A few things.... - 🙂 finances are split in half just to give an idea of how much each of us spent individually on this specific trip - 😎 this is not meant to serve as a reference for how much someone would spend on the road. This is just a breakdown of our personal situation - 🚗 this also does not include any expenses other than the 5 categories mentioned
Alexandria your very efficient and productive in your quest . Now , when I was camping I cooked entire meals . When buying supplies I bought beans , pinto , split green peas , my favorite is kidney beans to make beans and rice . Healthier than pre-papared foods .
Oatmeal cookies that are baked in a wood oven over a slow burning fire are the best . On a good day have you tried making cast iron skillet 🍕? Look for the Campfire Chef . His pizza dough recipe is the best , plus remember to heat up the cast iron skillet first before adding the dough , ok girlfriend ?
When I lost my job I slept in my Nissan Altima for a few months and spent about 100-150 a month. Didn’t move my car out of the Kmart parking, ate $3 day mcds and slept during day so I was awake at night due to sketchy people. Hardest part was losing a piece of my sanity. I enjoy the vids keep up the good work.
I feel you man, I once had to sleep for 4 months because I was evicted during my college years and I'll never forget waking up in the middle of the night to a guy banging his head against my car, the guy was definitely on something. I was petrified I'll never forget that night lol
I am sorry that you had to go thru this. When I did it, it was by choice (I explored much of the USA and Canada that way) Come to think of it, I do remember meeting a couple people who were homeless living in their cars. Are you ok, now? (I mean do you have a place to stay?)
McDonald's would cost more than $3 per day I would think. You only spent around $150 during a whole month. Hard to believe. I get a Social Security payment of $1200 a month. I'm stuck in Malaysia with no job, but here $1200 is a livable income. I want to return to the U.S. though. Any suggestions on how I can live with a roof over my head on $1200 per month?
Some. Some are wierdos like Travis Heinze and some were suicidal like I was till I got out of the situation. And some end up actually committing suicide in them like Wayne Wir. He has a youtube channel that his brother still keeps up. It's nice this young lady has found her peace with it, but not everyone is satisfied with the lifestyle.
M B sorry but Wayne wir choose suicide because if his illness and physical pain. He was very happy and spiritual. He was like chootybeek said one of the happiest people on earth. But I know what your saying. People living in their cars are like people everywhere. Some will be happy, some will not. But for the most part. The ones that choose to live in their cars are happier in general. IMO
I just moved into my car 3 months ago now. I have an electric car =$0 gas .... park on normal streets because, who would think someone is actually living in a nissan leaf. The food is perfectly normal $9/day is REALLY good. I budgeted $3/meal. Water, I buy 1 gallon every 3 days $.86 It has been so freeing and amazing and NO ONE has bothered me at all. I have never felt in danger but, I live in Texas and have a handgun so I dare someone to try lolol at any rate I am now only living on 3% of my income, investing ALL of the rest stocks, IRA's. I AM looking into moving into a Ford Transit but, not in any rush and am okay for now. Thank you for making your videos.
How do you charge your car? Do you have to restrict your travel because of charging considerations? Asking because if I live in a car one day I want to go the electric route too!
@@arkreative1 I have a post office box for mail. In addition to day trading stocks I am also a massage therapist. I have a small storage unit for my stuff. They also let me ship packages there if I have stuff that will not ship to my PO BOX
An update I got a CampChef stove and it has been amazing now only spending $3/day on meals (I buy clearance everything) and found water fill station for $.40/gallon AND I MADE YOUR SHOWER SPRAYER !!!! YAY !!!!! Has been a life saver with all the gyms being closed 🤦
3% of income!?! That's really awesome!! It sounds like you moved into your car right before thing shut down for Covid-19....how has that worked for you?
I wish she would’ve included at least the car insurance for the month, cellphone and WiFi. To get a better understanding of exactly what the total would be to budget if you were planning on doing this.
And if and when your car begins to break down which is where I am .....looking for a car around 2, 000 that might possibility run.🤪 I've had The starter The timing belt The water pump Hoses 02 sensors New tires all around New battery Brake pads Complete break Line patched Lucked out with good machinc on the brakeline Just had rack and pinion bypass. (?) I think I need a new thermostat. I also have a dog At this point I can no longer put a dime into the machanics of this car....just gas and the nearest car dealership. I've been towed twice or was it 3. Been on Montana mountains at night when fog suddenly appears and panic doesn't even begin to explain the terror of zipping off the mountain with one wrong turn. I still want to "rent in my car" just time for newer car. The freedom is so great. You have to have patience an income and a good friend when shit hits the roof😊 If you still have one of each. And I think Oregon is great. I lost my drivers licenses there then I lost all my car information. I've lived from my car for 3 years. I've also been harrassed by the police. Gotten 4 traffic tickets 3 were dismissed the other should have been That was 70.00. When you make serious mistakes driving and vehicle is about dead it's past time to get off the road. I never planned on living in my car it just started happening.
It’s not the same and her math was for two people. Her only finances is food etc and gas for one person her calculation came to 500 and she said they ate out all the time. Than if you include a studio and the utilities that come with it would cost an additional 1500. So her expenses would be 2000 dollars for one person . So she’s saving about 1500 dollars a month. Put that 1500 in an ira and investments and she can retire in fifteen years.
@@psychicbyinternet $600? The cheapest possible studio I found within 25mi of me (Colorado) is $970. Rent is usually about 50% of my income. Seems like a mis step to keep living this bs version of life lol
I just want to say thank you this has truly calmed my nerves. I am about to move into my car (choice/not really choice) and realizing there's others that do and make it a positive experience (how I originally looked at it but people around me looking down upon it), just gives me the biggest boost of reassurance.
If I lived out of my car I think I’d be spending as less as possible. I would stealth camp. Get free water. Shower at the gym, most expenses would probably be food and then gas. And I had a medical emergency, well I guess I’d be dead 😂
@@redrooster1908 yup, that's why I personally do not want to live past age 45 or so. No point to struggle so much. I see my mom always in pain, take lots of different meds etc... For what? But I guess they say you get used to anything so i don't know...
I cant believe it's been all these years. This woman is tougher than I can imagine for living in her car. I remember when I first watched her videos in believe 2017. Keep remaining safe and safe travels around the world!
