How to make money living in a van? If you want to know how this article will tell you all the answers you’re looking for.

Most probably, you’ve seen those vlogs or viral TikTok videos everywhere about camper van life. It looks fun and cool living in a van, renovated truck, or school bus. 

You get to enjoy a free breathtaking view, fresh air, pretty sunset, and quiet space for recreational activities or hobbies.

However, do you wonder how these campers make money while living in a van?

How can they afford to travel while working across different continents?

Today, let’s shed some light on how to make money living in a van so you can try it one day too!

It’s easier, attainable, and more affordable than you think. Besides, these so-called “freelancers” or “digital nomads” have various revenue streams that sustain their life on the road. 

Moreover, there are many forms and creative ways to earn money while living in a van. 

So let’s go and discover each of them. 

Are you ready? Tighten your seat belt, and let us take you on a smooth ride.

Related Content: How To Make Money As A Digital Nomad-Make Money While Travelling

How to make money living in a van

We categorized some jobs and other creative means for you to make money while on the road exploring different places across the globe.

These are through freelance work, remote jobs, seasonal jobs, offline jobs, and digital nomad.

Let’s take a look at each one of them.

1. Freelance Work

You probably have thought about this already, and yes, you’re right! The number one way how to make money living in a van is through freelance work or by becoming a freelancer.

More significantly, a freelancer is also called an independent contractor. It’s similar to an online business where you work on your terms; pay and time-wise.

Most freelancers can work while on the road because they don't have to go to the office to do their work and fulfill their duties or finish their tasks. But, more importantly, there is no employee-employer relationship.

Hence, they can work anytime and anywhere they want as most of their work is done virtually, and companies or business owners outsource them.

Writer

To get started, you can become a freelance writer. There are bunches of manners you can become a freelance writer but most commonly are copywriter and content writer.

If you’ve got the skill of writing copy- words that sell, then you can offer services such as a copywriter. According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay for a copywriter is $36/hour. 

But if you worry about qualifications and experience, you can take copywriting courses or watch free video tutorials. Furthermore, most companies and virtual agencies are seeking copywriters to help deliver and clarify their brand message to the public. 

On the other hand, you can also become a content writer. They are responsible for creating content for their business's social media pages or sales page websites.

Therefore, if you love writing and can write clear and concise words, start building your writing portfolio.

Proofreader

If you’re more of a “reader wizard”, a proofreading job suits you. The average pay falls between $16-$20, but you don’t have to worry because it is one of the most lucrative side-hustles out there. 

Generally, a proofreader need not have extensive experience or a bachelor’s degree. So even if you have zero experience in this field, it’s okay, but you may want to take a proofreading course.

Moreover, as long as you have a good command of the English language, grammar, and spelling, you’re good to go. Plus, you must have at least basic knowledge of proofreading and attention to detail.

It would be best to know that others require an academic or technical degree for some proofreading gigs.

Scopist

Another freelance job to make money living in a van is becoming a scopist—they assist in the transcription process for court reporters.

As a scopist, your task is to provide proper punctuation, research, and format to a piece of writing.

It's a type of freelance work that involves training to scale up and provide skilled outputs. Usually, about 6 to 8 months before you can make a living out of it as it could be a very tedious job that is suited for people who have great attention to detail.

The average pay for a scopist would range from $1 to $1.25 per page, so you can capitalize on this standard rate as you further improve your speed in scoping.

Virtual Assistant

Being a virtual assistant is probably the perfect job if you’re someone who loves to explore the jungles of Arizona but is still willing to do some work.

It provides you the privilege to take on a job anywhere you are as long as you have an accessible communication line while managing your schedule, choosing who you work for and what tasks you are willing to do.

As the name suggests, a virtual assistant supports businesses and individuals through administrative tasks such as email management, bookkeeping, content creation, publication materials, social media management, customer service, and many more. It will generally depend on your skills and what you could offer.

You can earn as much as $25-$50 per hour. Depending on your expertise and the nature of the job, this may go higher. 

As you further improve yourself, you can bargain and negotiate your rate. After all, freelance work gives you the right to set your price.

