Van Life 101

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🚌 Van Life 101: What We Learned Before Even Hitting the Road

By Hunter & Brittany
Published on 05/05/2025

🚘 Introduction

Before you toss your keys to a landlord, sell your furniture, or choose a van, there’s a lot to learn. We’re documenting our journey toward full-time van life—and here’s what we’ve figured out so far.

“It’s not about escape—it’s about choosing freedom.”
— The Traveling Willoughbys

💰 1. You Don’t Need to Be Rich to Start—But You Do Need a Plan

Van life on a budget is possible if you start with a clear financial plan. Whether you're building out your own van or buying one pre-converted, it's easy to overspend if you’re not careful.

  • Listing all monthly expenses
  • Creating a minimalist van life budget
  • Researching what other vanlifers spend each month
Pro Tip: Start your van life savings fund now. Even small deposits matter.

🛃 2. Downsizing Is Harder Than It Sounds

Learning how to downsize for van life was a surprise challenge. If you’re transitioning from an apartment or house to a van, you’ll quickly realize how little space you have.

Van life packing tips we’ve learned:

  • Multipurpose > single-use
  • Sell, donate, or gift what you don’t truly need
  • Use cloud storage for documents and memories

🌐 3. You Need a Reliable Source of Income

Remote work for van life is essential. While many vanlifers use social media or YouTube, others find flexible jobs online to stay sustainable.

  • Monetizing this van life blog
  • Trying out side hustles for digital nomads
  • Exploring freelance and contract work before we hit the road

🚂 4. Legal Stuff Matters

Insurance, residency, and paperwork are critical for full-time van dwellers. You’ll need a legal address for things like licenses, taxes, and healthcare.

  • Choose a domicile state (like Texas, Florida, or South Dakota)
  • Get van life insurance that covers both travel and theft
  • Use services like Traveling Mailbox for address needs

🚙 5. Not All Vans Are Created Equal

When shopping for a van, don’t just fall for aesthetics. You need a vehicle that fits your van life lifestyle, climate, and budget.

  • Cargo vans (Ford Transit, Sprinter, ProMaster)
  • Mini campers vs. stealth vans
  • DIY builds vs. ready-made conversions

Soon we’ll post a van comparison guide for beginners—stay tuned!

✨ Final Thoughts

Starting van life is more than buying a van—it’s building a lifestyle. By preparing mentally, financially, and logistically, we’re paving the way for a smooth transition into full-time travel.

Want to follow our journey? GoFundMe/Facebook
Subscribe to The Traveling Willoughbys for more van life tips, lessons, and inspiration!

Tags: #van #life #digital #nomad #budget #travel #minimalist #lifestyle #tiny #living #remote #work #full-time #RV #traveling #couple

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