When you think of the most expensive aspects of travel, the two that come to mind are transportation and lodging. When you’re on the "college student" budget, even the cheapest of flights can break the bank. That’s why Elise and I are huge fans of the monthly low-cost weekend road trip. You would be surprised at the sheer number of beautiful sites you can see in your area if you snake around your city on mini road trips.

Thankfully, driving helps alleviate lofty transportation expenses, but what about lodging? You can use AirBnB to cut the price of a decent hotel in half, or maybe even stay in a local hostel, but were thinking bigger picture here... we're thinking free. If you're looking to really slash prices you can always tent it, but this method can still be less than ideal. Campgrounds in Southern California are atypically expensive (I'm looking at you San Diego), and you'll have a hard time finding a good deal unless you're willing to shack up with the coyotes in the boonies. After weighing our options, Elise and I sought to create a free, portable, and comfortable place to stay so we can take as many weekend trips as possible.

Car camping may seem impossible without a large van or SUV, but we're living proof; shoving two people into the trunk of a tiny Kia isn't a death wish, it's actually quite fun! So without further ado, if you have a 2015-2017 Kia Soul (or really any hatchback) get ready to learn from a new master. All in all, fitting out our Kia took about 3 hours and cost less than one night at a cheap motel. Now we have a place to sleep for years to come!

I’d like to shout out Votive Photography for giving us an template for us to use on our Kia Soul. If you need the exact science of sleeping in the Kia 2009-2014, be sure to check them out.