If you are serious, you can manage without gas if you can do minor cooking with electricity. Cold showers are brisk but not a major problem. If you rent water is part of the rent. You cant avoid paying for it even if you dont use any (I own a vacant property) :(   You may be able to do without electricity if you have gas for cooking and heating. Doing without either wont work in northern states.

The cheapest way to live is renting a semi-furnished room, or sharing an apartment with friends. 

If you are totally desperate you can live near a highway rest stop, use the facilities there for toilet and shower, and you can live on sandwiches by getting a loaf of bread and some cheap sliced meat or cheese. I dont recommend it in the winter in the USA.