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#Post#: 14--------------------------------------------------
Is Van life cheaper than renting?
DIR By: Penny
Date: June 25, 2022, 11:38 pm
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The #vanlife lifestyle has become highly glamourized, with
pictures of girls in bikinis and mountain backdrops dominating
the hashtag. The reality is, for some people, it’s a way of life
that’s cheaper than renting a regular house. It depends on your
lifestyle, but living in a van full time can be a clever way to
save on rent and bills. Of course, there are other van life
costs to consider – insurance, breakdown cover and fuel will be
some of your major expenses. However, when you compare these
costs to the price of renting an apartment, you will probably
still be making a huge saving by living full time in a van.
Are you homeless if you live in a van?
‘Houseless, not homeless’ is the motto of many van dwellers.
Many full-time van lifers consider their van to be their tiny
home. They have everything they need on board to feel
comfortable and don’t even miss the luxuries of a traditional
home.
However, for some living in a van is a necessity rather than a
choice. Full-time van dwellers who have no fixed address are
technically considered homeless. Without an address, it becomes
more difficult to do everyday things such as open a bank
account, get insurance or register to vote. Where possible, van
lifers use a friend or family’s address to register themselves
and receive mail.
In the UK, you’re considered legally homeless if you live in a
caravan or mobile home but have nowhere to legally park it.
In the US, vehicular homelessness is on the rise. Living in a
vehicle due to loss of job or income is very common, and people
in this situation are considered legally homeless.
Where can I park my van to sleep?
Finding a place to park overnight is one of the biggest
challenges that van lifers face. The general rule is that you
should never park on private property, or anywhere that
prohibits overnight parking or camping.
Depending on where you are located, there are different laws on
‘wild camping’. In some areas ‘everyman’s right’ laws allow you
to stay overnight in a certain location, providing that you
don’t disrupt any local residents.
When you are somewhere without an abundance of great parking
spots, there are always options for where to park for the night.
Many van lifers use apps such as Park4Night or iOverlander to
find nearby spots that have been added and rated by others in
the community. Public carparks in retails parks, like at Walmart
or IKEA, can be great options with plenty of space – but you
should always check the restrictions for a specific location.
There are also plenty of campsites and motorhome areas to stop
over at. In many places, these can be found for free and often
supply water, electricity and waste disposal facilities.
How much does it cost to live in a van per month?
Where you live will obviously affect how much it costs to live
in your van each month. As a general guide, we have broken down
the main costs of living in a van:
$30-50 Van Insurance
$10 Breakdown cover
$150-200 Fuel if you drive every day
$10 (summer), $20-30 (winter) Gas for cooking and heating
$20-30 Mobile data
Other costs such as food, entertainment, and garage bills will
all depend on your lifestyle. It’s important to set money aside
in case you do end up having to pay for your van to be repaired.
Check out the full breakdown of how much van life cost me over 6
months
How does Van life make money?
Van lifers often make money the same way as people who live in
houses do! Many people do regular jobs remotely from wherever
they park their van. Other van dwellers find other ways to make
a living on the road by freelancing, starting their own business
or doing seasonal work.
Check out 10 remote jobs for van life for more ideas.
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