It’s not easy to afford van life. Many people dream of living on the road, but they don’t know how to make it happen. In reality, it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice to live in your van full-time. I’ve learned that there are some habits that can help you save money so you can afford a van life.
Related Link: Kev’s Vanlife and Travel Essentials
1. Create and stick to a budget
If you’re thinking about van life, one of the first things you need to do is create a budget. This will help you figure out how much money you need to save in order to make your van life dream a reality.
When creating your budget, there are a few things you need to take into account:
- The cost of your build: This includes the cost of materials, labor (if you’re hiring someone to help with the build), and any other costs associated with getting your van ready for life on the road.
- The cost of living on the road: This includes things like food, gas, campground fees, and entertainment.
- The cost of maintenance and repairs: Even if you have a well-built and reliable vehicle, there will be times when something breaks down or needs repair. You need to factor this into your budget as well.
Once you have an idea of all the costs involved in van life, it’s time to start setting some goals. If you want to live full-time in your van, then you’ll need to save up enough money to cover all of your expenses for at least several months (if not longer). But if van life is just going to be a part-time thing for you, then your monetary goals may be less ambitious.
No matter what your specific goals are, though, sticking to a budget will be key if you want to make them happen.
2. Build up an emergency fund
Building up an emergency fund is a crucial step in preparing for van life. Why? Because when you live in a van, unexpected expenses are bound to pop up, and if you don’t have any savings to cover them, it can quickly put a damper on your lifestyle.
An emergency fund acts as a buffer between you and financial disaster. It’s there to cover unexpected costs like a flat tire, car repairs, or even medical bills. Having this cushion of cash gives you peace of mind knowing that you’re prepared for anything that comes your way.
Building up an emergency fund takes time and discipline, but it’s worth it in the long run. Start by setting aside some money each month into a savings account specifically for emergencies. Then, once you have enough saved up to cover any expected costs (like car repairs or medical bills), you can start using that money to travel or upgrade your van life setup.
The bottom line is this: an emergency fund is key to enjoying a stress-free van life experience.
3. Cut unnecessary expenses
If you’re interested in van life but feel like you can’t afford it, don’t despair—there are ways to make van life more affordable. One of the best ways to do this is to cut unnecessary expenses from your budget.
Take a good hard look at your spending habits and see where you can cut back. Do you really need that expensive coffee every morning? Could you cook more meals at home instead of eating out? Are there any subscriptions or memberships that you can cancel?
By cutting out unnecessary expenses, you’ll free up more money to put towards your van life fund. And, who knows—maybe after a few months of living frugally, you’ll decide that van life isn’t for you after all. But at least you would have saved up some money in the process!
4. Find creative ways to make money
If you’re thinking about van life, one of the first things you need to consider is how you’re going to afford it. Living in a van can be expensive, but there are ways to cut down on costs and still enjoy all the advantages of this unique lifestyle.
One way to save money is to find creative ways to make money. There are a number of ways to do this, and which ones work best for you will depend on your skills and interests. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Start a blog: If you’re creative and enjoy writing, starting a blog could be a great way to make money while living in your van. You can write about anything that interests you, from van life itself to travel tips or even recipes for cooking in small spaces! Once you build up a following, you can start monetizing your blog through advertising or affiliate marketing links.
- Be a social media influencer: Do people always tell you that you should be on Instagram? Well, if you’ve got enough personality and style, you could make some serious cash by being an influencer! Of course, this isn’t easy –you’ll need to grow your following organically and post high-quality content regularly. But if you’re successful, businesses will pay you top dollar to promote their products and services on your page.
- Offer consulting services: If you have a particular skill or expertise that others might need, why not offer consulting services? You can do this in person or virtually, depending on where your clients are located. This is a great way to earn money without having to commit to long-term work arrangements, since consultants typically work on project basis
5. Get discounts wherever possible
Discounts are important, especially when you’re living on a tight budget. Here are some ways that you can get discounts while living the van life:
- Discounted memberships – many clubs and organizations offer discounts for members of the military, seniors, students, etc. If you belong to any of these groups, be sure to ask about potential discounts before signing up for anything.
- Campground membership cards – there are a number of campground membership cards available that offer significant discounts at participating campsites. Do your research to see if one of these cards would work for you and then take advantage of the savings!