Ok, here’s my breakdown. My wife and I was living in our Chevy conversion van in the month of July & August. We didn’t travels a lot. We paid $100 on gas. We stayed in the city parks and state parks. We spent $350 on food for 2 people. We spent $50 on water/laundry. We showered free at work. So we spend $500 for 2 people in a month. I think that’s very good saving for 2 people in 2 months.
SoliDeoGloria 07: no, we shopped our food at Sam’s Club and Aldi. We paid $10 for Michigan state parks pass. We worked on 3rd shift, we stayed at the parks during the day.
Everyone has this mindset that you have to live in a house and pay rent or property taxes (rent) or you are somehow suffering? The only thing you might miss out on is being able to set a thermostat and keep the surrounding air at 70° whether or not the temp outside is comfortable. Even then, you just buy an RV, or put in a heater/AC with thermostat, or buy a Toyota Prius which you can leave on and running all the time. There are ways to get around "suffering". As for the stigma, I get around being "homeless" by inviting my friends out to eat at fantasy places and paying for the bill with my money that would have had to have been spent on rent. Then if other people, traffic, dogs etc create a loud night for me, I simply drive away to a better quiet place and remember that if I was in a house, is be fucked into having to find earbuds and "suffer". Plus auto glass is actually harder to break into than house glass, so no, I'm not "suffering".
Your breakdown of costs gave me ideas of what to look for and how to decrease those expenses. I want to tell you that you have really given me some thought about winter camping in my car. I don't know if you are aware of heating with an empty paint can and some tea candles. Its an emergency type heating system for cars, but you can't be tossing and turning lest you tip over the candles, but it stays lit for up to 2 1/2 hours (they say 4 hours but no way). You can also make your own longer lasting candles in that same empty METAL paint can (only $5 at any ace hardware store), by putting some long candles from dollar tree and sticking them into some lard (some people use crisco shortening) only filled 1/4 in the paint canister you are using. Doing this allows for longer candle heating, and you can easily extinguish it by putting the lid over the canister. The idea is to heat up the metal and let it cool by extinguishing the flame. I won't say its going to heat a car like to 70 degrees, but it will keep more chill off with your insulated windows. Keeping that roof up just a crack is wise.
Thanks for the breakdown Ahle. A 2-month review of van-only living expenses would be cool too. Also, while everyone is different, it would be cool to know what kinds of OTHER recurring monthly expenses you have, living this lifestyle. Even if you don't share all the numbers, just knowing if you are keeping a cell phone plan, car insurance, health insurance, gym membership, etc. Also, congrats on having over 300K subscribers now!
14:09 AMAZING....I spent over 4K a month easily in the winter season.. just on my 8 bdroom house ...Power bills, Food and water, Monthly supplies, Vehicles, snow machine/tractor maintenance , farm animals & feed, etc..
Keep in mind that for ONE person, camping and gas would not be divided but be the full price. Camping would only be reduced if they charged by the number of people. So your numbers for one person are not realistic unless there's actually two people splitting costs. For one person it would be more like $927 versus $1,232 for two people.
@Descenter Grade Armor Yes, but not everyone is going to be traveling with a partner who is sharing these expenses. If she had taken the trip by herself, she would have had to pay for ALL the fuel the car used and ALL of the fees for camping, even though her food, water, and laundry expenses would be less than it is for two people. It's a question of accurately depicting how much a person traveling BY THEMSELVES would have to budget. Simply dividing the gas and camping costs in half would not be accurate.
$270 on food for the month is really pretty decent. Especially if you’re including eating out and treats. How do you do it? Especially with no access to a kitchen. I would assume you’re not making big batches of bean soup or something economical like that. Food video please! :)
@@jeffreywalker528 buy a loaf of bread: 2-5/w I recommend more grains Lunchmeat: .60-1.20/d Banana: .40 Milk: 2-3/d That's about 4 But, it's not complete
I spend about $300 a month in total expenses but I don’t go anywhere because the gym is next door to Walmart. Crazy? No, just recovering from a divorce & paying all debts off before spending the winters in Florida. Been this way for 4 months now.
Love Love Love everything about this video: from the concept, you being around my age, having nearly the same car and location, your personality, delivery of video content, ect. Thanks for the upload;, stay rolling!
I like the hair color! Costs for living in a van for a month would be great too. I am considering doing this type of traveling lifestyle for a few years to travel and have some fun. I would probably get a larger size vehicle and maybe a small camper So basic costs in a van would be great!
wow... I never pay for camping unless we've gone too far and it's the only option for a night. Laundry I do out of a bucket and hang it up.. food is bought by the day... water s done by two 6 gallon containers, about 10 a month. baths are done out of the same laundry bucket. power is done by battery bank powered by two 250 watt solar panels. my expenses are generally about $400 a month for me and my brother driving a 2007 eclipse. what i lack so far is a way to live off the internet... which I'd love to, and we often work 4 months out of the year at places like national parks for our expenses.
"...some people magically don't". Lol. I ate oatmeal for an entire month, saved tons on food. I could spend $700 a month living like Jesus (nothing but sacrifices) or I could spend 1k+ living lavish. They both have their pros & cons.
I have a Ford transit and turned it to a camper. I usually buy food at store cheaper also I have a gas stove, solar panels, long story short I spend 350 a month and I tell ya I have stacked in 8 months.
Thank you❤. I appreciate you showing how to wash in a car and van. I love camping and have gotten heaps of tips from you. You've solves lots of my problems haha.
less than 10 dollars a day on food is doing very well,,,thats really tight specially if your eating 3 times a day. We would love to know what you buy and how you prepare on that tight of a budget for food
I mean I'm not condoning or suggesting this because it's not healthy...but you could eat 6 packets of ramen a day every day of your life and feed yourself on 3 dollars a day. That's what I did in college to save money. It's really how much is a person willing to sacrifice.
My personal goal is to spend no more than $3 a day or $90 a month, I eat mostly chicken which I buy for .68 cents a pound (I save the liquid when I bake the chicken and then I make soup from the bones) and I bulk buy eggs when they go on sale for .59 cents a carton (large), the rest is mostly dollar tree frozen vegetables, I probably eat one ten oz bag of frozen riced cauliflower a day. I'm not living in a van right now but it may materialize in the future.
