Is Van Life Worth It? Let’s Go on a Journey To Find Out 

It may have started as a simple road trip. Then, it became a feasible alternative lifestyle. It gave you a sense of fulfillment that you never experienced in your entire life. The minimalist life is appealing in the age of overconsumption and waste. We hope this article helps you answer the question, “Is van life worth it?”

Consider the unexpected expenses and dangers of living in parking lots. It’s a lifestyle choice that has pros and cons like any other one. Let’s talk about everything that you need to know before embarking on this journey.

Best Van Life Instagram Accounts To Inspire You

If you are considering this life, it helps to see lifestyle influencers who have done it before you. Visualizing success stories makes the prospect more realistic. We are going to list the best Van Life Instagram accounts to help inspire you. 

1. Noël Russell: @noel_russ

Russell travels in a van with her partner. She shows what it’s like to share space with someone else. She also rescued two dogs to follow her along on this journey. She designed her camper van herself, and she made the rules as she went along. 

Her beautiful photos show a very picturesque version of life. She feels her days with activities like hiking and fishing. She seems to always be on the go. Still, she manages to keep up a blog for those who want to hear about her life.

2. Naomi, Dustin, & Amara: @irietoaurora

Representation matters when it comes to doing things that are counterculture. If you are a person of color, it helps to see people like you do things like this. 

This group of young people is exactly the inspiration you need. They let you know that you can live his lifestyle as well. They also offer useful resources, tips, and tricks for seamlessly executing this life. 

3. Maria, Leander, & Lennox: @akela.world

Do you have a family? You might think that Van Life is not feasible. That’s why it’s important to have an example like this one. Granted, they do. Do you have a sturdy old military truck? It has a noticeable amount of space. 

There are two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and a kitchen. They’ve seen Europe and Asia, the USA and Australia with this van. They truly do not recognize borders. They document their journeys with beautiful photos that they share with the rest of the world. They are from Austria but are truly global citizens.

How Much Does Van Life Cost? Affording the Van Life Aesthetic

Van Life can cost approximately $300,000. If only getting ready for this life was carefree. Unfortunately, it costs money to live out of a van for a long period. Some expenses may be recurring ones. You will have to prepare yourself for the potential costs involved.

So, how much does Van Life cost? Let’s talk about some expenses that you can reasonably expect.

1. The Actual Van

Of course, you will need a van for this life. Do you already have one? Or do you plan to buy one? There are costs associated with each. Let’s talk about buying a brand-new van. 

You can consider brands like Mercedes, Dodge, and Ford. Prices may range between $40,000 and $60,000. You have to consider your budget and personal travel needs. Remember that you will be living in this vehicle. Remember that you may not always have the ability to escape being in that space. It needs to feel like your home.

The cost of converting a van to a livable space will vary. They may start at $10,000 if you plan to do it yourself. But it’s not like renovating a van, which is something people innately know how to do. You may want the services of a professional. The renovation prices may range from $60,000 to $250,000. 

This aesthetic may give the impression of a life without care. Reality is quite the opposite.

2. Gas

You’re going to have to move this car. And that’s something that you want to do, correct? To do that, you’re going to have to spend money on gas. You know what state you live in, and you know how much you want to travel. The total cost of gas depends on your lifestyle. This expense will be much higher than what you’re used to.

3. Gym Membership

It’s possible to use your van to shower. If you spend extended time in the outdoors, it will be useful to know how to do this. But some people prefer to have the convenience of an actual shower. This is where gym memberships are useful. Of course, you can use a membership to work out. But when you live in a van life, it’s especially useful for showering and brushing your teeth.

4. Food

Like most people, you enjoy a warm meal. That doesn’t have to stop when you get a van. If you outfit it properly, you could use it to cook meals. This means that you still have to account for groceries. 

Not having a full-sized fridge will mean you’ll have to go pretty often. If you prefer to eat out, create a budget for this need. If you don’t have a refrigerator, remember that you may have to buy food in small amounts.

Just like in regular life, expenses pop up out of nowhere. You’ll have to upkeep your van and pay for the repairs. 

Best Vans for Van Life: A Battle of the Top Three

The most important purchase of your life could be your van. You have to make it count. When converting a van to your home, consider a few top layers. These are the best vans for van life:

1. Mercedes Sprinter

Living this life does not mean that you can’t enjoy luxury. Consider this luxury car option. People know about his van because of the customization possibilities. It also produces excellent performance and comfort for its users. Of course, the name attracts a price that matches. Some say that the price is worth what you receive in return.

2. Ford Transit

There is a more formal option than the Sprinter. A Ford Transit is an attractive alternative. They perform as well on terrains, so they can handle wherever you need to take them. Still, it pales in comparison in terms of fuel efficiency.