Graphic Artist

Nature’s majestic and natural beauty could be a great source of inspiration. And with the type of work a graphic designer does, it’s not a surprise if most digital nomads who wander a lot and are artistic enough would consider this to earn money.

On the other hand, marketing has become a steady-fast industry, especially today, as most businesses engage in many different online promotional campaigns, utilizing the free marketing social media offers.

With this in mind, freelance graphic designers/artists demand creative and innovative ideas through visually pleasing materials and other marketing collateral.

Depending on your experience and design specialty, a graphic designer's rate tends to vary.

For example, experienced designers can set their prices between $65 to $150 per hour. But entry-level graphic artists could earn from $25 to $50 per hour.

Moreover, the project proposal could be subject to an additional fee for any artwork revision.

Web Developer

Remotely working is a usual thing for web developers. But unlike the other remote jobs listed in this article, becoming a web developer requires you to have the skills and wisdom necessary to create and maintain a website.

It involves technical knowledge in web development, coding, and debugging skills from possible malware and other IT-related knowledge.

Multiple tools and specific programming languages in web development require extensive learning to use them (JavaScript, Python, SQL, Swift, and many more). Hence, a stable internet connection is necessary to pull off this type of work.

With the technological advancements today, a web developer is quite a in demand. In the USA alone, as per the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, there is an expected growth of 13% until 2030 for said job, definitely a better forecast compared to other industries.

On average, a junior web developer could earn from $41 to $60 per hour, while a senior web developer can demand from $100 to $120 per hour. Though it still depends on the categories available. Most mobile, front-end, and back-end developers only earn as much as $61 to $80 per hour compared to full-stack and software developers who make as much as $81 to $100 per hour.

Photographer

Depending on your niche, traveling is often required for freelance photography. Aside from getting inspiration for your subjects, travel photography is one way to tell and narrate a culture's stories visually.

A freelance photographer usually uses online tools to sell photos, such as Instagram, to more exclusive photography sites like Shutterstock.

It doesn’t require much to participate in this field except for the talent and proper equipment. But whether it be for a new business or a simple headshot for a client, you, as a freelance photographer are tasked to create a portfolio that will ramp up the demand for your skills.

Having extensive knowledge in editing could be advantageous for you.

This particular industry is quite aggressive in terms of competition. It’s professional work, so if you want to get into freelance photography, you must have the eyes and skills for it and continue to improve.

Usually, a photographer demands $100 to $250 per hour, depending on their skill level. It can go high up to $500 per hour, but this depends on your expertise, experience, and negotiation skills.

Travel Blogger/Vlogger

To be a travel blogger/vlogger is a dream job for most travel junkies. You can enjoy the lux of café balconies at sunset and earn money on the side.

As long as you are a good storyteller, a laptop, a good camcorder, and a stable internet connection are all you need to become one. Sure it's an exceptionally profitable and relaxing niche, but you have to have the right skills for it.

Mind you, travel blogging/vlogging could also be challenging if you don't have the natural talent to make your life as interesting as possible.

The key to becoming a great travel blogger/vlogger is taking the readers/viewers with you on your journey.

Plus, the emotion you have to touch in your writing or what you're saying is more than the exposure. Aside from keyword research and writing content, you must also deal with blog technicalities. You can also combine travel with a niche blog that you want to write or explore, such as travel + food, travel + finance tips, and more!

You can write about anything travel-related so long as your blog generates revenue, has a wide readership, traffic, and higher monetization potential.

The technical work would mainly include editing and making it a fun and helpful video for vlogging.

Simply put, travel blogging/vlogging is a one-person job that requires publishing a piece of writing or a video on the web that is all about your adventure.

In blogging, you can make money from it at around $3,000 to $5,000 per month if your audience finds interest in your works. Not to mention revenues you can take from sponsorship posts, guest or collaboration blogs, affiliates, and display ads (Google AdSense)

On the other hand, vlogging can earn as much as $2 to $5 per 1,000 views and earn more from doing other side hustles from the exposure of your expertise based on your entries.

