The truths about van life
Why choose van life?
There are a thousand answers to this question. The most popular reasons being:
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The freedom to roam and choose where you stay
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The simplicity of a more basic lifestyle
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The lack of clutter and material possessions
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The love of travel and exploring
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The lower costs involved rather than living in a house
The true costs of van life
With van life, the biggest expense will always be fuel and this will depend on how much you move about. Living in a van you are able to live within your means and be frugal.
Living in a van, you won't have rent or council tax to pay. You will not have huge utility bills, but you will have to consider your power requirements and water.
Read about the full costs of van life here
The downsides of van life
Van life will never be perfect and it's unlikely you will ever be 100% happy.
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Living in a small space can become tiresome at times - you need to be organised all the time
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Driving can become a chore if you travel too much
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Loneliness is an issue with some van lifers. You can find yourself isolated
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Finding somewhere to stop can sometimes be difficult
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You could face unexpected expenses. Budget accordingly
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Security and safety can be an issue
That said, the van life community is amazing. You are guaranteed to meet some incredible people with lots of stories to share
Myths about van life
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Full time van life is free
Nonsense, as you see above, there are many costs involved -
Full time van life is perfect
It's by no means perfect. In fact, some days it can be terible -
Anyone can do it
No they can't. Van life is not for everyone. It takes a unique type of person to even make the decision to sell up and go for it -
Van life is dangerous
No it's not. Providing you take some basic steps. (Read more about safety here)
The key to successful (and enjoyable) van life
It will never be easy but there are things that will make life better
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Be organised
Everything should have it's place and always be put back after use -
Space is a premium
Take the bare minimum with you and avoid clutter. Go for space saving solutions wherever possible -
Don't plan too far ahead
The beauty of van life is being able to move and stay when you like. Take each day at a time -
Never miss an opportunity
If you get the chance to see or do something different, don't hesitate. The world is a beautiful place. Soak it up -
Compromise and get on
If there are two of you travelling. Give each other space and respect. Never ague in the van but always discuss -
Socialise
Don't let loneliness get you. Meet others wherever possible and mix. Share your experiences and knowledge