Solar power! You can run a/c heat, cooking equipment, computers, small camping refrigerator, anything you want really. And it’s FREE! The cost of panels and solar equipment are much cheaper than you might think. Ten years ago that was different. For 35$ a month you can have mobile internet. With technology today, it actually makes living this way much easier. As for the van costs. What when u own a house you don’t need a car anymore? Unless you live in a city like Chicago with a mass public transit system, I’m sure you still spend money on insurance and maintenance of your vehicle. It’s still the same, but your not spending 30-40% or more of your income on your living situation. Instead the extra money is used for travel and fun. I’m a war veteran, and I do not live in a van. But honestly surviving the situations I had in the army, my personal space was a cot and a foot locker at times. A van sounds like a hotel suite! Maybe it’s because I know I could. But it is increasingly peaking my interest this vanlife!

no, it doesn’t “keep adding to the costs.” you buy a cooking kit once. you pay a SMALL fee for a p.o. box monthly. you *can* have a cooler which will maintain cold temperature for about 8 hours. that’s about one mealtime away which is fine. besides that, you eat what you have in front of you. most food won’t spoil so quickly in a few hours anyway. then there are other things that last long like granola bars, nuts, and fruits (at least a few days).

this article looks over one major factor: NO RENT. every penny you make is yours, not your landlord’s. you also learn how to fix and manage your van/vehicle. you can also get free wi-fi while sitting outside a starbucks or another hotspot (some cities have it free in parks where google provides it). you can shower and do laundry at the gym while in the shower. there are many tips and tricks that can help you save money while living in a van.

That sounds like a lot of angry generalization to me 🙂

Currently, I live in a less than 300 sqft apartment and love it. I have less stuff, less things to clean. Someone people couldn’t dare to live in such a small space but i love every minute. I have a 5 minute walk to work and ALL amenities i need are literally within walking distance (or literally outside my door). I have everything I need and nothing more. (And even then i am thinking about paring down even more — do I really need a bunch of CD’s I don’t listen to or random kitchen gadgets when a knife and a pot do me well?)

living in a van would probably be a challenge but if you don’t need “things” then, yeah – i could do it – and definitely somewhere with temperate weather like Vancouver. my only concern (as a woman) would be safety.