Try to make a point of maximizing your limited space by going through your items on a regular basis to toss, or store, what you don’t need. When selecting what to keep, look at what can help you, as well as what can hold you back. Doing this can make all the difference in keeping your stress levels down to a manageable level, as well as giving you less to worry about keeping track of while you get back on your feet.
If you are in a shelter that has limited availability during the day, then this step is crucial for you. Look at what you can realistically use. Clothes and shoes should be appropriate for the season and climate. For example, shoes with “breathe holes” do not work in a climate that’s rainy many months out of the year. Cosmetics and hair care items should be kept to a minimum, and a good way to judge this is to carry a small bag inside your purse or backpack and only use these items. In most shelters the line for the bathroom is long, while the length of time you have to use it is short. Consider letting go of the complicated hairstyles, facial hair, and make-up routines while you are in a shelter. Consider mixing products together, such as body spray/cologne and body lotion, to cut down on space. Add foundation to your face cream, or add face cream to your foundation. Consider going nail polish free, or choosing one color that will go with everything and maintain it with much less effort. If you are in-between seasons, or will be in a shelter long enough to see the seasons change, make use of layering items to extend your wardrobe without taking up too much space - scarves, tops/jackets that button or zip, leggings which can double as pajamas, etc. The key things to remember are “How versatile is this item?” and “Is it a helpful item or a burden to keep up with/keep track of?”.
You will most likely not need to keep anything you can print off from the internet, such as copies of utility bills, bank statements, etc. , but if you don’t have access to a library with inexpensive printing, or your shelter does not offer this, then you may want to keep the most recent one if you need to establish a reference, or to get a library card to use their free internet. If you have a resume, and are applying for jobs, try to access an online application/resume submission as often as you can; doing this will keep you away from worrying about wrinkling a stack of resumes, or worrying about buying postage. Keep at least two resumes on hand, and two envelopes that will fit them inside, pre-stamped, allowing you to mail something on the go.
An easy way to deal with laundry when you cannot wash properly is to invest in a box of baking soda, baby powder, or carpet freshener powder. (Carpet freshener powder is not recommended for intimate items such as bras, socks, or anything that will touch your skin directly. ) Also, you will need a plastic or paper bag large enough to shake the item of clothing in, like you are shaking a coating onto a piece of chicken. Giving your item of clothing a good shake in the bag with a small amount of powder will help get rid of the smell. Keep in mind that body heat will send any odors from your clothing from your body outward, so if you have to use perfume or cologne on your clothes, try to do it on the inside. This will carry the scent through the clothing and not just on the surface where the unpleasant odor is being wafted out from your body heat. Leaving it in your shake bag for a few hours is even better than a quick shake, and letting something air out before you spray it will give the scent longer to work. Shake clothing vigorously, preferably outside or in a shower stall, to avoid making a mess or affecting anyone’s allergies. If you need something ironed for the next day, but don’t have an iron, fold it up neatly and put it under your mattress or under a few books. Use crayons or markers to cover scuffs on your shoes. Blue ink pens work well on jeans that have white marks on them. Dresses can be cut in half to become a blouse or a skirt, and a men’s blazer can become an outdoor jacket for both sexes. Men can also look at women’s socks, t-shirts, or other traditionally interchangeable items if the selection of menswear is low when you are picking things out. Ties can become a belt, and a belt can become a handy way to keep a heavy coat or a few pairs of jeans in a neatly folded and secured bundle.
Lipstick can double as blush and eyeshadow, it can even add some color to your bare fingernails. Chapstick can help with rough or ashy elbows and ankles. Face powder, depending upon the color, can double as a hair powder on the days when your hair is oily, or the line for the bathroom was too long. Conditioner can double as body lotion, but may be too thick for your face. Corn starch is a good anti-shine powder, hair powder, body powder, and can be added to regular bar soap to help give you a good lather to shave with. A clean sock or nylon, and even a t-shirt, can not only be cut into a bunch of hair “scrunchies” and headbands, but it can also be used as a make-shift cosmetics bag, pad/tampon case, eyeglass case, and any other small pouch you can think of putting stuff in. And, if you cut the leg part down the middle a few inches you will have four ties you can use so stuff won’t fall out. Shampoo can double as laundry detergent. [2] X Research source Paper bags can blot excess oil and stop a cut from a cheap razor. Perfume, cologne, and even spray deodorant, can all be used as fabric spray, as well as perfume/cologne doubling for deodorant. If you need to shave, and cannot, try to grow out your beard and keep it in place with an inexpensive tube of chapstick if the edges become uneven. If you want to shave your legs, but can’t find the space, try using some conditioner or lotion - just leave it on for a few minutes to soften the skin to avoid rash and shave in very slow downward strokes. This will put less stress on the hair, which grows downward, and you will end up with far fewer bumps from your unconventional shave. Underarms can be shaved this way, too, keeping in mind that if you sweat a lot you may want to avoid thick creams and try to find some soap or shampoo instead.
Clean and empty tampon tubes are a great place to hide money. You can also hide money in a pad you have slit down the side. Pads can be used as toilet paper if you find yourself in a stall that has run out. Pads can also be used as eyeglass protectors when stuck to each side of a baggie that has your eyeglasses in it. Any tampon can be used as a smaller tubeless insertable - as long as you keep it clean - this can really save some space if you aren’t able to carry much. Pads can also be used to cushion shoes you get that don’t fit well, or to insulate them if it’s cold outside.