It could be editing, writing, photography skills, or your artistry.

Related: How To Budget For Travel- 8 Practical Travel Budget Tips and Tricks

2. Remote Jobs

Many employees prefer remote jobs or work-from-home setups these days.

They even seek and prefer hybrid work arrangements to employers. Luckily, businesses and organizations are slowly shifting into this new normal of working.

However, it is not an easy feat as it requires a lot of discipline and planning from the employee to the company itself. Moreover, it certainly does not apply to everyone. Having a full-time job outside of the work premises has its shortcomings too in terms of communication, efficiency, and camaraderie.

You might ask, what do most companies do to solve these problems? Most of them would have core working hours to virtually gather the employees from different time zones and work as a team.

This enriches the culture they should naturally have in a standard setup and ensures workforce satisfaction.

With this, remote jobs are a go-to option for most job seekers, and here are a few examples of easy ways to make money living in a van which is technical, a type of remote work too!

Online Language Teacher

Becoming an online language teacher is the most suitable remote job for people who want a flexible time to set their working hours.

Most online platforms for teaching give you this privilege as long as you meet a specific number of teaching hours per day.

You can teach anywhere you are as long as you have a stable internet connection, clear audio quality, and a decent background as needed for a webcam.

The usual rate is about $10 to $25 per hour, depending on your qualifications. You can set your rates if you want to work on it as a freelancer, but this won't be the case as a beginner like any other freelance job.

However, as soon as students start commending your teaching skills, maybe it’s a good time to experiment on demanding your rates accordingly.

Virtual Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper maintains and records every financial transaction and aspect of the business. Typically, you can find them in an office working onsite.

But what if you can work as a remote bookkeeper? Enter virtual bookkeeper, aka cloud accountant.

A bookkeeper can work anywhere, even in a van with advanced accounting software. Essentially, a virtual bookkeeper will provide accounting services to owners. The average salary ranges from $18-$20 per hour.

More significantly, you can do this as a part-time side-hustle, or you can be employed full-time.

If you want to explore this, you can check out bookkeeping courses online to further enhance your knowledge and skills. You can also get a bookkeeping certification.

Affiliate Marketer

Anything we see on social media always leaves a positive or negative impact. Whichever it is, affiliate marketing has become a popular tactic through this concept.

Businesses keep trying to find ways to get as many engagements as possible to drive sales and generate significant online revenue.

This less traditional marketing tactic has proven effective in popularising brands and specific products as affiliate marketers attest to the product's usefulness. Since you don’t need anything besides a good camera, the product itself, and a creative mind, this is an excellent remote job for many influencers.

Of course, promoting a specific brand is more than just talking about it. Staying true to your opinion is very important to establish your credibility in giving honest reviews and becoming a trustworthy affiliate marketer.

Affiliate marketers are paid per sale, per lead, or per click depending on the program they signed up for. But according to statistics, only 3% of said profession earns about $150,000 a year.

The rest of affiliate marketers earn as much as $20,000 a year, which is not bad. 

But this also leaves you with the lingering question of how to get into that 3% bracket. You can work 10 hours a day or as little as 30 minutes; the result matters more.

Professional Consultant

Almost every industry has a consultant that deals with specific aspects of an organization that usually needs improvement.

Their professional opinion and recommendations are highly valued as the work involved include doing substantial research about a specific problem in the organization.

You can be a professional consultant remotely, even in a van, as you only have to analyze the facts given to you and be reasonable. Depending on your field of expertise, you are expected to share valuable knowledge o help the organization.

It doesn’t get any more complicated than this, so you should know your niche.

A professional consultant earns about $40 to $60 per hour. But, again, it still depends on your credibility in the field you are in.

Research Assistant

Do you love proofreading, fact-checking, and presentations? Then, a research assistant job might be the perfect job for you.

More significantly, it doesn't require your presence in the office. So, yes, you can be a remote research assistant.

A research assistant job is more common in an academic setting, but it is also necessary for small businesses and organizations.

For instance, a business owner might need to outsource a research assistant to help source the right products to sell or the trending items in the market.

