<prompt> Human: Hello, Ive been living in a vehicle for about a year now. I go to trade school about 35 hours a week and I just got a skilled labor job. I can work pretty much as many hours per week as I want and Ill be making about 13hr after taxes. I have a Pell grant which pays for my tuition and I spend the leftovers on tools and equipment. I have no bills or expenses other than foodgasoline, a gym membership and vehicle maintenance. The Pell grant has made me ineligible for food stamps. Food is a tricky situation for me. Since I dont have any way to store perishable foods, I must either eat out or buy non perishables. Eating dried or canned food everyday kinda sucks after a while so I end up eating out a lot. I know thats an expensive habit but it feels like I dont really have a choice sometimes. Ive always been pretty bad with money. When I have money, I feel the urge to spend it which obviously just makes it go away quicker. I have a bank account but the balance has been close to zero for quite a while so Im not even sure if its still open. Ive heard a lot of good things about this sub so I just wanted to get yalls advice. Thank you. EDIT: I cant believe how many responses this got, thank all of you so much, theres some great advice here.Assistant: I am a plumber and I lost my business in the 07 fiasco and shortly after the girlfriend, etc. so I lived in one of my plumbing vans with my tools while I found work, then while I worked to get a payment on my new place in a new city.Rice and beans are your best friends, you are gonna hate it but, I have gotten used to rice again and eat it almost every night. A propane camp stove not enclosed in van is awesome and can be had cheap at wally world for cooking, cook everything on this including your coffee even 2 bucks at 7-11 or wawa depending on loc. coffee adds up. Eggs, try and source fresh eggs from a farmers market or egg farm that arent washed, they will last about a month in a cooler without refrigeration. Test by floating in water if they float throw them out but people with chickens dont refrigerate the eggs, my grandmother thought it was absurd to not put eggs under the kitchen sink.vegetables last, just buy the stuff thats warm at the grocery store and it stays okay in a cooler. I was lucky because I am a backpacker and all this stuff carried over. Canned meats are expensive but last awhile, I enjoy spam so its fine but, theres chicken and all sorts of stuff that can be mixed to be alright. powdered milk, etc. etc. Also get those little drink mixes so you dont get sick of water or drink a bunch of soda crap, you still want to be relatively healthy.Go to a walmart or whatever and buy one of those 7 gallon cans for water and you can find places to fill it, you will see at your work or school I just asked my customers and they were alright with it, they of course didnt know I was homeless and struggling to hold on.There is a bunch of stuff you can do and live pretty alright, especially since you dont have to hide everything, then put your tools back in place and work out of your house, haha. Stop with the fast food its not doing you any favors, its expensive and unhealthy. When this is over you will be a better person IMHO I was pretty egotistical before and now I am grateful for everything I have and can savor glass of Ice water like nobodys business ha. I also recommend reading about money, your trade, philosophy or anything non fiction that really interests you because you have nothing but, time right now use it for good. I worked 60 hours some weeks homeless and still had so much downtime it was crazy, get a library card its free.if you need more help let me know it sucks while its going on but, I am a better man from it, I now work for my best friend, started a small business for my girlfriend, own a house fucking crazy right and have a daughter coming in September. so life is pretty damn good considering.Human: Awesome! Thats all great advice. Thank you. Im glad everything worked out for you. Im pretty optimistic about the future.  <response>: Powdered milk is a good one that he mentioned that I didnt see elsewhere. For cereal, etc. 