Seafoodpunch

Bums come in all shapes and sizes: From the person who hangs out in front of the liquor store with one gloved hand held out for some change while he coughs in the other, to the thirty year old who plays WOW in the attic while waiting for his disgruntled friend to bring up some more pizza-rolls (Hey, it isn’t HIS house). Finally, there is to the smart entrepreneurial homeless person, who has a paying job but is homeless by choice-it’s rent, tax and burdensome free.

You can definitely rake in some cash while you’re homeless: One savvy computer nerd, Corey, actually set up a consulting company with the help of a computer he found in a dumpster. He then took advantage of the free internet provided at coffee shops by day and kinkos by night (where he also slept).  You an read his story HERE.

Some homeless people are actually called adventurers: What about all those backpackers who havn’t showered in days, and smell like a pot of boiling brussel sprouts? They may be covered in lice, grime, sweat and dandruff but they keep on smiling because they’re just so happy with life (or they’re high, I dont know). These people aren’t considered homeless…they are called ‘ world travelers’ or ’hippies’.  Maybe homeless people should strap on a big backpack and hold on to a Fodor’s travel book to avoid annoyed looks.

There is a definite stigma attached to being homeless, but the truth is that only the obvious bums who don’t do anything but sit around asking for money give the rest a bad name. Some homeless people live on the streets by choice and have no characteristics that make them stand out amongst the other thousands of people who hang out in the area. 

You can be homeless, but that doesn’t mean that you’re a lazy bum. You have to be smart and you have to keep the few possessions you have safe, while getting rid of others-like lice and crabs-that you are better off without. click HERE for the Survival Guide to Homelessness, written by a relatively intelligent man who spent a few years living on the street. (there haven’t been any postings for a while, but the content is still relevant)

There are a few tricks to surviving in “the survival guide to homelessness. ” For example, the author suggests using some sex lube and a thimble full of water to help the razor glide across your face without the need to buy expensive shaving creams. You may be homeless…but you still want to look attractive to the ladies. Looking good may get you a few invitations to spend the night in a nice warm bed which comes with a shower in the morning.

We all know that the economy sucks right now. Countless people have been skulking out of their offices after being told that there just isn’t any money left to pay for their days spent making photo copies and chitchatting next to the water cooler. Being homeless may be a welcome option though, if you want to save some money (and don’t have a family that will definitely NOT be enthused about this new-found lifestyle.) I, for one, couldn’t live without my microwave and Adult-Swim (sad, I know).