Free Press World - June 4, 2004
Just 2 Paychecks Away
A Reference To Prepare You - Page 3
5. Other Essentials:

Blankets and pillows: Even in summer some nights can get cold, so carry blankets also. Besides you really may not know how long you are going to be living in your vehicle or where. Try to find down fill type blankets similar to the material used in hunting clothes. They wll keep you much warmer.

Fresh changes of clothes. If you get too warm especially in winter and perspire, you will need to get out of the wet clothes or possibly risk serious illness.

Water: This is obvious. No matter where you are, you should always keep clean drinking water with you. Get used to tap water also. Those days of being cool with the bottled stuff are over for awhile. You can also get a jar of generic tea, or other flavoring to help get you through the tap water taste.

Food: Now we get to something you may not want to hear, or then again it may be just fine with you. You are not going to see a steak dinner for awhile, so now you will just have to focus on staying alive. The number one choice in my mind for survival is 2 words. Top Ramen. These little miracle soup packets can keep you alive for months. Sure you may get a bit leaner eating them, but you will live on to see another sun rising. I recommend also you get the real Top Ramen brand. They are usually no more expensive than the copycat ones, but are a much better quality. Most stores sell these, but I suggest Aldi if you have one near you. They sell a 10 pack for under $2. The other great thing about them is they virtually cook themselves. If you can access some hot tap water somewhere, or even put them in a covered bowl in sunlight for awhile. They can be ready to eat witin a few minutes. OK I know what you are thinking now. That in time you will get tired of them. Well the answer is you probably will not, because you will appreciate them keeping you alive. You can also enhance their flavor by using other inexpensive seasonings such as soy sauce, hot sauce, etc. A good place for affordable seasonings is the asian markets. You can also add other things such as meats, vegetables, or fish for enhancement. There are many canned foods that are affordable for this purpose. By the way I suggest also you only carry canned foods as they do not require refrigeration. Another good product to keep on hand is instant milk. A very good one with Vitamin D is named Friendly Farms, and can also be purchased at Aldi.

Comment: Although my homeless days are over, I still eat Top Ramen. Maybe out of being grateful they helped me survive, or just because I like them. I guess I will never know for sure. You can get creative with these little Top Ramen soups as well. Just check around and you will see that many other recipes can be made based on this little packet. For around $10 these little miracle soups can feed you for a month. Just add water and seasoning.

Vitamins: You should keep these and take them to supplement what your body may be losing. A good complete "one a day" brand should be sufficient for this. They can be bought at dollar type stores.

Smoking Supplies: Although I neither condemn or condone this activity. Some of us still have the habit. You will have to realize that you are not going to be able to afford those premium brands for awhile also. You should look into the alternate solution like generic brands, or even rolling your own. There are kits now that you can even make almost commercial style smokes with by using what is called a tube machine. You can purchase in tobacco shops (I am assuming) large bags of bulk tobacco and a box of tubes for about the price of one carton of regular smokes. This can stretch allot farther than most "pre-fab" ones. Remember though you are in a confined area, so make sure if you must smoke to keep the area well ventilated. Also be careful of hot ashes, etc. If you have a passenger with you, also be considerate of them by maybe smoking outside the vehicle. Of course the alternative to all of this is just quit the habit.

6. Survival

#What you can do to get funds:

This is not going to be the answer you might assume, and that is begging or panhandling. This idea is taboo, and you should forget it immediately. You are still going to have to earn money somehow. If you are young and in good health you might try the daily labor pools. You work each day and get paid each day. There is no long term commitment to this plan. You can work one day, or work 5 days each week. It is up to you what your needs are. If you do this and you get paid at the end of the day remember rule number one "common sense" Just because you have a few dollars in your pocket now do the right things. Fuel up your vehicle, and restock your essentials. Because tomorrow there may not be any work for you to get, and it may be days until there is some again.

So what if your health is not all that good, or you are much older? Another alternative is a plasma donor center. You can earn $15 or more twice a week for just usually 2 hours of your time. Of course they have rules you must abide by such as being disease, drug, and alcohol free. But remember just as before, once you get money in your pocket again "common sense".

There are other ways you can make small amounts of cash as well. Keep your eye on local papers looking for other forms of short term help. If you cant afford a newspaper then go to the library and look at one for free. Which by the way is another good thing to have, and that is a library card. Allot of services you may have to pay for can be accessed at a public library with a little effort on your part, and for free.

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