Living out of a van means freedom from responsibilities like lawnmowers, community associations, and sump pumps. But it still requires some financial planning and savvy to make it work as a long-term lifestyle. We talked to Jess Shisler, founder of Van.There, about budgeting for living in a van full-time.
A Home on Wheels
The number one and most obvious thing anyone aspiring to van life will need is, well, the van itself. This critical expense will also likely be the largest in the budget—expect to pay in the range of at least in the tens of thousands of dollars on up, depending on the model and whether the vehicle is new. That cost can seem daunting, but Shisler says to keep it in perspective.
“When we first started looking, my husband and I saw a pre-fab van for sale and it was one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. I thought ‘wow, that is a ridiculous price.’ Like we can afford that,” Shisler says. “And then we started to think about it as if it were our mortgage. This is where we’d be living and a hundred-and-twenty-thousand-dollar home would be very reasonable in the majority of the country.”
In the end, the Shislers went with much lower-priced vehicle and used dealer financing to buy it. They now pay $900 a month, which, again, would be relatively affordable for rent or mortgage payment in many regions of the United States.
Making it Your Own
All but the highest-end van that’s designed to be lived in or a well rehabbed used vehicle is going to require “conversion.” This process is necessary to make a van a habitable space but you might also just want to give it your own touches. Many people choose to go the DIY route to save money. Even, so depending on how elaborate the build-out is, it could cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to $25,000. A bed, some seats, insulation, heating, food cooker, toilet, electricity, and storage units are necessities. From there, the possible upgrades and additions are endless.
Rolling with Van Life
It’s only natural that more of your budget will go to vehicle-related expenses than ever before. There are the basics, like registration, license, and emissions testing, which always need to be kept up to date, especially if you’re traveling. Your vehicle insurance will be significantly more expensive for a camper van than it was for a regular old car because you need to insure not just the van itself but the build and the contents, which will require an RV policy.
Factor in storage and parking costs for when you’ll want to get off the road. With locations around the country, CubeSmart’s flexible vehicle storage options make a convenient option for camper van owners. Having a storage facility is another important resource, especially if you plan to dip in and out of van life, or need a neutral (read: non-family member’s attic) space to stash belongings. (The Shislers keep two, one on each coast.)
Most people get into van life in the first place because they want to be mobile. Gas and tolls will be a necessary and significant expense—just how much to budget for them will largely depend on your travel plans.
“We estimate about thirty thousand miles of driving per year, and about 18 miles per gallon because we travel across the United States.”
Ballparking anywhere from $2.50 to $3.50 a gallon depending on what region she’s driving through, her gas budget can be about $350 to $600 a month.
Given all the wear and tear the vehicle will be enduring, it’s important to set aside money both for regular van maintenance like oil changes and emergency repairs.
And of course, it’s imperative to stop and enjoy the scenery. For a frugal person, it’s almost always possible to find cheap or free campgrounds while luxury campgrounds with more comforts and amenities can cost as much as $150 a night. Hygiene itself may be a line item: Many van lifers will pay for camping to get access to showers. An alternative is to pay for a gym membership at a national chain or use truck stops which charge a flat fee per person to shower.
Self-employment and Special Considerations for Van Life
Most van lifers are retired or self-employed. In order to keep money flowing in, it will be important to determine what type of work you’ll do on the road. Some great jobs for van lifers include writing, graphic design, digital design, bookkeeping, teaching or tutoring online, and ecommerce.
Given that you’ll probably be your own boss, you’ll likely have to budget for health insurance which can run upwards of a thousand dollars a month. In addition having an unlimited data plan will be key for most van lifers as you’ll want to have uninterrupted internet and mobile phone access as you travel, especially if you work from your van. The Shislers say it costs them about $250 a month for data.
Real Savings
The rest of the budget will be devoted to all of the same things you might spend money on otherwise: food, clothing, entertainment, and other luxuries.
An added benefit, however, is that with so much less space to store your possessions and less social pressure to buy the latest and greatest of everything, the van life mentality tends to be less consumer-oriented.
“I wear the same clothes that I literally packed into the camp five years ago,” Shisler says. “When you live in a house you feel the pressure to keep up with the Joneses. So it turned out to be a much more affordable lifestyle versus doing all the things that you do when you’re in a stationary place.”
In the end, there’s a different van life budget for every van lifer, whether you’re the luxe Instagram star or the low-key DIYer who’s in it for the hiking, she says. When you learn how to live in a van, you’ll learn how to budget according to your personal priorities.
“The most fun part about this is that you can kind of create your own story. It’s very possible to buy an old van, get an air mattress and a little camp stove and a solar-powered light and call it a day. My advice is to just be authentic to who you are and what you want.”
