“How are you doing financially?” This is THE most frequently asked question. In what ways do you manage to blend your van life with your financial situation? Alternatively, you may ask: How can I make money while traveling? Or, to put it another way, how do you generate money in general?
Ah, the age-old discussion between van life and money… No, I don’t survive just on love and clean water, as much as I would like to… There was no lottery win (at least, I don’t think so), no annuity, and no inheritance. However, I will confess to you that I have a huge, Ill-kept secret… I work hard.
Yes, I understand that you weren’t anticipating this great discovery, but I tell you that this element makes living in a van much more difficult (say it with us?) than it appears. Money, on the other hand, is akin to the sinews of battle… Here are our financial solutions for achieving financial success while living in a van, as well as being able to live in a van for an extended period of time.
Related Link: Kev’s Must Have Travel and Vanlife Essentials
1. Money and VanLife
Yes, that is exactly how I started vanlife the first time: with the help of my saved money. I was anticipating a one-of-a-kind tour, given the nature of the narrative. So, I saved for a year (on top of the funds I had already made on my own), and I ended up with a tiny quantity of money to last for 13 months on the road. For me, the conflict between “living in a van and money” was mostly about money. Vanlife was still in its infancy at the time, and in truth, all I wanted was to be able to move around freely.
I’m aware that I would not be making any money while on the road, but that I would be spending it. That being said, isn’t it true that this is how I make the most of our situation? And all of this cannot be done on the fly; it must be prepared a bit farther ahead of time. HoIver, I have a plan.
To save, you must first learn to refrain from overspending. Yes, that is a ridiculous reflection, but I tell you that it is far more troublesome than it appears to be at first glance. Being at work all Iek and refusing to go out for dinner or a drink on weekends is never a pleasant experience.
This is the point at which you should keep your eye on the prize: travel. I don’t have anything if I don’t have anything. And I assure you that once you go on the road, those few compromises will be quickly forgotten.
Keep your job or hunt for a new one, work more or work better… you are free to explore all of the available options. As a result, earning a lot of money and putting a lot of it aside is the perfect situation. Okay, but in actuality, things are often different and a little more exhausting than they appear on paper.
Having said that, if you are brave enough, there are options available to you: temporary work, housing seasonal work, accumulating many occupations… And don’t forget that the goal is to achieve this existence on the road that is looming in the horizon.
So that’s one of the options if you want to make money while also traveling the country. Okay, but this has been going on for quite some time. The savings do not endure indefinitely, and after a period of time (which might be more or less lengthy depending on where you travel and your lifestyle), the boxes are completely depleted!
Consider Seasonal Living!
Alternate between living in a vehicle and living as a sedentary: Be seasonal in your thinking. One option is to alternate between living in a van and living a sedentary lifestyle. Seasonal labor is one of the ansIrs that a huge number of travelers and nomads have turned to for financial support. This includes participation in jobs that demand temporary work for a portion of the calendar year.
Fortunately, there are lots of them, and the number changes according to the season, as you might expect. In the winter, you have to consider ski resorts, where there is employment for everyone from waiters to photographers, as Ill as hotel receptionists and ski rental store clerks, among others. Working on the beach, camping, at a hotel desk, or even as a waiter are all options for summer employment. Finally, when the harvest season arrives, you may volunteer in the vineyards to assist with the process.
In summary, there is something for everyone, and you don’t necessarily need to have specialized abilities to participate in some activities. Above all, you must be motivated and cognizant of the fact that your life will be quite hectic over the next three months. So, make the most of your spare time in the days leading up to the event.
Given that I often did not have time to spend the money I earned during these months of season-related employment, I ended up with some excellent savings at the conclusion of these months of work (yes, I told you that it was intense). Even worse, certain jobs are “fed, housed, and laundered,” which is associated with sacrificial savings!
As you will have realized, working during the season provides a solid dose of incentive, frequently requiring a long and rigorous period, but also provides the security of departing with significant savings.
2. Perform WHV-related Work (Working Holiday Permit).
To combine travel in a van (or not, depending on your preference) with work, you can apply for a work-related vehicle permit (WHV). WHV is a Working Holiday Permit that may be obtained in a number of different countries across the world. As a result of obtaining this visa, you can alternate holiday and travel periods with employment times.
What is the advantage? Discover a new culture, a new way of life, immerse yourself in a new community, and get a feel for it from within. WHVs are available in a variety of nations, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (the three most popular), Argentina, Peru, and Mexico.
In order to obtain this permit, it is normally essential to submit an online application to the respective country’s specific websites and to fulfill various requirements, including age restrictions (30 or 35 years maximum depending on the country).
As a result, the PVT makes it possible to save money immediately on the job site and to provide advice on when to relocate. As a result, it is feasible to purchase a van in the nation where you are completing your WHV and use it for personal purposes while you are not working. And, sometimes, even for the entire weekend.
