title: Laravel - convert input date format before save
body: <p>I'm trying to convert date input to the proper mysql format.
  My start_date field is formatted MM dd, yyyy.</p>
  
  <p>In my controller store function I'm grabbing all the users input including start_date and saving.</p>
  
  <pre><code>$userProfileData-&gt;save();
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>What I thought I could do is us Carbon to convert the start_date before save like this.</p>
  
  <pre><code>$userProfileData-&gt;start_date-&gt;toDateString();
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I get a Call to a member function toDateString() on a non-object error.</p>