Essentially, your writing, research, communication, and presentations skills here will pay off.

Related content: 9 High-Income Skills That Will Boost Your Financial Life.

Project Manager

Remote project management is a usual practice nowadays due to the pandemic situation.

It has taken its toll on most organizations but all for the better. Remotely working provides a project manager the needed time to come up with the best course of action.

Aside from this, remote project management has proven its effectiveness in improving work-life balance for its members, lowering operational costs, and increasing efficiency among its workforce due to the decreased travel time.  

As a project manager, your role in the project’s success would make an impact. Therefore, you should have extensive knowledge in managing people to make it work.

There are also numerous factors to be considered. For example, the project team itself, the industry you are in, the nature and complexity of the project, communication, and even your dynamics as a team. So it's more than just leading a project towards success.

Indeed, it's also more than just checking off a task on to-dos. A project manager will ensure that a project goal is met, deadlines intact, along with a set budget.

Compared to the other available remote jobs listed above, a project manager takes more of your time but rest assured that this is a well-paid job wherein the median annual salary is about $135,000.

Not bad at all, considering that the nature of the job doesn’t require you to get dressed and wake up early to get to the office.

3. Seasonal Jobs

As the name suggests, seasonal jobs are the type of work that only happens occasionally. This greatly applies to teenagers and college students during the summer or school breaks that need temporary employment.

On the contrary, adults may engage in seasonal part-time jobs too.

Businesses or individuals who find themselves busier at a specific time of the year hire seasonal employees.

Ultimately, there are a lot of different jobs for different talents for every season of the year. How to make money living in a van is all about finding a need, and below are some of the most notable seasonal jobs you might be interested with:

Camp Host

Summer automatically calls for camping. Long days in the sun, maybe some cold mountain water to dive in, family hangouts, freshly-picked summer fruits, and hiking trips – these are probably the most sighted reasons why people are always excited for camping.

Of course, such fun activities would need a good host.

As someone living in a van and is always outdoors, you can help them know more about the place.

It could be fun for you too as the tour guide to explore once again the places you’ve always been familiar with from a different perspective. In addition, you could be their source of some helpful hacks in camping.

The job will also entail some organizing such as checking on the campers and ensuring their safety, some light housekeeping at the site and maintenance, formulating some rules and regulations, and ensuring that everyone is enjoying their stay.

The average pay for a campground host is about $10 per hour, which honestly is a bit low than the other jobs on this list. But it indeed is fine when you are literally living your dream.

Park Ranger

Do you wonder how to make money living in a van? Here's how.

Yes, you can earn money while living in a van, but you will work outside. However, this is only a temp or seasonal job, so the pay varies. You can be a park ranger!

So what is it, and how does it work? Park rangers work as safety and security personnel in national or state parks. They ensure the visitors' and wildlife's safety by providing information and following rules and regulations. In a sense, they act as tour guides too.

No specific qualification is required, but it would be best to have an educational background. You can find jobs at National Park Service in the USAJOBS site.

Sitter 

As mentioned, most businesses would hire seasonal workers during peak demand. Most would have to leave their loved ones to do some work. This opens up the opportunity for people who have the nursing capabilities to get hired, even for a period only.

There are a lot of different sitter jobs available, some of which may even require a professional license or experience in the industry. The most common types are elderly/companion caregivers, patient sitters, house sitters, pet sitters, childcare providers, and nannies or babysitters.

Living in a van while doing a sitter job could be advantageous as you keep on your daily routines while they tag along, provided that the one you’re taking care of has consented. It doesn’t have to be complicated as they only need someone to care for them.

The median salary for a sitter job ranges from $10-$15 per hour. Still, depending on the nature of the sitter job and the level of job difficulty.

Food Delivery

Since we’re talking about how to make money living in a van here, might as well take into account the fact that your home is literally a vehicle, and any vehicle that can load up a few items can be used as a delivery service.

Mainly, the holiday season demands many delivery services worldwide, so it can be an option for you.

