers food is free game to dumpster dive. There is food out there for the taking, you just have to get over the ick factor. Food from the trash is subject to the five senses test. Inspect it throughly, and you will be fine. And if you eat something bad, your body can handle itself. You might vomit, but at least you got some nutrients. Although ive been eating out of the trash for close to two years now, and have never vomited from anything i ate out of the trash. I actually eat better out of the trash than if i had to pay for my food. My favorite places to dive are co-ops, and local organic food chains. There you can find the best food for your body for free. Becareful about diving though, conflicts with shop owners and cops are common. be respectful, and leave when they ask you to. And come back when you feel it is safe again. Most people turn their head when they spot a diver. The ick factor is a nice buffer. Use it to your advantage but be careful. Dont overdue it. And get yourself in trouble.

Pick up an edible plant guide, and you will be surprised at the infinate number of common plants and weeds you can digest safely. While youre at it, pick up an edible animal/insect guide with steps on how to dress them as well. Most animals are edible.

You can steal food if you are desperate, but I dont recommend it. If you do steal food, there are guides online on how to steal without getting caught. But the problem with shoplifting is it becomes addictive, and when you get addicted, you get caught. So use it only when you have no other choice.

Eating food others leave behind is a good idea as well. You spot half a sandwich, you can eat it. if you are worried about germs, take lots of vitamin c. Or rip off the bitten off part. And just eat the rest.

there is soo much food out there for the taking, you should never go hungry.

Big cities vs small cities. In big cities you can steal more food, and eat more food off the tables. But you are less likely to get a free meal by asking for it. There is too much competition with other crafty homeless people and generally store owners are over the initial luster of the idea of generosity.

small cities, you are less likely to get away with shoplifting, but you can get a long way by mingling and feeding off of american generosity.

Where to start?

Quit your job.

Punch your jack-ass boss in the face for making you slave over benighn meaningless bullshit day after day of your wasted life. After all, why do we work? To pay rent? Find yourself a backpack, and a pair of closed-toed shoes, as well as sandels. Three changes of clothes, and several water bottles.

All this subject to change depending on you.

For example if you have a car, you can plan on sleeping in it, and having extra space to store items you think you may need. But keep in mind, a car is more expensive than a backpack, and therefore is still a bill. It takes gas, oil, and other fluids which need upkeep, it is liable to breakdown or pop a tire, and it cost money to park in some cases. Take this into consideration, you will have to work harder to maintain a vehicle, but it will do more for you in the end.

after all, you can venture out farther, collect more stuff to sell, and have more privacy, as well as be removed from the elements. All of which is harder on foot, but not impossible.

Once you have decided your method of transportation, (usually a combination of the two) you now need to figure out how to survive.

Wouldnt you love to be homeless? (start here)

 

This is meant to be a guide to help anyone currently, about to, or dreaming of living on the streets of the United States, (eventually it will extend to overseas when I get a passport). As with everything, take it with a grain of salt. It is after all but only a guide. God bless America land of oppertunities!

Guide to being homeless categories of interest....

Where to start?

Water

Food

Clothes

Cops and Law Enforcement

Laundromats

Recipes For Cheap

Cooking

Bathrooms

Safe places to sleep

Hygene

Making Money

Gas 

My Ideology and personal epiphanies along the way...

 

About the Author...

Life on the run, has me in an unpredictable predicament. Living out of my car and my backpack has been the ultimate reason to start this journal, which hopefully can help anyone who is either in my situation, or would just like to get away from it all, and live on the streets.

 

 

Feel free to contact me at any time, and suggest new tips I havent thought of, or just comment on anything I have written. Most of these tips came from either myself, or friends, and homeless people I have met aong the way. What works for one, may not work for everyone, so take what you can use, and ad where you feel the need.

A friends suggestion...

"Get yourself a full tenter's camping set up, you can scrounge up much of it, camp in legal places whenever you can, ask for leftovers and believe me there ain't a campground out there that is not overburdened with discarded stuff like Coldman Fuel for camp stoves and coolers and folding chairs and you may get anything from that source. Communicate well and like to get to know people, many people in this world just want and need some good conversation so stay clean and be yourself and you should do well as a travlin' man. " - ursusdave

If you plan on being on the road for some time, invest in a laptop with wireless connection, you can find an unprotected wireless router to connect to just about anywhere. Fuck paying for internet. If a coffe shop is all you can find, sit outside of it on the sidewalk till you get kicked out, or offered some free food. The internet is your best advantage. If you cant afford a laptop, you can always find free internet and a computer someplace. Libraries are the most common, but colleges, coffee shops, even bookstores can be a good source of free internet.If you stay with people, ask to use their computer. You will want the internet for a number of reasons. it keeps you connected to friends, it can help you find a quick job, a rideshare, a new friend, even a relationship.