Been Down South and Back

December 20, 2013

My last official day on the clock. I am in the South where I don’t have to think about being homeless for a while. I can stretch out on beds, air mattresses, and couches for the next two weeks. Cooking and laundry facilities are readily available.

I brought back all food that was in the refrigerator at the school. I packed the food in 3 different insulated lunch bags. The cabinet food filled up one suitcase (30 pounds). I started eating food that I brought in the lunch bags and cooking with some of the ingredients that I brought down South. No one asked me why I brought food with me. 

January 7, 2014

I spent Christmas break with the family in another state down South. It was a great break. I caught up on the assignments in my online class. So far, my score in that class is a 50%. I really got behind with the whole job-lay off. However, during the break, I worked on some future assignments.

I left my car at Aunt and Uncle Theo’s house. I asked Aunt Theo and that was ok with her. I didn’t ask Uncle Theo to look after the car. I didn’t offer him the car keys in case it needs to be moved. I didn’t ask him to keep an eye on the plastic I put over the dent in the trunk so rain doesn’t get inside the trunk. I didn’t want to ask for anything.

I’m happy with the work being done on my parents’ house. Now my parents have gotten a notice saying they have to go to court about a property they own that’s been vacant for years. The city may tear it down, then charge them for it. I wish I had the means to help them with that property, too.


I won’t say a lot about the stay down South since this blog is mostly about my experiences living in my car. Now, I’m back up north and I’ve been staying with Jasmine for two nights. A historically chilling weather pattern has passed across the country and the temperatures where in the single digits last night. Jasmine and her husband were worried about me and invited me to stay, and I’m not crazy. 

I have nowhere to go during the day (when I would normally go to work). My plan during this layoff was to hang out at fast food restaurants, libraries, parks (with the car running), and store parking lots (same). However, I am thankful to be sitting her in my pink-flowered long johns and bare feet on a queen size bed with cable tv across the room.

Silver Linings

12-13-13
(I started this post, then forgot to post it). 


So, trying to find some good stuff in this lay-off, and it's not hard to find. 

I started recording sessions with my kids. One school district wants recordings, and, to be honest, more of them might want that as well. Also, recordings help me to be a better teacher. Without this layoff, I would not have made that a priority in my teaching growth. It takes practice to get it right and get kids used to being taped. I had to start early as possible and do some retakes.

One of my coworkers just showcased this great website that she built for us coworkers in November (then she was laid off). I've started creating an online portfolio using the same website that she did. I've been wanting to create an online portfolio of my teaching, so that's an idea that’s overdue. It will make applying for jobs easier than trying to carry around a paper portfolio. Many places want some things sent online anyway.

I applied to 2 schools online. I see that they are asking for student achievement data. I don’t see anyone asking about samples of student work. It's good that I noticed this early on so I won't waste time gathering information I don't need and neglect to get the information that I DO need. So, I sat down with the educational specialist yesterday and we analyzed the data and crunched numbers. 

As a sped teacher, my successes may involve examples of one student here and one student there, so I need to find a format for putting together that information.
I need to get the information together and one big binder (I was using two before). I need to scan evaluations and ditch the originals. I can scan student achievement data as well. I need to keep original test scores and transcripts, student work, license, Also post on the website my resume (not references). I keep a file of answers to essay questions people are asking. I also need my teaching philosophy. I need to publish an article, or  need to create learning materials and setup my self as someone other teachers come to  in order to purchase helpful resources.

This is tiring, and filling out applications was boring. I have college coursework that’s due on Sunday. I really need to work on that. however, the support I’ve gotten from my school is so overwhelmingly supportive it makes this a lot easier.

I prayed in Septmeber, “God, I’ve done all I can now to help msyefl financially. I’ve given up a place to stay – there is nothing more I can do. Nothing more I can give up or cut out of the budget. I need You to step in and help me now.” Maybe this is His way.

If I get a good-paying job, I’m so tempted to just get an apartment and stop the car-thing, but I really need to persevere until the end with the whole debt-paydown thing. I don’t want to be in this situation again.

I don’t think I’ll apply for anymore jobs until I file unemployment because they want to see that I apply twice a week, and I need my efforts to count for something (like an unemployment check). I mean, if I get a decent job offer then that makes up for it all, but I can’t accept the first thing that comes along. I’m putting $50K on my applications as my desired salary. That might make them scoff. What would the unemployment office say if I turned down a lower salary than the one I am making now?

Month 4 Review and New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions and end-of-month-4 review

In 2013 I
-gave 4 kids the summer of a lifetime
-paid $2000 in debt and saved $1300 in emergency savings
-lived in my car for 4 months
-lost my job
-learned a new program for helping kids visualize when they read
-unsuccessfully tried to find out why I have breathing trouble
-lost 15 lbs and kept it off for more than 6 months.

In the month of December, I faced major stress events by taking a deep breath, coming up with an action plan, and remembering nothing that happens to me is as bad as losing Trystin. I put my financial snowball on hold while I dealt with being in crisis mode. In my job search, I realized that I am pulled towards schools that are dysfunctional because I know the bar for me as an educator is low. I decided to stop thinking like that. I will not shy away from schools that are high performing or job descriptions that seem demanding - I can do it. I am a capable teacher. 


2014 New Year’s Resolutions
1. plan more social events rather than just responding to invitations
2. pay off all credit cards ($7K)
3. keep a clean car with nothing in the cab and anything that is in the trunk is in a container
4. use up the art and craft supplies that are in storage
5. faithfully use a time management system
6. weigh 135 lbs
7. get new eyeglasses
8. drink one bottle of water a day
9. eat fresh fruit daily
10. complete a Spanish workbook

Chitchat about money

December 1, 2013

Yesterday I told Uncle Theo that I have repossession of the condo and that the current rent doesn’t cover the mortgage. I didn't tell him that I have a surplus each  month in my budget and 'm paying down debt despite the mortgage situation.

