Becoming the American Nomad: How to Start Van Life

To this day, the concept of the American Dream has deteriorated into something of glassy and strained eyes, bumper to bumper traffic, and for many, making ends living paycheck to paycheck. Many individuals in Laguna Beach have turned to the nostalgia of the past as a means of escape, waiting for another renaissance akin to the counterculture movement of the 1960’s. And with the release of the movie Nomadland, a woman who has chosen to travel the country out of her van after the conclusion of the Great 2008 Recession, and the popularity of Instagram “van traveling influencers,” more and more people have come to Sprinter of Laguna Niguel with the intention of ditching their dead-end jobs, wondering how to start van life. We receive questions such as, “How much should I save before van life?” and “Is van-life difficult?” Read on to learn the ropes on how to start a van life and to get the answers you need with the team at Sprinter of Laguna Niguel.

Is Van Life Difficult?

Now, to tackle the previous question, “Is van life difficult?” It depends on who you are as a person, what your life experiences are, your financial situation, and the building blocks that form your personality.

• If you’re choosing to pursue your van life on your own terms, yes–van life can be difficult, and dangerous. You need to follow your instincts, and be wary with those who you meet on the way. You’ll meet people from all walks of life on the way, but you never know where their true intentions lie. Always have something on hand to defend yourself in the case things go awry, especially for women, but also have someone you can rely on.
• Be wary with who you trust, but also have somebody to fall back on. If you’re ditching your San Juan Capistrano life with a significant other or friend, you’re already good. However, if you travel alone, you’ll need to have someone to rely on in the case of an emergency.
• You must be adaptable, self-sufficient, and resourceful. If you cannot handle some of the things your San Clemente life has thrown at you, both financially and emotionally, you might not be ready for van life yet. You have to adapt to different environments, be able to find places to park your van and locate amenities like showering, food, and groceries, and finding out-of-the-box solutions to support yourself when the bank runs dry (if you don’t work remotely or have your own business). If you have medical issues, it’s not ideal to travel alone, but as mentioned previously, have someone to rely on, have an idea of where the nearest hospitals are on the maps, and ensure that you have access to the medical necessities that you need.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Van Life?

Next up, people frequently ask, “How much should I save before van life? How much does it cost to start a van life?” Once again, it all depends on a multitude of factors, but regardless you need a budget in place. Here’s what you need to consider:

• How much you plan to pay monthly on a van. The average cost for a camper van per month ranges between $800 a month to over $2000 a month. You also need to account for gas prices, insurance, whether you plan to furnish your camper, and how many miles you plan on driving.
• Whether you plan to cook your own meals or eat out. Do you like to cook your meals, or do you prefer to dine out frequently?
• Your lifestyle. Do you plan on taking skiing trips, going out in big cities, visiting festivals, etc? Factor the demands of your lifestyle.
• How you plan to work. If you plan on working remotely from out of your van, you’ll have to camp in places where you can get a mobile phone signal, and this costs money.
• Health needs. How much is health insurance? Do you have any prescriptions you need to bring along the way? Take these costs into account.
• Luxuries you’re willing to keep or sacrifice. Do you need to shower twice a day? Or do you prefer to stay on luxury campsites with the necessary amenities at your disposal?

To break it down even further, you’ll want to budget based on the following: gas, insurance, costs of campgrounds and parking, phone and internet usage, basic hygiene, food, and any other miscellaneous factors. Having a successful vanlife on a tight budget is possible, but you need to be willing to crunch the numbers to make it work and be as self-sufficient as possible.

Start Your Journey With Sprinter of Laguna Niguel Today

Have a budget set in place and you know for certain that van life is meant for you? What are you waiting for? Start the life you’ve always dreamed of with the help of Sprinter of Laguna Niguel in Laguna Niguel by looking for a new van today in our inventory. We’ll find you your best fit van, and our team is happy to answer any questions on how to start a van life and budgeting costs. Contact us today.