OK, so what I get from this is the potential cost for a minimalist existence in a car is about $1,000 to $1,200 / mo. The idea that 2 people are going to cohabitate for some extended period of time, at least for most, is not that realistic. Younger people, couples, might make this work for awhile, but it's not going to be a common model. I can understand this becoming a popular UA-cam series, best of luck . . . but as a seriously credible reference for those forced by necessity to live in their vehicles, maybe not so much.
That's insane. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment with my fiance. Rent is 600 and electric is about 75. Water is included in my rent. We spend about 400 a month on food and that's us going out constantly. Gas to drive to work and back cost about $80 a month. Of course we have other bills like cable but when it comes to necessity we only pay 1200 a month. I dont get this.
I will have to live in my corolla for exactly three months. August 1st to October 31st. Luckily I will have a place to shower and eat. A deal I made with my aunt (300/month). I will be working 40 hours a week at my regular job and the rest doing uber eats. My only problem will be sleeping. I am 6'2" and I know I will struggle.
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego are Alta Vista, where the average rent goes for $975/month, Broadway Heights, where renters pay $975/mo on average, and Emerald Hills, where the average rent goes for $975/mo.
Hey Ahle; I would like to see total expenses when you get back in the van. I saw an earlier post (way early) on your budget and how you keep track, but it has been awhile, so if you could please think about a total expenditure post. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
You can't really divide gas in half if you are solo traveling...... and it's not like you're gonna drive halfway to Yosemite, you still need to get to Yosemite so gas would still be on you alone, concerning the gas expenses.
You can buy a US park pass for $80. It includes 2,000 places to camp and pays for all your fees. It includes yourself and 3 additional adults. Good for 1 year
Cell: 45-55/m Food: 4-12/d Tourism: 25/1.5w Water/beverages: 1/gallon/day (in the SW) Gas/Petrol: variable, 40/w? 5-60/w Electricity: DC/Solar (free) Splurge purchases: 120/m ? Camping: N/A Laundry: 3-5/2w Hygiene: 5/m listerine, Soap packets: 15/6m, tooth paste: 4/4m, tooth brush 4/6m, cleaning wipes: 4/m, shampoo/soap: 15/3m (20/m?) Car: oil: 35/3k mi/2.5m, insurance: 800/y, tyres: 400/6m~ (winter/summer) 650-800/m ish? without insurance and tyres factored? Idk about propane/butane use rates, haven't run out yet xD Car setup: Solar: 250 Solar Battery: 250 (the size up would be better for my fridge tho) Jumper kit/emergency battery: 60-80 Extra portable battery: 40 Med kit: 20-25 Sleeping setup: 100 Blankets/curtains: 40 Gas stove: 65 Fridge: 250 Cooler bags: 35 Duffel bags: 40 Tarps: 20 Tent: 25 (haven't used yet) Hammock: 25 Hot Water rod: 15 Pros: 16 states/3m Cons: shipping things to myself === Swcluded apt: Rent: 250/m Gas: 60/m (winter) Food: 50/w Hygiene+gas: same est 140/m Gas: same (but back and forth trips) Splurge purchases: 160~/m No cell/tourism/water/laundry bill Est.: 660/m Pros: television? Shipping address Cons: chores, lack of privacy, contracts === NYC Apt: 450-500/m Transit: 100/m Phone: 50/m Groceries: 120/m Activities: there are none Hygiène : same 800/m Pros: Cons: thefts on deliveries, not much to do besides bars and clubs & gyms and overhyped restaurants all indoor stuff, the people
Thank you for another helpful video 👍❤️I (also living in a car) spend a lot more at the moment, but in the two months when I didn’t work I managed to reduce my costs to half of what I normally spend. 😊
Why would the gas bill be split in half? Technically no matter if there was 2 people or 1 person you woulda spent the same in gas going on that route. Idk if I'm making sense lol
Quick Question: Wouldn’t the “gas” category be the same whether or not it’s one person or two people? Love the breakdown as it’s helpful for something I’m working on, but, I was just curious why gas wasn’t simply the same regardless of 1 or 2 peeps in the car. Thx 😊
I just wanted to say that if you're traveling alone, some of those costs per person would in reality be the "cost for two people" section, such as gas and camping, based on the traveling they are doing.
I have two Jeeps during World War II United States Army had them invent a way to cook food in your Jeep. You can buy this at the ARMY Surplus Store, they lock under hood, they sit top of the engine and cook the food. They flip down on the engine they work really well I've had mine for years
I would be really interested to hear more about the free camping you do. I'd assume it's mostly rest stops & Walmart parking lots? But considering you mentioned about there being so much free camping out there, I might be overlooking something.
What's the best place you think it is to camp out in a car? Where I am it gets down to -30°F sometimes and can last for weeks in a row so sleeping outside pretty much is life and death situation!
about 500+ That's on food and dog food and gas. Car insurance ,car registration, PO Box at ups Which doubles as a address ,because you need to have that to have insurance and registration,And remember car repairs,Then there's my 10x10 storage unit its 118 a month...I don't have a phone or anything I use free Wi-Fi
All of this in a Honda Civic... I’m impressed. Have you thought of or considered selling or trading your vehicle in for something slightly larger that could pull a tiny house on wheels?
Granted, it has been years since I've done this, but you spend quite a bit more than I did (I slept at truck stops-not camp spaces, and my food was MUCH cheaper (I basically lived off of salads, and cold cuts that I would buy VERY cheaply at stores). Of course gas was cheaper in the 90s and early 2000s, and also my Civic gets much better mileage than modern ones (It's a bad tank when I don't get 40mpg)
I lived in my Toyota Prius in San Francisco, I slept in the Street for 2 years and I drive for Uber for a living. I spent roughly $30 day for foods and $20 for gas. I took showers at the gym ( 24 hours fitness ) life is good no headache for bills.
I do: $55 straight talk phone $60 car ins $100 a week food _($400) $200 a month gas $6 laundry detergent and about $20 wash/dry clothes. But I also hand wash my clothes in a sink and air dry When ever possible. 😂 = about $700 a month
@@missnyssah8048 Right now I'm not. I am currently living in a hotel room that's been converted to employee housing at my job. But yes, I have lived in 4 cars and 4 vans and did 8 months on the streets in the past. I am here until mid-April and then I am signing up to drive expediting, living and working in a high top van delivering freight like a truck driver but in a van.
So, by the time you include the things you have left out such as insurance, maintenance, your etc and cell phone, you can double the price you just quoted. Also apart from the initial outlay of a van, you might as well live in a van? as lets face it, living in a car and a van cost wise there is very little difference in cost per month... and a lot more space in a van.
