With rising housing costs, many people now look to new forms of accommodation that won’t break the bank. One of the most popular methods we find is adopting the van life! If you are a fan of traveling, don’t mind leading a minimalist life, and would love to cut down on your monthly expenses, living in a van might be just the right solution for you!
However, adopting the van lifestyle is not as simple as it sounds because the sudden change can be pretty challenging for many. To make things easier for you, here are the steps you should follow to start your van life journey.
Choose The Right Vehicle
The first step is to choose the right vehicle for your van living, and there are several things you should consider when searching for one. The first is space, which depends on how many things you will carry and how many people you will accommodate. You further need to think of where you will be traveling; if you are going to remote areas or traveling off toads, you should get a bigger van.
Choose Your Essentials
The next step is to choose the essentials for your shift to van life. Some everyday essentials include bedding, clothing, cleaning, and safety equipment. If you plan on doing outdoor exploring, some gear should be put in order as well.
Fortunately, van life helps us declutter our lives considerably. You will eventually shift to a completely minimalist lifestyle and only keep the essentials close by!
Create A Budget
Living in a van is considerably cheaper than living in a house. But this doesn’t mean you should splurge on your monthly spending. Keep a note of your monthly expenses and create a budget to follow. You will also need to factor in the maintenance and upkeep of your van.
Get A Portable Power Station
When you shift to van life, you most probably won’t be connected to the grid. So, to keep your essentials powered up at all times, you should invest in a reliable power source. Getting traditional fuel-based generators is one choice, but a solar-powered portable power station can be even more useful! Not only are they eco-friendly, but they do not demand any fuel input to operate and are incredibly cost-effective!
Think of Where You’ll Be Sleeping
When it comes to spending the night, you can choose the easiest route and head to a paid campground or RV park. You can also look for free public spaces to park and sleep in. Some city parks, hotel parking lots, and even camping grounds in national forests allow you to spend the night on the premises for free.
What about the Bathroom, Showers, and Laundry?
When you live in van, there are two ways to go about this. You can either build an interior shower and toilet into the van. However, this will demand more space and will need clean water. On the other hand, you can easily find a shower, toilet, and even laundry at most paid campgrounds and RV parks. Plus, you can always choose to shower at the gym! Think of what suits your situation!
Final Thoughts
Van living is not for everyone. But those who wholeheartedly embrace it find it hard to shift back! That is how convenient living in a van can prove to be. If you want to start your own van life journey, follow the steps we have outlined above to kickstart and enjoy a life close to nature!