Living in my car is a great way to save money. It eliminates my biggest expense by far–housing. I don’t have any car payments. I don’t have any debt. I’m living a rent-free life.
I’ve decided to track every dollar I spend while living in a car in 2024. I’m curious to see how much I typically spend in a month. I’ve listed my expenses from the most to the least and rounded everything off in dollars.
This is my second month of tracking expenses. Here’s what I spent in February 2024 while living in my car.
Groceries/Toiletries – $225
I spent just $225 on groceries and toiletries in February, compared to $307 in January. Once again, this was my largest expense. This category will likely be my most significant expense for most months I track expenses.
Gas – $146
I spent $141 on gas, considerably more than last month. I also included $5 I spent on windshield wiper fluid for my car. I did a couple of weekend road trips, including the President’s three-day holiday weekend.
Car Registration – $135
I renewed my car registration for two years at $135, so I’m good until 2026. I also celebrated two years of owning this car, which I paid for in cash—no car payments!
Car Insurance – $133
February is the month my car insurance premium increases. I have payments automatically deducted twice a month. My policy was renewed mid-month, so one payment was at the previous lower rate, while the second was at the new rate. Next month, my monthly payments will be at a steady $136 per month—at least until the next increase.
Streaming/Subscriptions – $78
My streaming costs were the same as last month: $8. The additional $70 is the annual subscription for my Office 365 software. I have a monthly subscription to Discovery for $4.99 and a monthly subscription to Disney+ with Hulu for $9.99. However, I currently get a $7 rebate monthly through my American Express card, so my subscription to Disney+/Hulu is only $2.99. I’d say that’s a pretty good deal. The rebate is valid for 12 months, so I will enjoy this streaming service for a year at that cost.
Storage Fee – $70
My climate-controlled 5x10 unit's storage fee is a very affordable $70 each month. It’s a fixed cost, barring any future price increases. It’s a lot cheaper than a $1600 apartment!
Restaurants/Entertainment – $56
I spent a total of $56 on restaurants and cafés. I don’t eat out often; when I do, it is usually with a friend, on a date, or at a Meetup group. I prefer to prepare my own meals. I’m also vegan and eat primarily a whole-food plant-based diet (WFPB). I keep refined sugar and oils to a minimum and avoid processed foods.
iPhone (T-Mobile + storage) – $34
I have an unlimited data plan and pay $34 per month, which includes .99 cents I pay each month for the 50G of extra storage for my backups.
Gifts/Donations – $28
I donated $28 in February, most of it going into the hands of the unhoused or homeless causes.
Planet Fitness – $25
When you live in a car, you need a regular and reliable place to shower. I signed up for the black card, allowing me access to any Planet Fitness in the country. I usually have a place to shower whenever I go on vacation or on my weekend road trips, as well as at my home base in Maryland. I also work out there.
Medical – $25
I got my annual physical checkup, which included blood work. The doctor's visit was 100% covered by my health insurance, but I paid $25 out of pocket for the lab work.
Essential Services – $10
I spent only $10 on essential services. It includes my expenses for laundry, car washes, and getting a haircut. For February, the $10 I spent was for laundry. The laundromat I go to uses pre-paid cards, and I loaded $10 on the card. Thanks to taking in my car for its regular service, I didn’t have to pay for a car wash this month. My car is two years old, and I have three years of free maintenance service, so all my oil changes, tire rotations, and routine maintenance are free. That includes a free car wash every time I take it in for this service. It’s a nice little bonus.
Total Expenses for February 2024 – $965
That brings my total for February to $965. It’s the second consecutive month this year where I have managed to keep all my expenses under $1000. Can I do it for a third month in a row? Stay tuned!
Loved this! I’m not a blog reader typically but I download the substack app just to subscribe to you, I love what you’re doing! Please consider making a tiktok or instagram to vlog your newest adventures! I’d love to follow along that way!