I just saw this video and about to scroll up until saw your face.... I am 33 years old and swear to God, you have the resemblance and almost identical to my 11year old lil girl. My mom thought my little Liand is doing VLOGS already lol.. Be careful and always be SAFE out there please.
Hey Ahle. Thank you for sharing your mobile living. I find it cool and interesting. I was wondering what got you started into this lifestyle and what your goals are? I am new to your vids so I apologize if I missed some. Thanks.
She has a separate video giving examples of good places to park. Walmart, casinos, rest/truck stops, and even BLM (bureau land management) land are good areas. BLM land is free to camp on
I just scrolled thru all the comments and wow why are some of these so rude? Also is it just me or is it super weird to demand to know someones ethnicity? Ahle thanks for the video. Currently im struggling btwn wanting to have a "9-5" job that makes more money vs vanlife making less money but more freedom.
Good vid! Glad to see your dual traveling working! Sharing experiences (w/right person) enhances. Can your solar powered battery power a rice cooker? A functioning rice cooker on the road -so you could cook fresh veggies/ rice - as you travel would seem a real enhancement to me. (cost & health)
I lived in a car for 5 months and a cargo van for 9 months. I would spend a lot of money eating out. One month I spent like $600 eating at Carl's Jr. Of course, you could also go buy bread and lunch meat at the store for cheaper. Plan to spend at least an hour of every day going to the gym for your daily shower. If you live in a van, spring for a portable toilet so if you have an emergency your game covered. Brushing your teeth with no sink sucks and no heat also sucks donkey balls. In the cargo van I would crack the windows and run the buddy heater and then just go to sleep early in the morning when the van was warm and toasty at like 4am so the van would not get too cold during the night. I tried this way of living and I did not like it. It was depressing for me. I did gain a greater appreciation for having housing now. A cargo van is much better than a car for privacy but the good about the car is that if you sleep in the driver's seat when you wake up cold, you run the engine and the heater.
Im young and pay $200 a month just are basic car insurance and unlimited phone plan. With living out of a car for under $500 After food and gas, would be hard, not impossible. Traveling adds on to the amount. $600 is also impressive
Great post. I don't think most vanlife folks are honest about costs. With that 1 person would co me to way more because you can't divide the gas and the lodging in half...for example would lodging for a campsite be the same for one person as for two.
A few things....
- 🙂 finances are split in half just to give an idea of how much each of us spent individually on this specific trip
- 😎 this is not meant to serve as a reference for how much someone would spend on the road. This is just a breakdown of our personal situation
- 🚗 this also does not include any expenses other than the 5 categories mentioned
Hobo Ahle so frugal
Individuals who travel spend according to the schedule arrangements . Your circumstances vary since your on a Traveling Vacation .
Wow
Alexandria your very efficient and productive in your quest . Now , when I was camping I cooked entire meals . When buying supplies I bought beans , pinto , split green peas , my favorite is kidney beans to make beans and rice . Healthier than pre-papared foods .
Oatmeal cookies that are baked in a wood oven over a slow burning fire are the best . On a good day have you tried making cast iron skillet 🍕? Look for the Campfire Chef . His pizza dough recipe is the best , plus remember to heat up the cast iron skillet first before adding the dough , ok girlfriend ?
When I lost my job I slept in my Nissan Altima for a few months and spent about 100-150 a month. Didn’t move my car out of the Kmart parking, ate $3 day mcds and slept during day so I was awake at night due to sketchy people. Hardest part was losing a piece of my sanity. I enjoy the vids keep up the good work.
I feel you man, I once had to sleep for 4 months because I was evicted during my college years and I'll never forget waking up in the middle of the night to a guy banging his head against my car, the guy was definitely on something. I was petrified I'll never forget that night lol
I am sorry that you had to go thru this. When I did it, it was by choice (I explored much of the USA and Canada that way) Come to think of it, I do remember meeting a couple people who were homeless living in their cars. Are you ok, now? (I mean do you have a place to stay?)
McDonald's would cost more than $3 per day I would think. You only spent around $150 during a whole month. Hard to believe. I get a Social Security payment of $1200 a month. I'm stuck in Malaysia with no job, but here $1200 is a livable income. I want to return to the U.S. though. Any suggestions on how I can live with a roof over my head on $1200 per month?
@@healthquest4823 You cant thats your answer . Do you have assets to go along with the 1200$ a month of government aid
@@muradshawarlol you have no imagination.
These people that camp in their vehicles look like the happiest on Earth.
Some. Some are wierdos like Travis Heinze and some were suicidal like I was till I got out of the situation. And some end up actually committing suicide in them like Wayne Wir. He has a youtube channel that his brother still keeps up. It's nice this young lady has found her peace with it, but not everyone is satisfied with the lifestyle.
M B sorry but Wayne wir choose suicide because if his illness and physical pain. He was very happy and spiritual. He was like chootybeek said one of the happiest people on earth. But I know what your saying. People living in their cars are like people everywhere. Some will be happy, some will not. But for the most part. The ones that choose to live in their cars are happier in general. IMO
I don't think so off cam
Right!!
I did it for a little over a week. It takes time to adjust but I can't wait to go back to it. It's so free
I just moved into my car 3 months ago now. I have an electric car =$0 gas .... park on normal streets because, who would think someone is actually living in a nissan leaf. The food is perfectly normal $9/day is REALLY good. I budgeted $3/meal. Water, I buy 1 gallon every 3 days $.86
It has been so freeing and amazing and NO ONE has bothered me at all. I have never felt in danger but, I live in Texas and have a handgun so I dare someone to try lolol at any rate I am now only living on 3% of my income, investing ALL of the rest stocks, IRA's. I AM looking into moving into a Ford Transit but, not in any rush and am okay for now. Thank you for making your videos.
How do you charge your car? Do you have to restrict your travel because of charging considerations? Asking because if I live in a car one day I want to go the electric route too!
Where do you get the mail, in office? Do you work full time?
@@arkreative1 I have a post office box for mail. In addition to day trading stocks I am also a massage therapist. I have a small storage unit for my stuff. They also let me ship packages there if I have stuff that will not ship to my PO BOX
An update I got a CampChef stove and it has been amazing now only spending $3/day on meals (I buy clearance everything) and found water fill station for $.40/gallon AND I MADE YOUR SHOWER SPRAYER !!!! YAY !!!!! Has been a life saver with all the gyms being closed 🤦
3% of income!?! That's really awesome!!
