VanLife EXPENSES | How much does it REALLY cost?
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- Опубліковано 10 кві 2021
- Van Life costs money. But how much? Are you really saving money? Here I break down what VanLife costs for me. From fixed expenses to gas money & food, this should give you a pretty good idea.
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We are Linnea and Akela. In May, 2020 I purchased our 2016 Ram ProMaster, Togo, to become our full-time home. With this van build, I am using my stubbornness and drive to show individuals that they, too, can convert a campervan BY THEMSELVES and ON A BUDGET, with a lot of learning, rolling up the sleeves, and getting to work.
Our goal is to inspire individuals to chase their dreams... to break from societal limitations and live the life they truly desire. And, to GET OUTSIDE!
SUBSCRIBE for van build details, wanderlust travel, and the truth about van life with a big german shepherd!
Follow on Instagram: @linnea.and.akela
I love how transparent you’ve been with the cost of living and converting your van! Thank you! 😊
What’s the overall cost?
How much to make a van?
I hope my son meets and settles down with a girl like Linnea. Such a smart, kind, patient, loving, independent and resourceful woman. This has been such a fun journey!!
@Linnea&Akela is a magical human 🤍
I'm a mom too of an amazing son, and I completely agree with you!
Yessss! Me too I love my son that much also ! ❤️🦋
@@Shel731 My son is 20yrs old and a sophomore in college. I just want him to be with someone kind and loving! Ha
bro what
Girl, I live on $250.00 a month. Not by choice, but necessity.
Ouch, that must be very challenging for you. 😞
Bless your heart.
How?? I need to learn to be so frugal!
I think you did pretty well! You'd have a lot of those expenses -- phone, car insurance, food, etc. -- no matter where you lived.
I too wondered about health insurance. You are amazing...I think I tell you that every week, but it’s so true. I did miss seeing Akela’s face this time! 🥴💕
I’m 34 and have never had health insurance in my life….
I can only imagine that cosy lovely feeling you have staying in your safe van when you have storm outside. 😊 All the best, Linnea and Akila x
I've noticed over the course of your videos (which we are 100% referencing in our own build) and your cinematography has really developed wonderfully.
Thank you again for your work on these - they are the best reference out there!
I will be scrutinizing my expenses more closely from now on. I am just so “up in the air,” with the build-out. Thanks for shining a light on this most important aspect of life.
Thank you for sharing this video. It certainly helps to keep things real. Love to you and Akela ❤
You make the best videos. I love how you go into detail about everything. It’s so helpful and inspiring. What a wonderful life you lead. Happy travels!
Thank you for taking the time to put together your vids, especially of the van build. I'm a retired home builder and you taught me some things. :)
Thanks for the detailed breakdown of your expenses and for letting your hair loose. And I hope your tea was still warm at the end of the vlog. Thumbs Up again and always.
Now this is a beautiful Van Life channel... Authentic & refreshing. Exactly what I needed 💖
Thanks! This was very enlightening. Most appreciated.
Well! I am just sooo GLAD that I saw your youtube channel and decided to watch it! You are AWESOME! I have been binge-watching now for a few hours and am a new subscriber!
Welcome to Missouri. Def a little crazy weather yesterday! Sun is shining today though! Safe travels!!
OMG! I've been binge-watching videos like this, and now you, my favorite vanlife youtuber, upload one! Thank you!
Super honest approach and very helpful. Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your videos, your one about fitting puck lights was the only one that made sense to me and today I have lights in my van, love your videos .
Kind regards
Steve
Thanks. This is super helpful. I’ve enjoyed watching a few vanlifers go thru their expenses, and everybody is different, has different priorities. The more I see, the more I understand that my own personal budget is just that - mine. It takes away this perception or pressure I felt to live my vanlife like other folks! Thanks for helping me understand that.
Thanks for your transparency! Great channel
Enjoy what you have accomplished! Thanks for sharing....Great Job👍
Thank you for sharing so openly! So interesting to see what other people at other places are spending for normal life. And you definitely inspired me to check my monthly subscriptions 😅😂
So straight forward and real! Not candy coated! I'm getting ready to do van life! Every day isn't a struggle I think, but somedays will be! Breathe and move with the with your relationship with nature! May seem hard at first! But the peace and finding what your soul seeks will be worth it! Oh and yes you just got a new subscriber! God bless!
This is perfect and really wanted to know. Thank you!
The lighting in this video is just amazing.
Thank you for being real. Much appreciated
Your monthly expense is my regular monthly rent lol. Just started my van build and can't wait to cut expenses and ditch apartments.
How’s it going?
Love you Linnea, take good care! x
Thank you so much! Information going in helps to make better choices down the line.
