You can minimize some problems, but you can't eliminate them. Being homeless is hard. No matter what you do. I could tell you some ways to make it easier, but they might not apply to you. You've read about getting a gym membership. Great idea. One great way to do that is enroll in a one credit PE class at a community college. Now you're a student and you have a place to take a shower. Not just the two or three days per week your class meets. You can go to the locker room any time. And the computer lab. Free internet. And a place to get out of the heat or cold - lounges, lobbies, library, etc. Counselors, nurses, all kinds of stuff. For $59 bucks every five months.

You want a car. If you can do anything to get a car, its your most important possession. Buy gas and pay for insurance before you spend money on food. Transportation is opportunity. And it's a safe place to sleep and store your stuff. It's dry. I'd rather be hungry than afoot.

If you're under 22 or disabled, please consider Job Corps. It's not perfect. You'll be surrounded by ghetto assholes. But they will take care of housing and food and all your basic needs while you move forward. It's an awesome way up if you are the right age. Don't let them tell you you have to go to the nearest place. You are allowed to go anywhere in the country. Don't let anyone sell you on bullshit career training that qualifies you for minimum wage, like culinary and EMT and clerical shit. You want training for a real job, like welding or heavy equipment or oil rigs. You're not interested in that work? Fuck you, do it anyway. You're not going for the purpose of starting a lifetime career, you're going because you don't want to be homeless. Take the training and let them pay your rent while you get your shit together. Next year, you get a $15 per hour job running a backhoe instead of an $8 per hour job at a fast food factory. Then you go to school and move on. It's a temporary step.