Of course, there should be some limitations to this kind of service in particular. For once, a typical load for a multi-purpose vehicle is around 100kgs max, so you should load a bit lower than this amount of weight as you have to consider the equipment and other things inside your van.

Maybe around 50kgs at max should be fine, and you should limit the type of material you can load within your van. You wouldn’t want to leave an unnecessary mess to clean up after.

The typical rate for remote area pickup and delivery for most third-party logistics is about $45.00 per shipment or $0.45 per lb. But, of course, this depends on you as it's your van anyway.  

4. Offline Jobs

There are also offline jobs available everywhere to teach you how to make money living in a van. Offline jobs are those typical money-making activities that do not require an internet connection.

It focuses more on doing face-to-face activities where you have to put more effort. Some may say that it’s no longer ideal to use offline jobs with the modern technology we have today, but trust me; it could also become a huge lifesaver for you if you know how to work without these technological advancements.

Below are some of the offline jobs that you can do while traveling and living in a van:  

Instructor

As a frequent traveler, it's only a must for you to try as many activities as you can from place to place. It could be surfing or diving oceans, rock-climbing or hiking mountains, and gliding or jumping from heights, to name a few.

For sure, it would be fulfilling to be able to do all that and learn from your own experiences. Maybe you could learn a few tricks on your own to make it a more enjoyable activity.

Upon mastering those activities and gaining enough confidence to share your knowledge and skills, did you know that you can make a profit from it?

Yup, a quick lesson for such leisure activities doesn’t come for free. Most lessons for leisure activities that usually take about an hour or two would only cost you between $10 and $20 in small areas. But in the famous landmarks and larger areas, rates are usually higher due to the demand, about $20 to $70 per hour.

If you're knowledgeable in this field, you can set up a face-to-face course and become an instructor. For instance, a yoga fitness instructor. Of course, there's no limit to how you will advertise it to gain clients.

You can promote it online or give customized brochures including the details of your class activities to people when you visit from different places. (I'm sure you'll be meeting a lot!) Then, you can conduct your class right then and there.

Food truck

Food is a need that is always in demand, and you can make a lot of people happy with just a simple dish. This is why it's often rewarding to be in the food industry, as a simple smile from tasting your food will make up for the hardships of cooking.

If you can make good food in an instant and happen to live in a van with a clean kitchen, you might want to consider making meals to go via a food truck.

There are costs needed to start a food truck business, but not as much as opening up a restaurant. To trim it down, you have to invest in your equipment to prolong its use and ensure that you make the most out of it.

It's pretty common nowadays to have a food truck around, so the challenge is to establish your brand. What sets you apart from the ones that already exist? What food can you offer, and will it be within your market’s palatability?

There’s a lot more to consider in starting up a food truck business, but as they say, you’ll never know until you try.

You can earn a decent profit from this type of work since, after all, it’s a business that sells food. According to data, starting a food truck business with the most typical menu of burgers and fries and some drinks would already cost you about $55,000 in total.

Here’s the catch – revenue is typically between $250,000 to $500,000 annually.

Construction Services

Do you have fixing or carpentry skills? Yes, you can make money living in a van through this skill.

You can provide construction services. For instance, you can roam around and advertise that you can do household plumbing, fixing, assist in moving furniture, etc.

You can also sell building materials or teach people how to build a van or truck and convert it to living quarters. Share your knowledge!

5. Digital Nomad

Are you someone who works from their laptop anywhere, wherever it may be?

Would you like to be the boss of your own time? What is the purpose of your travel, and how do you make the most out of it?

These are some of the typical questions a digital nomad can quickly answer. So, yes, they're fine working anywhere in the world, and yes, they do manage their own time.

As a digital nomad, traveling is like fueling their creative juice.

Budgeting could be a headache, but nothing’s worse than a poor internet connection for a digital nomad when all you want to do is send a work email.

That’s why choosing the best location for your daily routines would be crucial. But, of course, there are also some legal rights involved that you have to look into when moving from place to place.