3. Ram Promaster

You will love the price and How wide the chassis is. Some people report that they can sleep sideways. What’s more comfortable than that? However, you will have a difficult time when you want to convert a 4×4 or AWD.

Van Life Essentials That You Can’t Pass Up

You feel a very strong calling to Van Life. There is something about it that you want to experience. Still, you understand that it will take some getting used to. You don’t want to dislike the experience. This means that you’ll need a few Van Life essentials. We can help you decide what those things are:

• RV water filter
• Foldable toilet
• Cell phone signal booster 
• Insect repellant
• Portable awning
• Fire extinguisher
• Burner camping stove
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Portable power station jump starter
• First-aid kit
• Insulated stainless steel thermos

And there may be some things that you want in addition to this list. Do what you need to do to make this life as comfortable as possible for you.

How To Start Van Life With No Money: 3 Tips

Many expenses come with owning or renting a home. Not having a home is also expensive. You shouldn’t go into Van Life thinking that it will be easy. It will take a good amount of preparation. These are some good tips for how to start a van life with no money. Just so you know, you may not like the first tip.

1. Start Aggressively Saving

Have you ever experienced car trouble? Have you ever experienced a random house expense? Consider this lifestyle potentially having a mixture of both of those possible problems. 

There is nothing quite like having a safety net of money. You need to prepare for the worst possible occurrences. We would not advise you to start your van life without a financial cushion.

2. Secure a Remote Job

Most people who engage in this life don’t have a 9-to-5 job. They are constantly on the road and have no roots anywhere. This doesn’t mean that expenses don’t still come up. You have to eat, and you have to practice proper hygiene. For these reasons, you should start looking for a remote job. 

In modern times, having a laptop and Internet connection can provide full employment. If you want to start living in a van, start looking for a job immediately. It may take you a while to pound the internet payment. 

Many of these Instagram influencers who live in vans earn from the content they create. They are not unemployed. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can simply do what they do. Sure, you can create content around your nomadic lifestyle. But it may take a while before you will receive a steady income that sustains you. 

3. Put Your Things in Storage

If you are an adult, you may have a lot of possessions. It’s not possible to carry everything in a van. It will wear you down and ultimately cost you. We have to be realistic. 

You may not want to live in a van forever. You would like to know that you can return to normal life with all your possessions. This kind of mentality will make my life even better.

For this reason, consider putting your items in storage. If you know you’ll never come back, you can choose to have a garage sale to get rid of everything. Still, you may have some priceless sentimental items. 

Putting them in safekeeping is a good idea. This is another reason you need to secure a regular income. Storage containers are not free.

Van Life Captions To Frame Your Journey

You’re going to post your amazing life on social media. What is a beautiful post without an excellent caption? Instagram Reels speak for themselves. Still, there’s a lot more that you can say. Here are some van life captions that you should consider courtesy of Rouinely Nomadic:

• May every day bring a new adventure.
• It’s more than just a vehicle; it’s my home.
• Living the nomad life.
• Go out in the world and explore.
• Be adventurous. Live life to the fullest.
• Don’t let your dreams be dreams.
• Getting used to sleeping with the stars.
• Adventure is always an option when you live in a van.
• Living my best life in my van.
• Better than my wildest dreams.
• Proof that life is one beautiful ride.
• There’s no time to be bored when you live in a van.
• The only trip you will regret is the one you didn’t take.
• Who needs a plane ticket when you have a van?
• When ordinary life doesn’t interest you, get a van.
• Adventure awaits.
•  Life begins outside your comfort zone.
• I don’t need therapy. I have a van
• Let’s wander where the wifi is weak.
• Takes me wherever I need to go, whenever I need to.
• I’ll send my postcards from the road.
• The van life is not for everybody, but it is for me.
• Van life vibes
• Oftentimes, the best thing is to take that leap of faith.
• Lost in the woods.
• Explore. Create. Make real connections.
• Life is all about the journey. So, where are you going?
• Living that van life
• Living in a van allows you to live spontaneously.
• I’ve got a case of wanderlust here.
• Living in a van is already its form of adventure.
• Take the less traveled route.

Is Van Life Worth It? With Plixi, It Is

You might be downsizing your life. What do you think about increasing your growth? There are a lot of people who want to see your content. They probably need the courage to make the choice that you are making. Your travel hacks shouldn’t go to waste. Show off your living space in your camper vans to the audience that needs to see it. 

You just need to connect to those people. We can help you grow your page and reach your ideal target audience. We have an in-house platform for Instagram influencers. The support they get from our propriety AI Targeting algorithm is amazing. You will have an answer to the question, “Is van life worth it?” Start growing your page with Plixi today.