It sounds like you moved into your car right before thing shut down for Covid-19....how has that worked for you?
Left out car payment, car insurance, car maintenance, toiletries and cell phone costs.
In CA her auto is probably like $150-250 a month. From the opinion of an insurance agent here.
Shes leaving a lot out.
I wish she would’ve included at least the car insurance for the month, cellphone and WiFi. To get a better understanding of exactly what the total would be to budget if you were planning on doing this.
She said in the beginning this is separate from her regular debt and bills.
And if and when your car begins to break down which is where I am .....looking for a car around 2, 000 that might possibility run.🤪
I've had
The starter
The timing belt
The water pump
Hoses
02 sensors
New tires all around
New battery
Brake pads
Complete break Line patched
Lucked out with good machinc on the brakeline
Just had rack and pinion bypass. (?)
I think I need a new thermostat.
I also have a dog
At this point I can no longer put a dime into the machanics of this car....just gas and the nearest car dealership.
I've been towed twice or was it 3. Been on Montana mountains at night when fog suddenly appears and panic doesn't even begin to explain the terror of zipping off the mountain with one wrong turn.
I still want to "rent in my car" just time for newer car.
The freedom is so great. You have to have patience an income and a good friend when shit hits the roof😊
If you still have one of each.
And I think Oregon is great. I lost my drivers licenses there then I lost all my car information.
I've lived from my car for 3 years. I've also been harrassed by the police. Gotten 4 traffic tickets 3 were dismissed the other should have been
That was 70.00.
When you make serious mistakes driving and vehicle is about dead it's past time to get off the road. I never planned on living in my car it just started happening.
So it's basically the same as living in a studio or an apartment, but you see more places
In a way but not really, because then you'd be paying for all these anyways plus the studio or apartment.
No it’s not! Because you would be paying rent/mortgage plus you’d probably be paying for a car too.
It’s not the same and her math was for two people. Her only finances is food etc and gas for one person her calculation came to 500 and she said they ate out all the time. Than if you include a studio and the utilities that come with it would cost an additional 1500. So her expenses would be 2000 dollars for one person . So she’s saving about 1500 dollars a month. Put that 1500 in an ira and investments and she can retire in fifteen years.
Where would you find a studio for 400 a month? Tell me! I can't even find anything under 600 for a 2-bedroom.
@@psychicbyinternet $600? The cheapest possible studio I found within 25mi of me (Colorado) is $970. Rent is usually about 50% of my income.
Seems like a mis step to keep living this bs version of life lol
I just want to say thank you this has truly calmed my nerves. I am about to move into my car (choice/not really choice) and realizing there's others that do and make it a positive experience (how I originally looked at it but people around me looking down upon it), just gives me the biggest boost of reassurance.
You believe her? She's a part time homeless, just for youtube money making purpose...
If I lived out of my car I think I’d be spending as less as possible. I would stealth camp. Get free water. Shower at the gym, most expenses would probably be food and then gas. And I had a medical emergency, well I guess I’d be dead 😂
Ya. That's why the young & healthy find this fun. After 40.... Zero fun to br homeless jobless stinky knocked on by cops
@@redrooster1908 yup, that's why I personally do not want to live past age 45 or so. No point to struggle so much. I see my mom always in pain, take lots of different meds etc... For what? But I guess they say you get used to anything so i don't know...
I cant believe it's been all these years. This woman is tougher than I can imagine for living in her car. I remember when I first watched her videos in believe 2017. Keep remaining safe and safe travels around the world!
Ok, here’s my breakdown. My wife and I was living in our Chevy conversion van in the month of July & August. We didn’t travels a lot. We paid $100 on gas. We stayed in the city parks and state parks. We spent $350 on food for 2 people. We spent $50 on water/laundry. We showered free at work. So we spend $500 for 2 people in a month. I think that’s very good saving for 2 people in 2 months.
I would normally budget in car ins monthly payments and in total be up to $500 a month just me. So yea 500 is pretty good for 2
Wow! Congrats!
SoliDeoGloria 07: no, we shopped our food at Sam’s Club and Aldi. We paid $10 for Michigan state parks pass. We worked on 3rd shift, we stayed at the parks during the day.
Everyone has this mindset that you have to live in a house and pay rent or property taxes (rent) or you are somehow suffering? The only thing you might miss out on is being able to set a thermostat and keep the surrounding air at 70° whether or not the temp outside is comfortable. Even then, you just buy an RV, or put in a heater/AC with thermostat, or buy a Toyota Prius which you can leave on and running all the time. There are ways to get around "suffering". As for the stigma, I get around being "homeless" by inviting my friends out to eat at fantasy places and paying for the bill with my money that would have had to have been spent on rent. Then if other people, traffic, dogs etc create a loud night for me, I simply drive away to a better quiet place and remember that if I was in a house, is be fucked into having to find earbuds and "suffer". Plus auto glass is actually harder to break into than house glass, so no, I'm not "suffering".
Interesting
I live in a VAN, down by the river! - Matt Foley. (AKA - Chris Farley.)
That was ahead of its time, LOL
compare the van and Honda money want to know the differences
@George B u sleep in ur car too?
I imagine it cost more in gas for a van but am guessing the rest of the expenses should be the same.
After seeing the breakdown. If I was doing van life I would have a van with a scooter. To minimize gas waste scooter around to explore.
I have an ebike. Love love love it
Your breakdown of costs gave me ideas of what to look for and how to decrease those expenses. I want to tell you that you have really given me some thought about winter camping in my car. I don't know if you are aware of heating with an empty paint can and some tea candles. Its an emergency type heating system for cars, but you can't be tossing and turning lest you tip over the candles, but it stays lit for up to 2 1/2 hours (they say 4 hours but no way). You can also make your own longer lasting candles in that same empty METAL paint can (only $5 at any ace hardware store), by putting some long candles from dollar tree and sticking them into some lard (some people use crisco shortening) only filled 1/4 in the paint canister you are using. Doing this allows for longer candle heating, and you can easily extinguish it by putting the lid over the canister. The idea is to heat up the metal and let it cool by extinguishing the flame. I won't say its going to heat a car like to 70 degrees, but it will keep more chill off with your insulated windows. Keeping that roof up just a crack is wise.
