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Is it realistic to live in a van?
DIR By: Penny
Date: June 25, 2022, 11:54 pm
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Is it realistic to live in a van?
Is Van Life Realistic? Yes, living in a van can be realistic. It
takes planning and not all people will be able to do it, but you
can make it possible if you're keen on it. If you are ready to
downsize, living in a van can be a great way to save money and
travel within a budget.
Living in a van sounds like a nightmare to some, but it’s a
fantasy to others. Depending on the vehicle, van life can
eliminate mortgage payments and free you up to travel anywhere
there are roads.
Now, more than ever before, van life has become a viable option
for some people. That doesn’t mean you’re free from budgeting,
though. There are a few things to consider before starting your
van life adventure.
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Buying a Van
A Volkswagen is the classic choice, but it isn’t the most
economical. The popularity of the company’s vans has caused
prices to skyrocket, often costing more than $50,000. The Ram
ProMaster is among the least expensive options, starting at
around $32,000.
But it’s not just the price of the van you need to consider. Gas
mileage should also factor into your purchasing decision, since
you’ll be driving around a lot. You’ll also want to consider if
you want to be able to stand up in it. And will you need
electricity? How about a toilet or shower? Are you planning to
live in it full-time or part-time? Does it need to be pretty?
There are even more questions to ask yourself when buying a van,
but these will help you at least get started.
Converting a Van
There are three ways you can convert a van into a liveable
space: with a conversion kit, DIY, or as a custom build. Again,
if you’re looking to be economical, then a custom build may not
be the right choice for you.
If you have the skills, tools, space and motivation, then a DIY
conversion is a great way to control costs and get as much of
what you want as possible. This is also the slower route. Even
if you practically have everything, it’s just not as efficient
as a kit.
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Conversion kits can cost you anywhere between $2,000 and
$30,000, depending on the size of your van and the features you
want. They don’t offer a lot of customization, but they are the
fastest option. You can even have someone else install it.
Read: You Might Actually Be Able To Afford a Mansion in These 20
States
Gear and Hacks for Van Living
Here are some things to think about before setting out on your
van life.
Cookware
If you decide not to put a kitchen in your van, you can get
small camping cookware and stoves. This way, you can cook
outside and not have to eat fast food all the time.
A good cooler is also very important. It’ll keep your food safe
and, more importantly, keep your drinks cold in the summer.
Batteries
You can’t escape technology, especially when you’re living in a
van. Choose a battery pack with multiple plug options, so you
can charge any devices you decide to bring. Make sure it can
jump the van’s battery as well. A dead battery in a remote area
could mean being stuck for days.
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Tools
Learn how to do basic and emergency maintenance for your van’s
model and make sure you have wrenches and sockets in the right
sizes.
A multitool is also a must-have if you’re living in a van. It is
the Swiss Army knife of pliers. Multitools often come with a
case, so you can attach yours somewhere easy to find.
Map
GPS is amazing until there’s no service. Be sure you have a map
of anywhere you plan to travel and update it every couple of
years.
Cleanliness
Depending on whether you plan to be living in your van full
time, part-time or for the occasional weekend, you might have
different cleanliness needs. For a weekend, you could tough it
out if you’re at a campsite without showers. If you plan to be
full-time, make sure you have a shower plan, whether that’s a
gym membership or a solar shower.
Finances for Van Living
While a lot of expenses will go down if you switch to living in
a van full time, some will stay the same or go up. Important
payments like health insurance, or subscription entertainment
services like Netflix, will stay the same. Almost anything
related to a house, like electricity, natural gas and water,
will go down.
If you have an active hobby, like bike riding, there’s a good
chance that expenses from that hobby will go up slightly from
doing it more often. People also tend to eat out more when they
are on the road. When living in a van, you will be doing laundry
in a laundromat, so be sure to have plenty of quarters. You’ll
also find activities you’ve done for no extra cost, like
showering, become expenses.
Your most important expense will be your regular van maintenance
and emergency maintenance. You should always have money set
aside for any maintenance and any extra expenses you’ll have as
a result. For example, if it takes more than a day for work to
be done on the van, you will have to get a hotel or stay with
someone else.
Here are some expenses at a glance. Keep in mind that these
amounts are estimates and may be different for you:
MONTHLY EXPENSE
Gas
RV insurance
Gym membership
Verizon hotspot
Laundry (10 loads per month)
Total
Note that this total doesn’t include any payments for your food,
or any subscriptions or hidden expenses. Though, since you won’t
be paying utilities at home, it may even out.
Legalities
Van life is not illegal, but the government does expect to be
able to send you mail, so you do still need a physical address.
Most places will accept P.O. Boxes or virtual mailboxes, but
some services may require a permanent address to sign up. Make
sure you check your mail regularly, so you don’t miss a jury
summons or official correspondence.
Good To Know
Overnight parking will be your biggest legal hurdle. In most
places, it’s illegal to stay overnight in public parks,
government parking lots, in front of businesses or in
neighborhoods. Many Walmart stores permit overnight parking, but
not all. Check the local laws before you tuck in for the night.
Is Van Life Realistic?
Yes, living in a van can be realistic. It takes planning and not
all people will be able to do it, but you can make it possible
if you’re keen on it.
If you are ready to downsize, living in a van can be a great way
to save money and travel within a budget.
If you can do your job remotely and can cope with some of the
challenges mentioned, then van life can be a great option, even
just to save money.
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