Making do with next to nothing seems like an impossible task. Yet homeless people are able to survive and sometimes even thrive with what little they have. These survivors of the urban jungle have a lot to teach us about enduring in even the harshest of circumstances. When all you’ve got are the clothes on your back, simply do as the homeless do.

• Keep newspapers on you — More than just staving off boredom, a broadsheet has many other practical uses. If you feel a chill in the air then your newspaper can serve as kindling for a fire. Lay it out to use as insulation or bedding, or crumple up a few pages to make a pillow.
• Choose clothing wisely — Whether it’s freezing or humid, you should be able to pack on or take off your clothes as you see fit. If you can find clothing with multiple compartments or pockets, then claim them as your own. Clothing can even be repurposed as rope, bandages, or napkins when necessary, so keep that in mind as well.
• Use water bottles or containers to stay warm — Some homeless people keep themselves nice and toasty by placing bottles or containers of boiled water under their blankets. You can do the same for those nights when the cold becomes too much to bear.
• Make a heater out of a coffee can — A petroleum jelly-filled coffee can makes for a good stove. Combine this with a box of matches and you’ve got a way to stay warm and heat up your food.
• Stay clean with baking soda — Some uses for this cheap but practical household cleaner? Try it as a toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, mouthwash, or even soap.
• How to enjoy free meals — When you need some chow, just find some homeless people since they usually know where to get a decent meal. You can also opt to ask fast food restaurants for their throwaway food at the end of the day. Some hotels give out free breakfasts, so you can also choose this option but remember to look presentable.
• Carry your home in a bag — Wherever you may be, make it a point to never unpack. You never know when you need to leave a place, or when you’ll be driven out of it, so keep your belongings in your bags or pockets. This way, you can make an efficient and speedy exit.
• Stay wary — If you’re lugging around a bag then be careful because you’re vulnerable to thieves and opportunists. When moving, have your bag in your hands at all times; when sleeping, turn it into a pillow.
• Know your surroundings — Learn everything you can about a new location before you settle down. Know the streets, the people, and the businesses. How else will you know if a particular area is safe for you? (Related: 5 Essential Skills To Learn For Survival.)
• Be optimistic — When things get tough, do your best to remain hopeful and find happiness in the little things. Physical strength is important, but emotional strength is even more crucial in hard times.
• Have a contingency plan — In the event that disaster strikes out of nowhere, do you have the plan to get you out of it? Anything can go wrong in a world where everyday living is a battle for survival. You need a back-up strategy to get you through any situation.

One day you can have it all, and the next you could lose it all. When that happens, you need to be prepared to live within your means. Like they said on AskAPrepper.com: “If you lost your home, your car, all of your money, your relatives and most of your possessions, what would you do?”

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Sources include:

AskAPrepper.com

Blog.SurvivalFrog.com