Thanks for the breakdown Ahle. A 2-month review of van-only living expenses would be cool too. Also, while everyone is different, it would be cool to know what kinds of OTHER recurring monthly expenses you have, living this lifestyle. Even if you don't share all the numbers, just knowing if you are keeping a cell phone plan, car insurance, health insurance, gym membership, etc. Also, congrats on having over 300K subscribers now!
14:09 AMAZING....I spent over 4K a month easily in the winter season.. just on my 8 bdroom house ...Power bills, Food and water, Monthly supplies, Vehicles, snow machine/tractor maintenance , farm animals & feed, etc..
Love your personality!! So much nicer and less stuck up than some other fellow UA-cam car dwellers 💜💙
Keep in mind that for ONE person, camping and gas would not be divided but be the full price. Camping would only be reduced if they charged by the number of people. So your numbers for one person are not realistic unless there's actually two people splitting costs. For one person it would be more like $927 versus $1,232 for two people.
correct, this was just to break this specific trip down by person so that people could see the numbers that we worked with 🙂
Gas divided in half? wouldn't you still spend that if you were solo driving?
@Descenter Grade Armor Yes, but not everyone is going to be traveling with a partner who is sharing these expenses. If she had taken the trip by herself, she would have had to pay for ALL the fuel the car used and ALL of the fees for camping, even though her food, water, and laundry expenses would be less than it is for two people. It's a question of accurately depicting how much a person traveling BY THEMSELVES would have to budget. Simply dividing the gas and camping costs in half would not be accurate.
$270 on food for the month is really pretty decent. Especially if you’re including eating out and treats. How do you do it? Especially with no access to a kitchen. I would assume you’re not making big batches of bean soup or something economical like that. Food video please! :)
Buy a loaf of bread and lunchmeat for $8. Will last 2 days. $4 a day. $120 bucks a month. Presto.
Jeffrey Walker thats not healthy in the long run though
@@jeffreywalker528 buy a loaf of bread: 2-5/w I recommend more grains
Lunchmeat: .60-1.20/d
Banana: .40
Milk: 2-3/d
That's about 4
But, it's not complete
I like this hobo! She can talk non-stop.
👍
hahaha it's my superpower 😂
If every hobo looked like her i'd live on the streets happily lmao
I spend about $300 a month in total expenses but I don’t go anywhere because the gym is next door to Walmart. Crazy? No, just recovering from a divorce & paying all debts off before spending the winters in Florida. Been this way for 4 months now.
Love Love Love everything about this video: from the concept, you being around my age, having nearly the same car and location, your personality, delivery of video content, ect. Thanks for the upload;, stay rolling!
I like the hair color!
Costs for living in a van for a month would be great too. I am considering doing this type of traveling lifestyle for a few years to travel and have some fun. I would probably get a larger size vehicle and maybe a small camper So basic costs in a van would be great!
wow... I never pay for camping unless we've gone too far and it's the only option for a night. Laundry I do out of a bucket and hang it up.. food is bought by the day... water s done by two 6 gallon containers, about 10 a month. baths are done out of the same laundry bucket. power is done by battery bank powered by two 250 watt solar panels. my expenses are generally about $400 a month for me and my brother driving a 2007 eclipse. what i lack so far is a way to live off the internet... which I'd love to, and we often work 4 months out of the year at places like national parks for our expenses.
different strokes for different folks, glad you and your brother found something that works for ya'll!
Skip to the 4:30 mark. This girl can talk a lot with out saying anything.
"...some people magically don't". Lol. I ate oatmeal for an entire month, saved tons on food. I could spend $700 a month living like Jesus (nothing but sacrifices) or I could spend 1k+ living lavish. They both have their pros & cons.
My oatmeal treat is making oatmeal cookies 🏆
That’s how I’m going to live! ALL I NEED IS JESUS! Hallelujah!
I have a Ford transit and turned it to a camper. I usually buy food at store cheaper also I have a gas stove, solar panels, long story short I spend 350 a month and I tell ya I have stacked in 8 months.
Thank you❤. I appreciate you showing how to wash in a car and van. I love camping and have gotten heaps of tips from you. You've solves lots of my problems haha.
this is honestly the biggest pull to living in a vehicle to me, owning where you live.
I lived out of my RV for two years...Best two years of my life 😊
why did you stop yooo
@@Maxmilion6004 sold my RV and moved to SE Asia...😆
less than 10 dollars a day on food is doing very well,,,thats really tight specially if your eating 3 times a day. We would love to know what you buy and how you prepare on that tight of a budget for food
I mean I'm not condoning or suggesting this because it's not healthy...but you could eat 6 packets of ramen a day every day of your life and feed yourself on 3 dollars a day. That's what I did in college to save money. It's really how much is a person willing to sacrifice.
My personal goal is to spend no more than $3 a day or $90 a month, I eat mostly chicken which I buy for .68 cents a pound (I save the liquid when I bake the chicken and then I make soup from the bones) and I bulk buy eggs when they go on sale for .59 cents a carton (large), the rest is mostly dollar tree frozen vegetables, I probably eat one ten oz bag of frozen riced cauliflower a day. I'm not living in a van right now but it may materialize in the future.
Buy a loaf of bread and lunchmeat for 8 bucks. Will last you 2 days. $4 a day. Presto.
You did not mention Car Insurance Heath Insurance Phone Internet Costs or Misc. Car Costs Oil Changes Tags, Maintenance. Propane for stove?
Bold of you to assume they have any kind of insurance.
They are happy so that’s why they are up for this!
If I ever partake in this lifestyle I’m thanking you now
OK, so what I get from this is the potential cost for a minimalist existence in a car is about $1,000 to $1,200 / mo. The idea that 2 people are going to cohabitate for some extended period of time, at least for most, is not that realistic. Younger people, couples, might make this work for awhile, but it's not going to be a common model. I can understand this becoming a popular UA-cam series, best of luck . . . but as a seriously credible reference for those forced by necessity to live in their vehicles, maybe not so much.
Charles Ostman why don’t you make a channel on how it’s not viable (sarcasm intended)
If 1000 a month..being on disability wont even afford one the homeless living In a car lifestyle.