He told me that he has started using Title Loans and check cashing places. He was looking in the mail yesterday for a check that didn’t come as anticipated. He wanted to cash it that night.

It feels so good to not live paycheck to paycheck, although the trade-off is living in my car. I’d rather live in my car and be more free than go back to being a slave to the paydates on the calendar.

Dec 6

Mama sounds so excited about the work being done on the house. I hope it’s a good quality. they have a storm going on down there right now, so we’ll see if the roof is really patched up. I wonder what Daddy thinks about the work. She has had trouble sending me pictures. I also hope she hasn’t used up more than $5000, (just wishful thinking).

Uncle Theo's 180

Sept 14

I told Uncle Theo today that I lost my  job. He offered me his place and said I have a place until I get myself on my feet. I just looked at him. 

Did he realize that just 3.5 months ago he raised the rent on me, wanted to charge me by the day to keep my dog, and told me that he felt I was taking advantage of him? Then he added that he used to think I was just holding back money. Sasha thinks he's had some time to rethink things and now he's having a change of heart. 

I told him I started my emergency fund and paid off all small bills in October. Maybe later, I’ll tell him when I’ve paid off credit cards and about the work being done on my parents' house down South.  I’ll have to tell him that I made tremendous sacrifices to pay off on bills and maybe tell him that I didn’t have to pay Jasmine rent (which would be true). 

I shared with him about Dave Ramsey’s teachings. He said he was in crisis mode because of two bills that have come up, but that’s not crisis mode. Those are ongoing things that he knew were on the back burner. I asked if he had a budget. He thought about it (which means no), then said, "Yes, the bills that they send me." So, he doesn’t know what a budget is and what crisis mode is (or a real emergency). I want to lend him and Aunt Theo Dave Ramsey’s CDs and encourage them to listen to them. 

My coworkers are probably more stressed about the lay-offs and reductions in hours than me. People have mortgages and rent. I don’t. People have car notes. I don’t. People don’t have savings in the bank. I didn’t either 4 months ago. Even though I’m living in my car, and that’s a gigantic trade-off, I know that in January, I will still pay my bills and eat. Nothing much will change. Even with unemployment, I may have enough to pay bills and eat, especially with the second job and Asana’s rent

I know that when people seem to be ok, that’s not always the truth. We tend to live up to the amount of money we earn. Even when we earn nice money, we tend to spend more. So, many coworkers probably live on every penny that they and their spouses bring in and can't handle a reduction.

I went ahead and called credit card companies, and one of them won’t charge late fees for 3 months. The other said I can’t skip payments, but offered to lower my interest rate to 13%, then they realized, it’s already 13%! Then the lady on the phone asked “Is there anything else we can do for you?” Yeah, allow me to skip payments! 

I will put student loan on deferment for 6 more months. I will live on the back pay owed me. That should last 2 months, and I will file unemployment.

Looking Middle Class While Living in a Car

(This post may seem random, but I've been intending to post it for some time. )

Concealing Homelessness

When I’m in public, I want to look like I’ve stepped out of a vehicle – not slept in a vehicle. In the morning, I want to look like I washed up at home. So I work hard to keep myself clean, hair looking good (not matted down). Since I've been car-camping, I keep my hair braided quite often. 

I keep the car clean and try to keep the inside uncluttered to not draw attention. I used to try to make the bed and covers in the back seat lie down flat during the day. Now that I have a mummy bag, I just stuff it into its bag during the day and leave the whole bag in the back seat. 

I try to keep the number of objects in my car down to a minimum. I want to keep the windows clean and  car vacuumed in between washes, but I haven't been so great at doing that. I was trying to get to the point where I leave work daily as soon as work is done at least 2 days a week.

I’m very mindful of how much time I spend in one place using my computers. I don’t get kicked out of restaurants because I take my laptops and papers and I set up an office space and stay busy. People don’t bother working professionals or students who are studying. One day a McDonald's worker walked over to a guy who was sleeping with his head on the table and told him he can't put his head on the table. He looked like he was so in need of sleep, that I wondered if he, too, was homeless. He wasn't even there as long as I had been. 

To blend in, I may pull up to a sleeping spot and if people are walking around, I will take out my phone and pretend to talk or actually call somebody. I make up excuses for people who are wondering why I was at McDonald's when they called me two hours ago and I’m still there. Or why I need to warm up food in their microwave rather than at home. Or why my trunk is so full.

Aunt Theo rides in my car more than anyone else. I wonder sometimes if she notices anything – trunk full (or how I avoid opening the trunk), houseshoes under the drivers seat, gloves and hand warmer packets in the back seat. Last week I showed up at her house with pants on under my skirt. She asked what was going on. I laughed and told her I refused to get sick this year and it was a cold day that day. I took the pants off once we got to church. I reminded her that I got the flu last year around this time. She laughed and agreed and encouraged me to do whatever I have to do to keep from getting sick. 

no taxes

Wednesday, Dec 4

I went to HR Block thinking this was going to be the last time I do my taxes and I could file tonight and look forward to a refund. However, the tax guy I spoke to this time was very particular about me needing certain documents. I think I will go to storage and find ALL the past tax documents and take him the whole box until we finish all the the taxes for  last year and any previous years I’m having him look at.


It was really discouraging to leave there and not make any progress. I went to get some food to eat to cure the stress, and found out KFC has really tasty green beans.