Thank you for the breakdown. I’m looking at doing the same rough concept in STL to cut down on overhead for the end goal of a sailboat. 😁
Good luck out there.
your lifestyle looks so peacefully. this is the level i dream to achieve, but i feel like i am too conected to a stationary life. you are amazing, take care! 🥰
Been following, I am Uber impressed with your build...congrats, gives me lots to think about as I do mine..cheers
As long as you are comfortable with your life and doing what you want to do and have enough money coming in then that’s all you need. Remember that you are living a life that you love and are sharing that with us. Pls send our love to the puppy and look forward to your next video.
You've done such a great job with your build-out, filming, tutorials, personality...it's really a joy to watch and learn from what you've created, and...as an independent-capable woman (who also gets burnout and scared) watching your videos is inspiring and appreciated. As an aside, I recently took Amtrak from Santa Fe NM to KC Missouri and said to myself multiple time..Missouri?! really?! what am I doing in Missouri?!..had a wonderful and unexpected visit with three different friends and flew to Chicago, bought my Promaster and drove back to Santa Fe..the build-out has begun. Sending a private message to your business account...
Thank you so much for this. I appreciate it a lot! Good luck with your build :)
Very good info thanks for being so transparent. New sub
I love doing vanlife in Hawaii! Can’t wait to upload more videos and have a channel like yours.
You did a great job breaking everything down! Thank you for sharing so much with us. After watching you, I know I can do this! Also, do you have a PO Box?
One of the best breakdowns I’ve seen
I really appreciate the transparency
hey loving your videos! will be building out my 136 promaster in the next couple months and your van build series has been incredibly helpful!
im really curious in the months to come, how much it costs to maintain Togo, from the windshield wipers to the tire rotations. as well as how much you pay to insure the vehicle. have been having a hard time finding that kind of info.
thanks again for all the awesome content youre putting out, and maybe one day we'll run into eachother on the road!
Thanks for being so honest I plan on becoming a vanlifer and having a piece of land that I can go back to as my home base
Thank you! Very helpful info 👌
Thanks for this, it's great to have a honest breakdown of the costs for once :)
The final amount scared me a *lot* but, again, as you say life costs depend on individual choices. I was amazed by how much you spent in gas - I expected the costs to be cheaper in the US! Do you mind sharing an approximate mileage for March? Just to have an idea of how much a gear like yours is gonna leech - I'm going to get a Ducato with similar structural specs to Togo most likely, but the engine is going to be different (still looking into LPG conversions though, to lower the costs).
Thank you for your positive vibe your videos always make me happy. Sad it was to short 😢 😉❤
Nice one for your honesty. Our 'play' budget is 170£ a week. Thats fuel, food, dog food and parking mainly. The total budget including the mortgage on the property we rent out, insurances, bills etc is 1250£. So similar to yours at $1650 USD. We fund it all from the rental fee we recieve and the savings. Unfortunately, we are not big time on UA-cam. All the best. Love the vlog👍🙌
This video is very helpful thank you!
Safe travels to FL and enjoy your family vacation! 🤗
This helped so so much for me. Question... can you do a video of what you would change about your van / build now that you have lived in it? Would love to see that. 🥰🥰
Thanks you for share from Spain :)
“Why am I still paying for Planet Fitness?” I literally say that to myself every month for the last 3 years 😭😭😭 hahaha
5 years now?
Have fun and take care and take it easy and enjoy it
Good stuff! Don't forget WIFI, I am almost done and about to go full time living on the road as well. I have actually have a monthly spreadsheet that helps me keep track of all expenses, main thing to save for is Vehicle Maintenance. I have a cargo trailer camper conversion that is 95% done, with complete solar and shower. Another thing to if you can is make larger payments on your vehicle, so it will be paid off sooner, and quicker, since you are driving a lot, and racking up the mileage. Keep in mind, more mileage you put on the vehicle, the value of the vehicle decreases. I enjoy watching your videos and just subscribe to your channel. my channel is Crossroads Opportunity . Just wanted to say is this. Thank you for keeping it real on your videos. Keep it up!
Great video!!
I’m still hunting for the right vehicle to build. I love these updates on the expenses. I won’t have a car payment so I do plan on money for repairs. I used to drive bands on tour and loved driving around the country. I just wish I had more time at each location. This time I will have all the time I need. Lol.
Have you decided what kind of frame (std, cargo, ambo, winnebago, etc.)?