That's insane. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment with my fiance. Rent is 600 and electric is about 75. Water is included in my rent. We spend about 400 a month on food and that's us going out constantly. Gas to drive to work and back cost about $80 a month. Of course we have other bills like cable but when it comes to necessity we only pay 1200 a month. I dont get this.
@@nicolesustik7581 Im from new jersey and there's no apartments for 600 a month. Not even close. Living in a car saves so much money
@@nicolesustik7581 where do you live omg that sounds like a dream
Missing expenses.... Car insurance, doctor visit, hygiene products, tickets from cops, car mechanical breakdowns...etc etc
I will have to live in my corolla for exactly three months. August 1st to October 31st. Luckily I will have a place to shower and eat. A deal I made with my aunt (300/month). I will be working 40 hours a week at my regular job and the rest doing uber eats. My only problem will be sleeping. I am 6'2" and I know I will struggle.
When you are young & the future is a long way off. This seemed like an adventure.
Hey girl! You’re so amazingly frugal I wish I was like this! You’re the best!
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego are Alta Vista, where the average rent goes for $975/month, Broadway Heights, where renters pay $975/mo on average, and Emerald Hills, where the average rent goes for $975/mo.
Hey Ahle; I would like to see total expenses when you get back in the van. I saw an earlier post (way early) on your budget and how you keep track, but it has been awhile, so if you could please think about a total expenditure post. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Yess to transparency! I just shared what I spend in a month here in Toronto! Rent in this city sucks - maybe we should reconsider haha ✨
Great video girl !! I feel you on the laundry! Gas and vehicle maintenance is the most money 💰 can’t wait to do this !!
You can't really divide gas in half if you are solo traveling...... and it's not like you're gonna drive halfway to Yosemite, you still need to get to Yosemite so gas would still be on you alone, concerning the gas expenses.
You can buy a US park pass for $80. It includes 2,000 places to camp and pays for all your fees. It includes yourself and 3 additional adults. Good for 1 year
What about health insurance, cell phone, car insurance, car repair/maintenance or medications.
Cell: 45-55/m
Food: 4-12/d
Tourism: 25/1.5w
Water/beverages: 1/gallon/day (in the SW)
Gas/Petrol: variable, 40/w? 5-60/w
Electricity: DC/Solar (free)
Splurge purchases: 120/m ?
Camping: N/A
Laundry: 3-5/2w
Hygiene: 5/m listerine, Soap packets: 15/6m, tooth paste: 4/4m, tooth brush 4/6m, cleaning wipes: 4/m, shampoo/soap: 15/3m (20/m?)
Car: oil: 35/3k mi/2.5m, insurance: 800/y, tyres: 400/6m~ (winter/summer)
650-800/m ish? without insurance and tyres factored?
Idk about propane/butane use rates, haven't run out yet xD
Car setup:
Solar: 250
Solar Battery: 250 (the size up would be better for my fridge tho)
Jumper kit/emergency battery: 60-80
Extra portable battery: 40
Med kit: 20-25
Sleeping setup: 100
Blankets/curtains: 40
Gas stove: 65
Fridge: 250
Cooler bags: 35
Duffel bags: 40
Tarps: 20
Tent: 25 (haven't used yet)
Hammock: 25
Hot Water rod: 15
Pros: 16 states/3m
Cons: shipping things to myself
===
Swcluded apt:
Rent: 250/m
Gas: 60/m (winter)
Food: 50/w
Hygiene+gas: same est 140/m
Gas: same (but back and forth trips)
Splurge purchases: 160~/m
No cell/tourism/water/laundry bill
Est.: 660/m
Pros: television? Shipping address
Cons: chores, lack of privacy, contracts
===
NYC
Apt: 450-500/m
Transit: 100/m
Phone: 50/m
Groceries: 120/m
Activities: there are none
Hygiène : same
800/m
Pros:
Cons: thefts on deliveries, not much to do besides bars and clubs & gyms and overhyped restaurants all indoor stuff, the people
What a beautiful person & intelligent after watching this video I’m going to budget and better myself ,thanks Alexandria baby👏👏👏
Thank you for another helpful video 👍❤️I (also living in a car) spend a lot more at the moment, but in the two months when I didn’t work I managed to reduce my costs to half of what I normally spend. 😊
Why would the gas bill be split in half? Technically no matter if there was 2 people or 1 person you woulda spent the same in gas going on that route. Idk if I'm making sense lol
no you totally are! for this trip, we split everything in half so it was just to give someone a general idea of how much we each spent individually 🙂
@@HoboAhle ok! Makes sense! Super informative video !!(:
When your living in a car, how do you get mail, especially important mail from the DMV for license or tag renewal.....
gina cooper P.O. Box or maybe a family or friends address
Car maintenance. Oil changes, tires. Ect ect.
i agree this is not a total spent.
Ghost Ghost cell phone
I agree! This is bullshit!
Where is your van? And why did you pick such a small car to continue your journey in ?
Monica Dorsey Because she doesn’t actually need to sleep in the car.
Small cars are good on gas especially if you run the a/c
Quick Question: Wouldn’t the “gas” category be the same whether or not it’s one person or two people? Love the breakdown as it’s helpful for something I’m working on, but, I was just curious why gas wasn’t simply the same regardless of 1 or 2 peeps in the car. Thx 😊
Life in a van, makes American dream great again.
I just wanted to say that if you're traveling alone, some of those costs per person would in reality be the "cost for two people" section, such as gas and camping, based on the traveling they are doing.
Beauty & Brains ...and humor too 😄 - Ahle has it all!
Thank you ahle for showing us the way of life!!!
I have two Jeeps during World War II United States Army had them invent a way to cook food in your Jeep. You can buy this at the ARMY Surplus Store, they lock under hood, they sit top of the engine and cook the food. They flip down on the engine they work really well I've had mine for years
I would be really interested to hear more about the free camping you do. I'd assume it's mostly rest stops & Walmart parking lots? But considering you mentioned about there being so much free camping out there, I might be overlooking something.
Accounting; budgetary analysis - FUN!!!
What are next months projections?
What's the best place you think it is to camp out in a car? Where I am it gets down to -30°F sometimes and can last for weeks in a row so sleeping outside pretty much is life and death situation!
about 500+ That's on food and dog food and gas. Car insurance ,car registration, PO Box at ups Which doubles as a address ,because you need to have that to have insurance and registration,And remember car repairs,Then there's my 10x10 storage unit its 118 a month...I don't have a phone or anything I use free Wi-Fi
Wow, Ahle writes her 2's like me. My day is made.