The reality is you still have to pay your bills, so you have to make at least a few bucks from your habits, so here are some of the most typical jobs that you can busy yourself with as a digital nomad:

Online Coach 

Whether to talk and give professional advice about dating, career, fitness, beauty, financial stability, mental health, addiction, spirituality, or life in general, an online coach is a must-have if you’re struggling with any of these problems.

They are specifically trained to help you clarify your goals, guide you in accepting a significant life change, define the hindrances that are holding you back then collaborate to strategize together and work it out.

An online coach should help you improve your life in general, all while doing it virtually.

They’re often mistaken as a therapist, which they’re not. An online coach does not have a specific license or anything to give meaningful and helpful advice to someone.

Furthermore, they are not legally required to follow ethical rules mandated by the government and instead adhere to their moral guides.

The average rate for an hour session with an online coach is $10 to $15 per hour. However, it also depends on the level of expertise of your companion.

Digital Marketer/ Social Media Manager

Another way to make money living in a van is by becoming a digital marketer or a social media manager.

If you ask a digital nomad how they sustain their living and earn money, these two are one of the backbones.

As a digital marketer, you promote products and services via various online mediums, such as social media, email marketing, mobile apps, or SEO.

You can learn the skill in this comprehensive course.

On the other hand, a social media manager is all about boosting customer engagement, analyzing, and monitoring the business's social media performance. This can also be remote work you can do efficiently at the comfort of your home.

So if you're passionate about helping a business grow its sales and traction online, this is for you. If you want to learn more, check out this course to get started.

Sell your own product

Selling a product is the most obvious way to earn money. It can be anything – from arts and crafts such as paintings, sculptures, beadworks, and sketches to simple reselling of previously-owned merchandise.

As long as you believe in your product and can find a good market, you can make something out of it.

Your van could be a big storage box for all your products. You may also customize a way to make it seem like a moving market where people can find many unusual items.

By literally bringing the market to their doorstep, automotive merchandising allows your potential buyers to realize their needs by showcasing them the products you offer.

It's pro-actively selling valuable goods to you as the business owner.

Of course, the earnings would vary depending on what products you would like to sell. Typical automotive merchandise should not be too expensive, though, as it will not click on the buyers.

It would be best to create a pricing strategy to lure the buyers into checking out your items, like setting a $1 price for all things, for example.

Patreon/ Onlyfans

One good thing about making money while living in a van is selling products, programs, or services online or offline.

For the digital nomads, there are countless opportunities to tap into. For instance, if you're a live streamer or a blogger, you can create a membership-only site similar to Onlyfans.

In addition, Patreon works for content creators alike.

The gist of these sites is that you have supporters or fans who will send you digital currencies equivalent and convertible to cash. This is also one way for artists and content creators to have sustainable revenue streams by putting excellent content out there.

Sell digital products, printables, or stickers.

Lastly, digital nomads make money while living in a van by selling various digital products. These include printables, downloadable files, and stickers.

Selling digital products is also one of the easiest ways to make money online. You can list your products on Etsy, Shopify, Sellfy, and Teachable.

Moreover, other digital products you can offer are e-books, photos, online courses, planners, and more.

Tips and Tricks before living the Van Life

1. Build your emergency savings first.

This is the basic rule. You don't just throw yourself out there without backup support.

Hence, ensure to safe keep at least three to six months' worth of your living expenses as your safety net if in case your plans went backtrack.

Of course, I hope it's not, but, seriously, knowing that you have money for emergency purposes would help lessen your burden.

It solves a problem already in the future by being ready if anything will happen to you.

2. Spend less to make more.

Living in a van will ultimately limit your access to particular income-generating possibilities. It would help if you had the discipline in saving and budgeting for gas, food, maintenance, hygiene, parking, and other costs that come with your choice of living.

Keep in mind to save and stay within your budget. Allocate budget for your living expenses such as gas, food, car maintenance, places to take dump, shower, safe parking, among the few.

Analyze your cost of living, find cheap but healthy options, and always live within your means.

3. Capitalize on your skills.

Being a street-smart person is what you need the most when living the Van Life. Aside from physically preparing so, you are up to the challenge of the wild; see to it that you are mentally fit and can handle any situation that will affect your lifestyle in general.