I can completely relate to dealing with just making a meal with what i have and not having access to a grocery store all the time being an over the road truck driver
Wow, I'd better subscribe and follow you to help out a bit. thank you so much for your transparency , honesty and entertaining upload :D
I thought about doing van life when I got out of the army 3 years ago, but I couldn't see myself in that small of a space, and I didn't want a standard apartment, job, and commute life either. So, I decided on boat life instead. And I love these expense videos, which allows me to compare boat life to van life. And not surprising, I do spend more than you, about $900, and $800 of that is fuel.
Add me to the health insurance list. Something I think about a lot. Thank you so much for your transparency and authenticity!
Think of the coffee expense as partly wi-fi since you wouldn't be going to (or as many?) coffee shops if you didn't go for the wi-fi. Maybe it doesn't work like this with your set-up but less van wi-fi expense but more coffee shop wi-fi expense. (Great videos - thanks for sharing!)
I was wondering if you can do one with Akelas's expenses. Just so we can create a base budget for our own pets. I plan to build out a short bus in 2023 and will be traveling with a husky. Akela is gorgeous and your bond is beautiful to watch.
Ty. So interesting.
This actually gives me a good deal of encouragement. My fixed expenses will be much lower than Linnea's, and I don't need to spend money in coffee shops to work, so I might be able to get by on $1000 or $1100 a month. That leaves plenty in the bank for savings and the emergency fund. Cha-ching!! 💰💰💲💲💲💰💰
Another great video. Would you mind giving a ballpark figure of the van cost and the build out?
Why on earth is your phone bill $131 per month??? Do you have multiple lines, separate data or something? I am genuinely blown away by that fixed cost. When I visit the US on vacation I'm always a bit stuck because I stay for five weeks, which invariably means any phone connection I arrange, I'm paying for at least two months. I usually go with AT&T and try to get something with as much data as possible because here in Australia we're not used to swinging from one wi-fi node to the next. Your telco costs are a genuine puzzle to me. I'd love to see a video on that, managing posting on UA-cam, etc.
Love your work, Linnea! Thanks for sharing :-)
Good job. Perfect
GetUpside app is a gas rebate site. They also give back money when you purchase items in the gas station. They have 4 gas stations that except them.
They are Love, Circle K, Phillip 66, and BP. The app will let you know the closest station to you. Ibotta is another app that gives back money just like online
coupons. If you park near a fast food place such as McDonalds, you don't have to go into them. Hope this helps. Stay safe.
! Nice useful video. Thanks. ALOHA
I do not keep track of anything. I feel like I am forever flying by the seat of my pants. I have been talking about getting my crap together for months lol This video has actually made me really decide to get my shit together with my finances. Thank you for yet another great HONEST AUTHENTIC video. My only complaint is I didn't get enough Akela lol That will always be my complaint though haha
Damn where are you renting where you paid $500 I would love to move there LOL
If you like the "hood" life you can move to the town of Killeen near an army base for that. In an old apartment with crap wiring and pipes older than me(68)...yeah..its fun when your a senior citizen.
Now that’s awesome!!!👠🚌👠
That’s actually really good! Definitely less than what I spend.
I know this is like 2 years old and not a lot of people see this but.. what about the various costs around the van. Like water, propane, power, heat, AC… like the utilities costs of van life basically
Hi. Great vids. Many viewers want you address bathroom needs specially #2
Thanks!
Thank you!
Absolutely
THANKS
No laundry, car maintenance, health insurance, car insurance (unless I missed it). I also budget the annual expenses like tabs, Amazon, etc. But not bad, nonetheless!
Just found your channel and rewatching old videos and this is very random but we have the same exact car payment to the cent 😳
That’s wild!
Great informative video!!! I think I am starting this backward's lol. I have most of what I need to do van life, except the van! Any suggestions??? My groceries are about the same, what was the coffee you said you get? I live on SSI and have some stash, very little, I know once I get out there, P&B sandwiches will be fine as long as I am living the life I missed, taking care of everyone but me, give me a beach! My happy place! Thank you Linnie. Much love from Texas ❤
I agree. It's not possible to run from oneself, but running is the best way to loosen the social noose. You've probably got a friend with an old Winnebago, but that's a slightly different life.
@@b.jamindamour2008 I can agree with you, run to find yourself after year's of living for everyone else, on overload getting downsized. I will be out there LIVING instead of sitting here wasting away! I may be 67 but I am not dead yet! Time to live the dream I missed ❤
@@DeborahLong7777 Age is a mental state, albeit hard to understand and physically prescient. Please go be an example of that truth which begets eternal youth 😁 Hopefully my mom will read about you someday.