3. Become a Freelancer
Some people prefer to work as freelancers in order to live on the road and make money while traveling in their van. Yes, to put it another way, you may become a digital nomad and earn money while you travel. This position is a fantasy since I persuade ourselves that it is the ideal answer for being on the go while still earning money (which is true).
Indeed, the benefits are numerous: you have complete control over where and when you work, which means that you may choose to work on the beach, in front of the Rocky Mountains, or in your camper in South America. And then I have money to put towards various objectives, despite the fact that I am on the other side of the planet (sometimes). This therefore allows you to live in your van while on the road, saving money on accommodations. All that is necessary is access to the internet.
But, in such cases, what are the vocations that may be practiced while working as a freelancer? How does one go about being a digital nomad? There are several self-employed trades that are fit for this:
- graphic designer
- web designer
- web developer
- website Editor
- Community Manager
- SEO expert
- Webmaster
- Translator
- Photographer
In any case, these positions need some level of in-depth knowledge and training, whether or not it is extensive. If you want to live on the road and enjoy a life in your van while working as a digital nomad, you must first develop your project from the ground up.
So why not invest the time to train and develop a new skill, or maybe a number of new activities, to give yourself a more diverse professional profile? In any event, this is the decision that I have taken on our own behalf. Combining diverse components of our personalities allows us to strengthen our abilities and reach a larger audience at the same time. As a result, I are attempting to construct a project that will allow us to more peacefully address the issues of living in a van and money in the future.
Yes, since the final thing that a digital nomad has to deal with is… finding consumers! Due to the fact that, while being a freelancer is great, if you don’t have a customer, you won’t have much money! (save for the possibility of receiving a big pension or an inheritance…) And with that, the life of a vehicle is officially over!
It’s a good thing, and I’ll tell you right away that it’s preferable to go on the road with a customer already established. But I’ll get into it in more detail in a separate essay on digital nomads… (This is a wacky teaser.)
Related Link: Kev’s Must Have Travel and Vanlife Essentials
4. Teleworking
While living on the road and enjoying a full-time existence in your van is a great option, telecommuting is the last thing that comes to mind when considering your options.
What is the distinction between workers and self-employed individuals? Ill, this is a fantastic one! When you work from home, you are considered an employee. Consequently, I enjoy all of the benefits (as well as some drawbacks, since, let’s face it, I can’t have it all, okay) associated with paid work. More information about this method of working may be found at the public service website.
For the most part, to be able to live on the road while working from home, there are two prerequisites: Job and (not a television) an employer that allows teleworking and, as a result, understands that I are mostly present through Skype conference for the most of the time are both essential.
And remember that you are fortunate to have an employer who is willing to accommodate this mode of operation. You may then take use of your employer’s perks while working on the road, living in your camper, and videoconferencing in the Dolomites, for example. Yes, why not, even if it isn’t the most peaceful spot in the neighborhood…
One of the difficulties with teleworking, though (Ill, not everything is as lovely as it appears…) is that you must typically be in sync with other employees’ schedules in order to function effectively. A 7-hour day, according to standard work schedules, translates into hectic days in the real world. The difficulties of driving to the other side of the world with his vehicle, as Ill as the difficulty of dealing with jet lag, are frequently brought up…
Finally, as a freelancer, you must have a reliable internet connection that is both fast and reliable enough to allow you to respond to emails and work as if you Ire on the grounds of your employer’s office.
5. Teach an Online Course
Udemy.com is a fantastic resource for those who have good information to share with others. When you use Udemy, you can develop and deliver online courses – and be paid based on how many people view them. Any mobile phone with video capability may be used to make a lesson, so long as you have one. Check that your camera is properly stabilized and that you remain focused on the topics that interest you the most – for example, building a camper or repairing an ancient Econoline engine!
6. Become a Transcriptionist
If you don’t mind listening and typing on the screen on your computer, transcription might just be the task for you. Furthermore, you may listen to audio and transcribe it from any location to earn additional money – you don’t even need an internet connection to accomplish this.
7. Sell Your Photos!
The best part of living in a van is that there are numerous possibilities to shoot photographs of landmarks, people, food, and landscapes while on the road. In the event that you are a photographer who takes excellent photographs, you may generate money by selling your photographs to publishing houses. Alternatively, you might generate money by selling photographs on stock photography websites such as iStock or Shutterstock.
In conclusion, living in a van can be a great way to see the country and discover new places, but it can be hard to make a living without a job. In this article, we talked about some of the best ways to make money while living in a van. These include saving up before hitting the road, looking for seasonal work, and applying for working holiday permits. By using these tips, you can get your finances in order while still living in a van and enjoying the freedom and adventure it brings. Visit kevfernan.com to learn more about van life and find more tips and tricks. Happy travels!
Related Link: Kev’s Must Have Travel and Vanlife Essentials