- Good Sam Club – The Good Sam Club is an organization that offers memberships with exclusive discounts at a variety of businesses, including camping grounds, RVs parks, and more. If you’re serious about saving money on your van life adventure, consider signing up for a Good Sam Club membership.
6. Find free camping options
There are a number of websites and apps that can help you find free camping spots. Allstays Camp & RV is one popular option; it’s an app that shows you both public and private campgrounds in the US and Canada. Freecampsites.net is another great resource; it’s an online database of free and low-cost camping sites across the US.
Of course, not every campsite will be free – but if you’re willing to do some research and plan ahead, you can definitely find some cheaper options. And when you’re living on a tight budget, every little bit helps!
Related Link: Kev’s Vanlife and Travel Essentials
7. Stay organized and plan ahead
Van life can be an expensive lifestyle choice, but there are ways to keep your costs down and make it more affordable. Staying organized and planning ahead are two keyways to do this.
If you’re living in a van, chances are you don’t have a lot of space for things. This is why it’s important to only keep essential items with you and to get rid of anything that you don’t really need. Don’t try to cram too much stuff into your van – it will just end up costing you more in the long run.
Another way to save money is by planning ahead. If you know you’re going to be traveling for a while, stock up on non-perishable food items and other supplies before you go. This way, you won’t have to buy everything as you go and can instead focus on other expenses like fuel and accommodation.
Staying organized and planning ahead may not seem like the most exciting things in the world, but they can really help to make van life more affordable. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by the cost of living on the road, remember these two tips!
8. Invest in quality gear
If you’re considering van life, one of the first things you’ll need to think about is what kind of gear you’ll need to make it work. A lot of people assume that living in a van is going to be cheap, but the truth is, if you want to do it right, it can actually be pretty expensive.
One of the best ways to keep your costs down is to invest in quality gear from the start. This might seem like a counterintuitive way to save money, but trust us, it will pay off in the long run.
Here’s why: when you buy cheap gear, it tends to break quickly and often. That means you’ll have to replace it more frequently, which can get expensive. But when you invest in quality gear, it lasts longer and thus saves you money in the long run.
Plus, high-quality gear tends to be more comfortable and functional than lower-quality gear, so you’ll actually enjoy using it more. And that’s important because when you’re living in a van, your gear is basically your home away from home. So why not make sure it’s comfortable and functional?
In short, investing in quality van life gear will save you money in the long run and make your experience more enjoyable overall. So don’t sacrifice quality for cost – invest in the good stuff from the start!
9. Use apps & websites to help with planning
Living on a tight budget is often necessary when living the van life, as it can be difficult to find traditional forms of employment. Luckily, there are a number of apps and websites that can help you plan and afford your van life adventure.
Budgeting apps like Mint or You Need a Budget can help you track your spending and ensure that you are sticking to your budget. This is especially important when gas and food costs can fluctuate greatly.
There are also a number of websites that offer tips for living cheaply while on the road. For example, Free Campsites lists free or low-cost camping options throughout the United States, while Boondocking Tips provides advice on how to find free overnight parking spots.
Of course, it’s also important to consider ways to make money while living in your van. Sites like Workamper News list job opportunities at campgrounds and other tourist destinations, while VanLifeJobs aggregates job postings from a variety of sources specifically for people looking to live the van life.
By taking advantage of these resources, you can better plan and afford your van life experience.
10. Know your strengths and weaknesses
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help you afford a life in a number of ways.
First, if you know your limits in terms of what you can physically handle and what type of climate you can tolerate, you can make sure to only look for vans that fit those criteria. This will save you time and money in the long run, as you won’t be constantly repairing or replacing things that don’t work for you.
Second, if you know your financial limitations, you can create a budget that allows for enough wiggle room to account for unexpected expenses. This way, even if things don’t go exactly as planned, you’ll still be able to afford van life.
Finally, if you’re honest with yourself about what kind of lifestyle you can realistically maintain, you won’t set yourself up for disappointment by over-promising and under-delivering.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is an essential part of affording van life – so start by taking inventory of what they are!
The bottom line
In conclusion, it is true that van life can be expensive, and one must be prepared for the financial challenges of living on the road. The good news is that there are a number of “quick wins” that will help you make your life on the road more affordable. With some careful planning, and being patient, it is possible to enjoy some wonderful months or even years doing what you love with less worry about how much money you’re spending.
Related Link: Kev’s Vanlife and Travel Essentials
