How to Afford Van Life: 8 Realistic Strategies That Worked for Us

Dreaming of van life but worried it’s too expensive? You’re not alone.

One of the most common questions we hear is: “How do people afford van life?”

From saving before you start to finding the cheapest ways to live on the road, there are plenty of strategies that make van life possible, even if you’re starting with almost no money.

We know this because we’ve lived it. When we moved from the UK to Australia in 2017, we had no safety net.

We sold nearly everything we owned, bought a run-down campervan, and learned the hard way how to live in a van full time without draining our savings.

Nearly 10 years later, we’ve survived breakdowns, budget fails, and running out of money… and we’re still here.

This post will show you exactly how to afford van life, with the wins and mistakes from our own journey, so you can plan realistically for the road.

This post was original written in 2019 and has been updated

1. Save Before You Start

The cheapest way to live on the road is to start with a cushion.

Before we even touched a steering wheel, we spent six months living with family to save.

We sold almost everything we owned, cut out nights out and luxuries, and focused on one shared goal: building an emergency fund.

That sacrifice kept us afloat during the first months in Australia, when expenses piled up fast.

Without that buffer, we would have been forced off the road before we’d even begun.

👉 Tip: Even if you can’t save thousands, aim for a small emergency fund. Van life throws financial curveballs, and a buffer can mean the difference between pushing on or cutting the trip short.

2. Start Simple, Upgrade Smart

Our first van wasn’t glamorous.

Mo had a bed and a cupboard – that’s it. No fridge, no electrics, nothing off-grid.

We thought we were saving money, but in reality we were paying more in campsite fees and food.

The turning point came when we finally invested in a fridge and solar setup.

It felt expensive at the time ($900 AUD for the fridge alone), but it quickly paid for itself in saved campsite costs and groceries.

We also learned to fund upgrades by selling what we didn’t need – clothes, gear, and furniture we’d been holding onto.

Living minimally gave us both freedom and money back in our pockets.

👉 Tip: Don’t aim for the perfect van conversion from day one. Start small, see what you actually need, then upgrade strategically. The right gear can save you money long-term.

3. Work on the Road (and Be Flexible)

Wondering how to start van life with no money? For us, the answer was simple: work wherever you are.

In Australia, we picked fruit, worked on farms, and took shifts in hospitality.

In New Zealand, we worked at campsites – often getting free stays on top of pay.

These jobs weren’t glamorous, but they paid enough to keep us going.

And when things got tough – like in Cairns, where we completely ran out of money – we turned to work-for-accommodation.

It wasn’t ideal, but it kept a roof over our heads and gave us breathing space until paid work came through.

👉 Tip: Be flexible. The more open you are to seasonal work, casual jobs, or work-for-accommodation, the easier it is to afford van life.

4. Try Remote Work & Online Income

When we started van life, “digital nomad” wasn’t really a thing. Our income came from bar shifts and farm fields, not van Wi-Fi.

But over time, things changed. We built skills online, freelanced, built an online business, and eventually turned Officer Travels into part of our income.

Remote work gave us the freedom to stay on the road longer without having to stop for seasonal jobs every few months.

It wasn’t instant – it took years to become sustainable – but it’s now one of the most reliable ways we afford van life.

👉 Tip: If you dream of funding van life through online work, start building skills before you hit the road. We have a full post about the best jobs for van lifers if you need some ideas! 

5. Travel Slower, Spend Less

One of the easiest ways to save money in van life is also the hardest for impatient travellers: slow down.

When we travelled the East Coast of Australia, it took us a full year – not the few months most people spend. The difference? Our budget stretched further.

Driving long distances every week guzzles fuel, which is one of the biggest costs in van life.

By slowing down, we cut our spending, found temporary jobs more easily, and enjoyed each place more deeply.

👉 Tip: The faster you travel, the more you spend. Stay longer in each place, plan your routes, and you’ll save money while experiencing more.

6. Be Resourceful On The Road

Van life is affordable only if you’re ready to handle the unexpected.

Breakdowns happen, and they’re often the most expensive part of living in a van full time.

Mo’s suspension seemed to break constantly, and our newer van has needed its fair share of work.

We couldn’t afford to hand every issue straight to a mechanic, so we made the basics a priority: checking oil, tyres, and doing simple repairs ourselves.

Those small skills have saved us thousands because we’re keeping on top of everything.

We also learned to budget creatively – getting our hair cut by other van lifers rather than at a salon, learning how to use supermarket loyalty cards for discounts, and finding free camps instead of paying for sites.

👉 Tip: You don’t need to be a mechanic, but learning basic maintenance and being resourceful will cut costs and stress.

7. Cook Like You’re At Home, Not On Holiday

Food is one of the easiest areas to overspend on the road.

In our early days, without a fridge, we shopped daily and often gave in to eating out. The costs piled up quickly.

Once we had a proper van kitchen setup, everything changed.

Cooking daily in the van meant we could stock up on cheap groceries, plan meals, and avoid overpriced tourist food.

It became one of the cheapest ways to live on the road without sacrificing comfort.

👉 Tip: Treat your van kitchen like your home kitchen. Meal plan, stock up when prices are good, and avoid falling into “holiday mode.”

8. Redefine What ‘Affordable’ Means

So, how expensive is van life really? The answer depends on what you compare it to.

Compared to rent, bills, and a 9–5 lifestyle, van life can save you money.

But compared to staying home, it might cost more than you think.

Affordability is less about being “cheap” and more about what you value.

For us, that meant spending on fuel instead of furniture, and national park passes instead of nights out.

That trade-off is what makes living in a van full time worthwhile and nearly a decade later, we’re still choosing this lifestyle.

👉 Tip: Don’t chase the van life myth of “cheap.” Decide what matters most to you, and spend your money there. That’s the real key to affording van life long-term.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to afford van life isn’t about one magic trick, it’s about combining savings, flexibility, smart upgrades, and a mindset shift.

We’ve had months where we felt rich in freedom but broke in money, and others where everything balanced out. Through it all, adaptability has kept us on the road.

If you’re dreaming of van life on a budget, remember: it’s possible, even if you’re starting small. Plan smart, stay flexible, and redefine what “affordable” means to you, and van life can be one of the most rewarding choices you’ll ever make.