Living in a van is an adventurous way to explore the world and make some money. It’s also a great way to save money on rent. But what kind of jobs can you do while on the road? And how much can you really earn? In this article, we’ll cover all the different ways you can make money while living in your van—from conventional working-from-home jobs like freelance writing or graphic design to more unconventional income sources like selling crafts at festivals or becoming an Uber driver (or both!). We’ll also discuss how much money you may need for life as a full-time van dweller and some ways that you can save money while living out of your vehicle.
What Kind of Jobs Can You Do While Van-Dwelling?
Short-term seasonal jobs
- Fruit picking or pruning
- Farm work (planting, harvesting, etc.)
Long-term seasonal jobs
- Campground host—this can be a paid position or a volunteer position. You’ll get to stay for free at campgrounds in exchange for monitoring the grounds and helping other campers out. This is a great way to make some money while also saving up for your next adventure!
Gigs & Part time jobs: This is any job that pays under $10 per hour, such as working at restaurants, retail stores/gas stations/convenience stores as well as house painting and yard work among others. You could also do gigs like mowing lawns or cleaning houses—either by yourself or with friends! Just make sure you’re going at it legally by registering with the IRS (and paying taxes on whatever income you earn)! If this sounds like something you’re interested in doing then check out websites like TaskRabbit where people will post tasks they need done so they can hire someone else instead of having to do it themselves
Unconventional Income Sources for Van-Dwellers
Fortunately, there are plenty of unconventional ways to make extra cash that don’t require you to get a regular job.
- Blood selling: If you’re willing to donate your blood plasma (a process that involves separating the red and white blood cells from the liquid fraction), you can make up to $20 per donation. The best place I’ve found for this is www.plasmapheresisjobs.com; they list all the clinics in your area where they need donors.
- Hair sales: If you have long hair, consider selling it on eBay or Craigslist—I once sold a single ponytail for $35!
- Egg donations: This one is a little more involved—there’s an initial screening process (including some lab tests) and then typically two weeks of hormone injections before follicle stimulation begins and eggs are harvested. The average payout is $5,000 per cycle; most programs will pay by check or via PayPal within two weeks after retrieval or fertilization/embryo transfer procedures are completed, whichever comes first
Financial Considerations When Living in a Van
- Save when you can. You’ll want to start saving up before moving into a van, so that you’re not starting from zero financially. If possible, keep a savings account separate from your normal checking account and use it only for emergencies or other unexpected expenses.
- Live frugally—but don’t deprive yourself of the things that make life worth living! This may mean skipping out on certain luxuries at first and finding ways to live cheaply while still getting what you need (like using public restrooms instead of renting an apartment). But eventually, once you’ve become self-sufficient as a van dweller and have enough money saved up, try adding some splurges back in: get fancier coffee every once in awhile; go out for dinner if there isn’t anywhere around where one could cook their own food; buy new clothes from time to time; etcetera.
- Get creative with income sources outside of traditional work hours—maybe even full-time positions like side hustles or freelancing jobs—because these will provide opportunities for earning extra cash without taking away too much time from those activities related directly towards improving quality of life (like hiking trips) or maintaining health (by catching up on sleep).
Tips for Saving Money While Van-Dwelling
Here are some tips for saving money while van-dwelling, including how to save money on food and fuel, rent, and insurance.
For food:
- Keep it simple. Don’t buy all your groceries at once, but instead make one trip per week or so. This will help prevent you from wasting any food that spoils before you can eat it.
- Buy nonperishables in bulk and repackage them into smaller portions as needed (e.g., buying a gallon of peanut butter and using small containers). Doing this with other nonperishables like toiletries will save a lot of space!
- Take advantage of free samples at stores like Costco or Sam’s Club—they’re often more than enough for one meal if you pair them with other ingredients already in your pantry or refrigerator!
For fuel:
- Try to carpool with friends whenever possible; driving costs can add up very quickly when you’re alone all day long!
Work on the road at established seasonal jobs
- Seasonal jobs are often in demand and can be a good way to make money while living in a van.
- Seasonal jobs are temporary, which means that they’re usually not full-time and require you to move around. This is great if you’re looking for a job that lets you travel and spend time outdoors, but it can also be hard to find seasonal work if you don’t know where your next paycheck will come from. The best way to find out about available seasonal positions is through word of mouth–ask other people who have worked at similar jobs before!
Ways to Make Money While on the Road
There are many ways to make money while on the road. The following is a list of some of the most popular ways:
- Take freelance photography gigs and sell your photos online.
- Sell your artwork online, as well as crafts that you make using natural materials (such as wood or clay).
- Sell handmade items such as clothing and accessories, or other unique creations that you can’t find anywhere else. For example, I make leather bags out of old tires, which nobody else makes! It’s unique and it’s fun to do it yourself too!
I also have a shop on Etsy where I sell my artwork and crafts from time-to-time when I’m not traveling around in my van. If you don’t have an Etsy shop yet then start one today by going here: https://www.etsycom/ca/listings/newly_listed_items/listings
Pros and Cons of Living in a Van
The pros and cons of living in a van include having a lower cost of living, being able to travel wherever you want and sleeping anywhere that feels comfortable. The downsides are many: no regular bathroom access, limited space for storing your things and lack of privacy.
Pros:
- Lower cost of living
- Traveling wherever you desire
Cons:
- No regular bathroom access (however, this can be remedied with an emergency toilet)
- Limited space for storing things
Conclusion
It’s always a good idea to consider all the pros and cons of any lifestyle change before diving headfirst into it. After all, living in a van might not be for everyone! But if you think it could be right for you, don’t let lack of money keep you from starting out. There are many ways to make money while traveling—from picking up seasonal work wherever there are gardens or farms nearby to doing odd jobs like babysitting or housekeeping while staying with friends at their homes during off-peak times throughout the year.