@@b.jamindamour2008 awww this was so special and you bet she will and hopefully encourage her to get out there too !!! Thank you ❤
This is random but thought I'd mention it. If you wanna knock off the monthly Adobe spends, Affinity has a one off cost for their Illustrator and Photoshop dupes and has most of the same functions as Adobe :) and if you use Premiere Pro for editing, DaVinci Resolve is a free substitute :)
Cam you do a video on the things you want to change please
Feels on the coffee. Definitely deserves its own category 😁☕️👌🏼 by the way, in regard to ADOBE, tell them you’re canceling and they’ll lower the price. Cheers
I’m an ultra minimalist, so my van build was really inexpensive but so is my lifestyle since I started last July. No pets. Monthly expenses: gas $100-150; van insurance $55; phone $150; storage unit $120; food $300 or less. Add miscellaneous spending but keep it reasonable and $8-900 is very doable. Once I get rid of the phone and storage unit, and if I cut down on gas by doing 14-day stays on BLM and National Forest dispersed camping areas, I’d get it down to $400 or so, with fewer miscellaneous expenses too because I’m parked on BLM or whatever just reading books and stuff. 😊
Do NOT wait so long to change your oil. Dodge/ Chrysler might say you can go 10,000 miles..but if you want to show your engine the love you show your dog, change it every 5,000. I have owned a Promaster 1500 for 5 years and I do all my own oil and filter changes. Giles in Southern Calif.
Panera bread I do my coffee it cost me under nine dollars a month that’s with creamer. I do the iced coffee myself. Hope this helps you. A lot of times we buy stuff we really don’t need.
I'm paying less than that in a sticks and bricks. Granted I live with my mom, but I pay a fixed amount of $500 to her a month including utilities. My full coverage car insurance is $95 because of good driver discount and I'm no longer in the "high risk" age for getting into accidents. My Prius i fill the tank once a month for $20-30. Groceries is about $50-60 a month (I'm very frugal). Everything else is usually about $100-200 a month.
What camera do you use to film? Your intro shots are 🤩
So helpful. Would you ever change your sink to a non propane one? Im building my van now and I’m scared of propane😂😂
alright, apart from subbing your channel, i have saved this video for future reference. I'm buying
an MB Sprinter 2500 (the best one on offer) and
that along with Amazon to order all the relevant
#VanLife needs will probably total so much all at
once, HOWEVER.. it's the monthly expenses that
i will focus on trying to decrease year over year &
that's where your video comes in very handy. I've
seen the total for the month & i think it's very realistic. Insurance & Fuel being among the most
unfortunately. i will amend this comment with my actual total (first month) to see how much or less
i end up spending. thank you okay 💰💰💰
Good Video 🚐👍 From videos I've seen, it seems that $30 to $50 a day is the normal for Van Living.
What are instances when you have to board Akela & do you listen to music or watch movies or have hobbies when inside your 🚐 for the evening?
What about another big recurrent expense: health insurance? Does your car insurance have enough coverage against theft if someone breaks into your van? Or would you need renter's insurance or similar to cover that?
Good video but I like the ones with the doggy better LOL😄🐝✌ are you passing through Georgia if so where oh maybe you shouldn't tell me but I would like to meet the doggy🤗😋
I have a couple of questions for you I thought of while my dad and I were traveling. How do you deal with mail? I figure most of your bill type mail is electronic but in terms of buying things online or getting whatever type of paper mail where does it go? My other question is probably the weirder one but do you have sheet recommendations for the bed in your van? My dogs have done a number on mine over the years of jumping up and down.
You are terrific! Have you considered Affinity as a sub for Adobe? I use it and it is a one time fee of $50 ($25 if you catch it on sale!) including updates. Nearly the same program too. Just a thought to keep Adobe from robbing you monthly. :) I am taking inspiration from you, btw, for some of my own van build! The fan in particular (how you installed it) and the REStore which I didn't even know was a thing before. Keep up the good work!
I have heard of it but I haven't looked into Affinity yet! Thank you for the suggestion :)
Life is expensive, I am retired so my life has to fit my budget, Rice n beans in a pinch. ;o)
Lol. Health is made in the kitchen, so please add some sprouted grains to your mix. Wheat berries are reasonably priced and have most benefits of wheat grass after activation.
@@b.jamindamour2008 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
You might be able to get that cell phone bill down if you get on a family plan (parents or brother). Unless the hotspot is what makes it so high.
Wauw, sounds like a lot of money...
But jou are right. It depends on your choice...
Which gym did you switch too? I start my vanlife in June and was thinking about getting a 24 Hour Fitness membership
What meaning does the name ToGo mean to you? Authenticity should be your middle name also happiness joy and adventure and wonder. You’re just the cutest. I’m about to be 59 and I so enjoy watching you troubleshoot and figure things out you’re so smart don’t ever forget that