How Cheap can Vanlife be? | This is how much I spent after one Month of Van Travel

$800 for 30 days of Traveling in an Astro Van
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Gas: $407
Food: $149
Entertainment: $30
Necessities: $233
--- TOTAL: $819 *but rounded to $800 for simplicity*

That's how much I spent while traveling! Really it wasn't too bad going as cheap as possible and it clearly paid off in the end because I spent MUCH less than what rent would cost and will be able to have plenty of money to continue doing this for much time to come.

If you're thinking about doing this, just remember to stay cheap and don't be afraid to sacrifice those things you don't need!

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[robideals]

If you get a membership at planet fitness you can access any location for showers and workouts for like 20 some bucks per month.

[driverguy]

I've been homeless several times in my life. And I know I can survive on about 60.00 a month. No fancy food, lot of beans and rice. Find a place to keep out of wind and rain. Been there done that. Have a good week, looking forward to your next journey!

[Koyekh]

You can get a hand pumped portable shower kit for about 30 bucks. Just fill with 1 part hot water to 2 parts cold, pump a few times, and away you go. Either shower outside, weather permitting, or open the back doors on the van and throw a tarp over them for a mobile shower cubicle.

[tamsolo]

I'll give you a few tips from my "hobo fabulous" days...
I would use a water bottle or disposable cup and fill it in the bathroom sink and grab a paper towel and put whatever soap they had on it... I'd go to the toilet, do my business, and then suds up and rinse off and flush (grocery store/gas station - places like that). I refused to smell homeless... nowadays I still do that when I wanna freshen up when I'm out in the summer heat.

[ajfeinman]

Great video. New subscriber. I have been living in my Toyota Prius for 8 years. An LA fitness membership goes a long way. For just 30 dollars a month, you get access to a swimming pool, a hot tub, a sauna, showers, and unlimited daily fresh water refilling whenever you want.

[brlwa]

Before I retired I worked at a job that was way the heck out there!
I have a little cabin on my own lot but commuting back and fourth to work was out of the question.
Wound up talking the passenger seat out of a 73 Bug and laying down a piece of plywood with a small mattress and a sleeping bag.
Took daily sponge baths and survived just fine, went home on the weekends.
The warehouse operated 24 hours a day so I put up sunshades on all windows and slept in the parking lot.
It was great getting off work and I was at my temporary home, waking up and I was already at work! 😁
I was jealous of people showing up in any kind of van because I would fantasize how I would set one up.
Retired now and I don't ever want to do that again!

[MrBoxofplastic]

I grew up in Utah. I love it and I'm glad you were able to enjoy it. I used to have an Astro Van lol. My bills are way higher with health insurance, phone, gas, student loans, food, credit cards, internet, vehicle incurance ($68 like you have is great!), dog food/vet/grooming, camping occassionally, amazon prime, gym membership, random kid stuff, etc. I'm building a tiny home on wheels soon. I'm sick of wasting money on rent that is stuck in one place.

[ericthat]

I have a 5 Gallon water bladder that I use for showering. I place it on top of the roof of my truck. Later that day it's nice and warm to shower. God Bless and be safe

[moreclips]

Go buy an “america the beautiful” pass. It’ll give you free access to all national parks and federal day use areas. It also gives you 50% off federal campsites. $80 for the year, so two or three NP entrances pay for it.

[bryantford]

I lived in an old RV in the 90s for over 2 years, cooked 99% of my meals, baked my own bread and lived cheap. Don’t pay $20 for a shower! Ask around at a chain truck stop if anyone has any extra shower credits. Offer to buy them a cup of coffee. Some drivers are local & go home every day. (Most chains give you a shower credit for buying 50 gallons of diesel.)

[cheyenneyakima]

Much respect for keeping it real. I did van life back in my hippie days, when it wasn't called van life. Keep up the great work..

[kennethgardner]

I started this lifestyle around nine months ago. Not in a van but in an SUV with a little popup trailer. So far it looks like you can teach me a thing or two. So yes, I will subscribe.

[michaelmyers]

A lot of things to consider when doing the van life, like the type of van you, have the engine and transmission, how much weight you have on the inside and modifications to the suspension and outside stuff, and life can be cheap or expensive it depends on the individual but it ultimately comes down to just getting out there living life and having fun I'm going back to it full time in another month so stoked

[nancyjohnson]

Hey Bronson, nice breakdown on your expenses. Star link is very expensive. I'm thinking of a Garmin satalite phone. You can text even without service on your phone. Gas prices are more out West and California is ridiculous! Last week I paid $2.85/gallon. Filled my van for $40. Groceries at a convenience store is highway robbery! Wal-Mart carries pre made meals in the camping aisle. No refrigeration needed. Quick and easy to make. 😎😎

[AdirondackgeorgeFB]

Yup, ,save money, get out and have fun. Nice one Bro !!😎

[paulmcgovern]

Truck stops are usually around $10 unless you have a loves card. You can get a free shower by fueling with the points system.

[TheSearcher]

Here is a cool tip for food.

Costco gift card, you can shop without a membership...

Buy in bulk for a month and then food prep it all.

[jacquelinecellian]

Dollar Tree has packets of tuna with different flavorings or spices added and with a fold up plastic spoon in the packet. They are also flat so they store well and easy to open. Just an idea.

[freddymorando]

It's important to note that this completely depends how you do it (planning wise) and where your starting destination is compared to where you actually want to be. I live in FL so just getting out west (where I wanted to be) was $600 alone. I also had to the ride home eventually so that's another $600 on fuel. I did not plan my trip I just kinda went with the flow so I backtracked a lot, crossing the New Mexico/Colorado state line at least 4 times. This was due to poor planning not knowing exactly where I was going and adjusting to the poor weather in CO at the time. Eventually I decided to check out Arizona as well, while I was in New Mexico. By the end of my month long trip I was up to $3400 in expenses. Don't be like me folks, do your homework plan the route wisely.

[vLife]

On Food careful with Tuna and mercury levels. I switched to $1 sardine cans from Walmart - savory breakfast of champions . I air fry a 2lb bag of chicken breast with an onion and pepper while driving and keep it in an air tight at the bottom of my fridge for 4 days of lunches during the week, then I eat lunch out on the weekend. I've learned to skip dinner and It not only saves money but has huge health benefits IMO.

Budget is mostly about your travel range. I'm in South Florida and my travel radius is only about 200 miles and I drive a 4 cylinder bypassing tolls. My hope in a few years is to upgrade to an EV cargo van when they deliver 400 mile range that can run A/C while parked overnight for a week.

I have a Planet Fitness multi-club membership and worth the $25 as I wash clothes in the shower and I often sleep in front since they are open 24h. I can get pretty clean using a Home Depot mist sprayer. I also have some off grid land for storage and project space right in the middle of my radius with a shallow well I shower and wash with.

My AT&T phone plan comes with 60gb hotspot data and it's enough for uploads and TV streaming every day. Might upgrade to their 100gb plan. You get familiar with spots that have great reception.

Tiny 15L 12v fridge is all I need for my almond milk, cooked meat, greens and left overs. I drink water and Bubly at room temp like a Brit. Small air fryer, microwave and rice cooker in my van saves time and money.

DC-DC alternator charging and a 460AH LifeP04 house battery was game changing.

I tell nobody I'm in a van or give tours in person. I'd love to boast about it but fear one day this lifestyle will be illegal. Our governor just made sleeping in public illegal.