Parking
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Focus on shaded parking spots over proximity to the entrance in hot climates.
Cars left in the sun feel much hotter inside.
3 people, independently
Avoid parking in front of banks at night due to strict no-parking rules and the risk of being towed.
Many banks enforce no-parking rules 24/7 and will have cars removed if found there.
one person who lived it
Do not idle in your car waiting for another vehicle to leave a spot; park elsewhere instead.
Idling holds up other drivers who have places to go.
one person who lived it
Remove bird droppings from your car immediately because they are acidic and can damage the paint or clear coat.
Bird waste is acidic and causes damage if left on the surface.
2 people, independently
Do not park beneath trees for shade; they can drop sap, honeydew, leaves, or bird droppings that are hard to remove.
4 people, independently
Park in the back of the lot to reduce hassle when pulling out.
There are fewer people walking by.
one person who lived it
Eat at a nearby pub or restaurant after a large event to wait out the initial rush of departing drivers.
By the time you finish eating, the initial rush of drivers has passed.
one person who lived it
Open opposite windows and rapidly open and close the driver's door several times to push hot air out of the cabin.
Fluid dynamics pushes the hot air out and cools the cabin.
one person who lived it
Avoid parking in obviously sketchy or isolated areas where crimes like muggings or smash-and-grabs are likely.
There is more risk of having items smashed and grabbed in areas where few people watch.
one person who lived it
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Park where there are no other cars or where cars are parked correctly to avoid damage from others.
To prevent damage from other drivers' children or careless behavior.
one person who lived it
Keep your car interior clean and uncluttered so thieves do not mistake trash for electronics.
Thieves may mistake items like napkins for devices such as iPods and smash windows to retrieve them.
one person who lived it
Say the parking number out loud to improve memory retention.
Saying it out loud helps you remember it better.
one person who lived it
Perform test commutes from a potential new home during typical work hours to judge traffic and travel time accurately.
Weekend traffic can be misleading compared to weekday conditions.
one person who lived it
Look for disabled parking spaces to find the main entrance of a building.
They tend to be located near entrances, which can be poorly marked in business parks.
one person who lived it
Be polite to valet staff by using 'please' and 'thank you'.
Politeness never hurts anyone.
one person who lived it
Park in big-box store lots like Walmart or Target at night for safety, lighting, and camera coverage.
These locations have cameras everywhere, constant lights, and often police presence.
one person who lived it
Use VIP parking passes if available to access separate entrances and exits that bypass general traffic queues.
VIP lanes often split off from main traffic, and attendants may stop general flow to allow VIP vehicles to exit through closed-off gates.
one person who lived it
Park near the exit of a supermarket to walk less while carrying groceries.
Parking near the exit reduces the distance walked with groceries compared to parking near the entrance.
one person who lived it
Take a photo of the nearest row or section sign when parking, especially in garages where GPS signals may be blocked.
Parking garages can act as Faraday cages, preventing access to data or accurate GPS coordinates.
2 people, independently