Should you search the #vanlife hashtag on Instagram, you’ll be rewarded with greater than 7 million pictures. Widespread themes embrace sunsets over the ocean, cozy-looking campfires, and inside van designs that would make you drool with longing.
Oh, and canines. If one factor’s sure about #vanlife, it’s that tons and tons of canines reside it.
Van life appears to vow an expertise that’s concurrently stunning, liberating and reasonably priced — in spite of everything, should you’re residing on the street, you in all probability aren’t paying hire or a mortgage.
However what goes on outdoors these rigorously framed photos? What does it actually value to stay life on 4 wheels?
How #VanLife Actually Works
Though there’s some reality to the footloose-and-fancy-free notion of van residing, there’s additionally a variety of work that goes into making the life-style possible.
Should you’re contemplating hitting the street your self, right here are some things you need to know in regards to the realities of van life, each monetary and in any other case.
Even on the Highway, You Nonetheless Have Bills
Simply since you received’t be paying for housing doesn’t imply you received’t have bills. Identical to another way of life, with a purpose to make van life work, you’ll must create a finances.
Abigail and Natalie Rodriguez have been residing on the street full-time since February 2019. Other than the acquisition and conversion of their 2004 Dodge Sprinter van — a venture they dealt with themselves — they’ve loads of different common payments to pay.
Amongst different issues, the couple budgets for:
- Prime-notch car insurance coverage with roadside help
- Telephone invoice, together with web hotspot
- Web site area
- Adobe (to allow them to edit movies)
- Car upkeep — together with, finally, a brand new transmission since they bought an older car
These prices, together with their greatest bills — meals and gasoline — run the Rodriguezes about $2,000 per thirty days.
That stated, one of many coolest issues about cell residing is that it’s versatile: You possibly can select to spend much less on gasoline by not touring a lot for some time, and should you don’t need to pay for a elaborate campground, you’ll be able to boondock on BLM land.
It’s also possible to curb your funds by spending your time in one of many greatest states for van lifers — ie. those the place life is reasonable, the climate is nice, and free tenting is ample.
And regardless of how or the place you cling your hat, it’s nearly all the time doable to save lots of extra money on groceries.
You Can — and In all probability Ought to — DIY It, Even when You Don’t Know How
Together with the month-to-month prices of residing, there’s additionally the van itself to contemplate. If you are going to buy a {custom} van model new, you might simply be taking a look at $100,000 or extra. Most of us don’t have that sort of money mendacity round.
Constructing out your personal conversion may help you save a boatload of cash whereas additionally supplying you with the chance to personalize your house on wheels. That’s why the Rodriguezes spent a 12 months and a half constructing out their early-aughts Sprinter — which additionally afforded them time to save lots of up for his or her new nomadic way of life. (Extra on that in a minute.)
Jeff Chow, one other vanlifer who catalogs his gorgeous journey experiences on Instagram, hacked the system: He bought a reasonably new car — a 2017 Ram ProMaster — after which constructed out the inside himself.
With its detachable insulation, photo voltaic wiring and dual-zone fridge, his van has a “fairly minimal construct.” That’s to say, it isn’t as fancy as a few of the #vanlife eye sweet. But it surely’s dependable and well-suited to his wants.
Chow spent $28,000 on the van buy, however solely $2,500 or so on upgrades. And since the van is a more moderen mannequin, he isn’t as anxious about main engine upkeep and restore prices.
By the best way, should you assume you’ll want to be a DIY genius to tug it off, assume once more. Many vanlifers, together with the Rodriguezes, have little in the best way of prior building expertise. They determine it out as they go, contemplating it a part of the journey.
How do you work it out?
“YouTube College is your buddy,” wrote Natalie in an electronic mail. “Belief me.”
There are additionally a number of notable web sites like Parked in Paradise providing DIY-guides galore.
It’s Not Gonna Occur In a single day
One factor you’ll be able to’t seize in an Instagram publish: the passage of time. And it does take time to show a van right into a villa should you do it your self.
Not like the Rodriguezes, who did most of their construct earlier than leaving their hometown of Charleston, S.C., Chow started residing in his van earlier than making any upgrades, slowly turning it into the house he wished over the course of his time on the street.
And even should you do get a custom-made van recent from the producer, if there’s one factor that’s sure about life on the street, it’s that you just’re going to run into a number of surprises. Constructing and rebuilding is an ongoing actuality for many vanlifers, so don’t count on an effort-free fortunately ever after. Count on some upkeep prices the identical approach you’ll in a home.
You Don’t Need to Be Wealthy, However You May Need to Sacrifice
There’s a notion that almost all of vanlifers are digital nomads, making their residing on-line — or that they’re younger retirees who’re independently rich.
However that isn’t all the time the case. The Rodriguezes, as an example, saved up about $25,000 forward of time so they may take pleasure in their first 12 months on the street with out worrying about working. Since starting their travels, they’ve began to earn model ambassador revenue via their social media channels.
In fact, saving up that sort of money is hard, and it takes some powerful decision-making. Natalie, who had labored as a sous chef, and Abigail, who owned her personal pictures studio in Charleston, needed to make some fairly radical adjustments to construct their nest egg.
The couple downsized from a 1,500-square-foot home to a small studio, which allowed Natalie to place away half of every paycheck. Additionally they gave up their Comcast web subscription, restaurant eating behavior, and even — gasp — Netflix.
It’s Price It
Make no mistake: #vanlife takes time, work, and cash. But when it’s the life-style you need, it’s effectively well worth the effort.
“We get to always journey, see new issues, expertise new landscapes and cultures each time we would like,” wrote Natalie. “It’s absolute freedom and fixed schooling.”
Chow, who was motivated partly to tackle this way of life due to a power well being problem, stated it’s modified the best way he experiences his life. “I could be bedridden for months at a time,” he stated. “If I’m going to be bedridden, I’d reasonably be bedridden with — proper now, I’ve a view of the Sierras,” he stated by telephone.
All of which is to say: should you actually need #vanlife, go for it.
“Sit down, do a little analysis, make a plan, make a aim, and act on it,” Abigail stated in her YouTube video — talking to the digital camera from contained in the van she’d constructed alongside her accomplice with nothing however their 4 fingers, a dream, and a variety of arduous work.
Jamie Cattanach is a full-time freelance author whose work has been featured at Fodor’s, Yahoo, SELF, The Huffington Put up, The Motley Idiot and different shops. Be taught extra at www.jamiecattanach.com.
Contributor Larissa Runkle contributed to this report.