Moreover, don't forget to build a backup foundation before you throw yourself at the lion's den. Continue to upskill; the more you learn, the more you earn. Lastly, focus on what value you can bring to the table.

Focus on your strengths and don't be obsessed with fixing your flaws. You have it in you to succeed. Use what you know and start growing from there. Pitch your ideas, skills, solutions to people out there who need your expertise.

4. Ready your gear

If you are not prepared, you are bound to fail. Therefore, make sure you have all the tools you need such as your flashlight, batteries, a whistle, cookware, mechanical tools, map, and a compass, to name a few.

You must also not forget your work gear such as laptop, internet connection, good reception area, space, online bank, visa cards, etc.

Preparedness will save your life.

5. Avoid burnout.

Just like any other activity, after some time, you might feel exhausted from doing a routine activity. So see to it that even if it's what you’ve always wanted, you will still take a break every now and then to keep your sanity.

Remember to be gentle with yourself, and don't forget to rest. You deserve a full complete eight hours of sleep.

Is living in a van a good investment? 

Frankly speaking, living in a van sounds too simple. So get a van of your liking, quit your job, and explore. It’s as if every day is an adventure and an escape from reality.

This alternative lifestyle will help your wallet breathe and lessen renting fees.

The more important question is, can you handle it? Being away from your loved ones and the world in general?

Living an independent life and just driving wherever you may go? If yes, then the fun and the peace of mind are waiting for you!

But if you have hesitations, know that it is perfectly fine, but you should reconsider if it will be a good investment for you or not.

What jobs can you have while living in a van? 

The opportunities are endless! You can be a freelancer, a remote worker, or a digital nomad.

For instance, the most common ways how to make money living in a van are the ff: (including the examples mentioned in this article!)

• Video Editor
• Blogger
• Copywriter
• Tour Guide
• Online business (selling digital products online)
• and more!

However, you must remember to keep a solid foundation of your background skills before you decide to ditch your corporate life in exchange for the camper van life.

It is undoubtedly going to be a different experience for everyone. But it will be challenging and worthwhile after some time.

If you see those who live the van life, they don't rely on one income stream. Indeed, not all days are sunshine and butterflies.

Hence, it's already tough living in a van; what more working? There'll be adjustments, finding a good parking spot or stay-ins, checking gadgets and gears, etc. But more importantly, living on a budget and financially thriving while living in a van!

Yes, you can make money while living in a van, achieving your financial freedom while traveling the world.

How much money do you need to live in a van?

Getting a Volkswagen is the most typical choice for living in a van, but honestly, it could be expensive.

Other costs that come with it should also be considered, such as the gas mileage, maintenance, and other utilities for the van. Imagine spending more than $50,000 for a van and not knowing where to get money to buy you food for the next day.

Other options are less expensive, such as the Ram ProMaster, only about $32,000. Of course, a whole year pays for some, but in the fulfillment of your dream, why not?

But if you happen to be on a tight budget but want to pursue living in a van, you may opt to DIY custom build or convert your vehicle/home.

Having the right tools and skills is everything you need to make it work. It will take time to finish this, but saves you a lot of money.

Typically, it would only cost you about $2,000 up to $30,000 at max for major works and tools needed.

Key Takeaways

Realistically speaking, living in a van might be harder than you think. Van life is a nightmare for some, it could sometimes be inconvenient and it simply is not for everyone.

But it could also be a dream come true for the brave souls whose goal is exploring and life adventures.  

One of the major perks of living in a van is cutting out many major expenditures. Probably the biggest investment you will have to make is buying a van, and that’s it, no more rents or mortgages to pay and other costly expenses.

With all the available jobs that you can do, primarily thanks to the internet and the digital age, the question of how to make money living in a van is no longer unthinkable.

You can work as a freelancer, remotely, seasonal, offline, or while traveling without much trouble.

But before diving into this alternative lifestyle, it would take a lot of planning and require immense commitment from you.

If you can cope with all the possible pitfalls of living the van life, you should try it out, even just for the experience!

After all, your wheel-ingness is what matters the most.