I hope she doesn't write her writes like you Mars
@@mortdog 👍
@@mortdog I blame my iPad. Corrected, never happened.
Yeah, well she says "Hola Amigos" like I do.
All of this in a Honda Civic... I’m impressed. Have you thought of or considered selling or trading your vehicle in for something slightly larger that could pull a tiny house on wheels?
Granted, it has been years since I've done this, but you spend quite a bit more than I did (I slept at truck stops-not camp spaces, and my food was MUCH cheaper (I basically lived off of salads, and cold cuts that I would buy VERY cheaply at stores). Of course gas was cheaper in the 90s and early 2000s, and also my Civic gets much better mileage than modern ones (It's a bad tank when I don't get 40mpg)
I somehow missed the why you’re living in a civic vs your van.... just an experiment?
It was because they planned a travel trip and they would save bunches on gas.
I lived in my Toyota Prius in San Francisco, I slept in the Street for 2 years and I drive for Uber for a living. I spent roughly $30 day for foods and $20 for gas. I took showers at the gym ( 24 hours fitness ) life is good no headache for bills.
How do you get parcels/mails?
I do:
$55 straight talk phone
$60 car ins
$100 a week food _($400)
$200 a month gas
$6 laundry detergent and about $20 wash/dry clothes. But I also hand wash my clothes in a sink and air dry When ever possible. 😂
= about $700 a month
Do you live in your car?
@@missnyssah8048 Right now I'm not. I am currently living in a hotel room that's been converted to employee housing at my job. But yes, I have lived in 4 cars and 4 vans and did 8 months on the streets in the past. I am here until mid-April and then I am signing up to drive expediting, living and working in a high top van delivering freight like a truck driver but in a van.
If two people were doing this together, wouldn't you eventually drive each other crazy living in tight quarters?
I’m also camping out of my car now! I’m trying to get around the camp fees in national parks but I feel bad if I don’t pay up...
Alyssa....several places have BLM land where you can camp for free. No showers, you need to "clean up" but there is no fee to stay there.
@@allisonreese8984 too scared to stay on blm land as a solo female traveler, it just seems too risky
Alyssa....I did it for a year while working full time. :)
Great video! You took the time to explain things clearly and explained the variables. TY.
So, by the time you include the things you have left out such as insurance, maintenance, your etc and cell phone, you can double the price you just quoted. Also apart from the initial outlay of a van, you might as well live in a van? as lets face it, living in a car and a van cost wise there is very little difference in cost per month... and a lot more space in a van.
Where do you recieve your mail? Like the letters😅
Your eyes have magically made me want to subscribe to your channel
I think your gas total is going to be the same whether it's one person or two people your car don't care. It still uses the same amount of gas.
I just saw this video and about to scroll up until saw your face.... I am 33 years old and swear to God, you have the resemblance and almost identical to my 11year old lil girl. My mom thought my little Liand is doing VLOGS already lol.. Be careful and always be SAFE out there please.
Hey Ahle. Thank you for sharing your mobile living. I find it cool and interesting. I was wondering what got you started into this lifestyle and what your goals are? I am new to your vids so I apologize if I missed some. Thanks.
Very good video! Informative and answered a lot of questions I had. That’s why I watched it! I’d be interested in comparison s of Van and Honda.
Had to subscribe to you, very interesting stuff. Hope you are staying safe and God bless you 🥰
How do you decide where you want to park overnight? That’s my only concern about trying this.
She has a separate video giving examples of good places to park. Walmart, casinos, rest/truck stops, and even BLM (bureau land management) land are good areas. BLM land is free to camp on
I just scrolled thru all the comments and wow why are some of these so rude? Also is it just me or is it super weird to demand to know someones ethnicity?
Ahle thanks for the video. Currently im struggling btwn wanting to have a "9-5" job that makes more money vs vanlife making less money but more freedom.
Question. Why pay for water? Can't you fill up in Walmart bathroom , McDonald's, etc.?
ur Soo pretty!! ok I can do this and be cute still haha.. I can ball on a budget I'm tired of rent and depending on assholes for help
Hey for water have you looked into buying a portable water filter?
What do you do as far as a shower, now it’s a pandemic? All gyms are closed
Truck stops
Yes do a van living cost video. I enjoy those. If you could do a pretrial video on your trove trip to Thailand. I wish I could go with you all.
Cut your laundry by buying a washer plunger. Wash clothes in pail with no effort. Rinse and dry in the sun
Hi sweetie, thanks for breaking it down for us. Now I understand It better :)) God bless, love you and your channel :)
Since you never mentioned the cost of insurance, I am wondering if you have insurance. I really hope you do.
Good vid! Glad to see your dual traveling working! Sharing experiences (w/right person) enhances. Can your solar powered battery power a rice cooker? A functioning rice cooker on the road -so you could cook fresh veggies/ rice - as you travel would seem a real enhancement to me. (cost & health)
so pretty you look like an angel.
I lived in a car for 5 months and a cargo van for 9 months. I would spend a lot of money eating out. One month I spent like $600 eating at Carl's Jr. Of course, you could also go buy bread and lunch meat at the store for cheaper. Plan to spend at least an hour of every day going to the gym for your daily shower. If you live in a van, spring for a portable toilet so if you have an emergency your game covered. Brushing your teeth with no sink sucks and no heat also sucks donkey balls. In the cargo van I would crack the windows and run the buddy heater and then just go to sleep early in the morning when the van was warm and toasty at like 4am so the van would not get too cold during the night. I tried this way of living and I did not like it. It was depressing for me. I did gain a greater appreciation for having housing now. A cargo van is much better than a car for privacy but the good about the car is that if you sleep in the driver's seat when you wake up cold, you run the engine and the heater.
What about car insurance and car maintenance?
Im young and pay $200 a month just are basic car insurance and unlimited phone plan. With living out of a car for under $500 After food and gas, would be hard, not impossible. Traveling adds on to the amount.
$600 is also impressive
Where do you go to the toilet during the midnight?
what happened to your older videos ? before you lived in the van ?
Because of her eyes I'm going to subscribe! 😁
Great post. I don't think most vanlife folks are honest about costs. With that 1 person would co me to way more because you can't divide the gas and the lodging in half...for example would lodging for a campsite be the same for one person as for two.