Downsizing for Van Life: What We Let Go to Live with Less and Travel More

Posted on: May 5, 2025

Why Downsizing for Van Life Was Our First Big Step

Starting van life isn’t just about building a van—it begins with letting go. We recently took a major step toward freedom by downsizing our possessions and preparing to live with only the essentials. It wasn’t easy, but every item we let go of brought us closer to our goal: simple, intentional, and mobile living.

The Emotional Side of Letting Go

Downsizing for van life is as much about mental space as it is about physical space. We had to sort through years of accumulated items—some practical, some sentimental—and ask ourselves: Do we really need this to live happily?

Letting go wasn’t always easy. But each decision made us feel lighter and more in control of our future.

What We Sold, Donated, and Recycled

If you're wondering how to downsize for van life, here’s a look at what we removed from our lives:

• Bulky furniture that wouldn't fit in the van
• Kitchen gadgets we rarely used
• Outdated electronics and cables
• Duplicates of clothes, tools, and household items
• Storage boxes full of "just in case" things

We sold some items on Facebook Marketplace and used the extra money to fund our van life conversion.

What We Chose to Keep

Minimalist van life doesn't mean having nothing—it means keeping what matters most. Here's what made the cut:

• Clothing essentials (plus one “nice” outfit each)
• Tools and gear for repairs and mobile work
• Digital devices (laptop, camera, phone)
• Sentimental items that bring us joy
• Camping and outdoor gear

If it doesn’t serve a purpose or bring value, it doesn’t come with us.

Downsizing for Van Life: 3 Lessons We Learned

1. Clutter kills clarity – We’re more focused now that we aren’t surrounded by stuff.
2. We don’t miss what we thought we would – Most “must-haves” were barely noticed once they were gone.
3. It gets easier – The more we let go, the more empowered we felt to keep going.

What's Next in Our Van Life Journey?

With most of the downsizing done, we’re now focused on our van build: planning the layout, installing insulation, and prepping for full-time life on the road. We’ll be sharing that process in the next blog post.

---

Thinking about van life?
Subscribe or follow along—we’re here to share our journey, tips, and honest experiences as we transition to full-time nomads.

GoFundMe/Facebook

See you on the road,

Hunter & Brittany
The Traveling Willoughby’s