Vanlife budgeting?

level200

Hi everyone

I am due to move into my camper van full time end of June. I am doing this to allow me to explore more and save money for adventures. I do work full time ( 4 days a week) but will have long weekends every weekends and lots of holidays.

My camper van has two hobs and sink but no fridge as I need the space for other things. What I would like to ask are:

1: Any advice for small space living? im currently de-cluttering.

2: Suggestions for easy and healthy meals that dont require a fridge

3: Any other suggestions on van life living on a budget.

thanks for help in advance.

Scrimps

How long are you planning on living in it? I lived in mine for 3 months whilst waiting for a house completion to go through. Will you have electric? I used the slow cooker a lot and a lot of fajitas/pittas/Spanish omelettes. Things that were easy to make, confined the mess to one pan and could be eaten easily. I lived in a converted transit and didn't have a table to sit at so it had to be easy. I would recommend a fridge if you can get one, I got a 12v marine fridge from eBay for around £55 I think.

It would be doable but bear in mind that a van will get hotter than average room temperature in summer. Parking will be less of an issue after the summer has finished which will affect your budget, assuming you're not planning on paying for a campsite all the time.

My time in the van was during the winter months during a particularly cold winter so it was always cold and dark when I parked up. I watched box sets on the laptop, 1 or 2 episodes a night. Sometimes went to people's house for the evening or chatted to other people living in their vans also, otherwise going to the pub etc makes it expensive. Too be honest, I rather liked the rest in the evenings after years of over working, it was a nice simple life. If you're doing it in winter and have electric and an inverter, I recommend and electric blanket, very cosy. Other than that, a fridge, 2 hob cooker, slow cooker, a couple of small camping pans, plate and set of cutlery, mug, duvet and pillow, clothes to last the week, laptop, DVDs and food for the week (I went home most weekend and showered at work during the week), a book, radio and a pee bucket for overnight was everything I think.

joedenise

If you haven't got a fridge then you will probably need to shop every day unless you're planning on living on tinned food. I wouldn't consider a camper without a fridge personally as they get very hot when the temperature rises outside.

I meant to mention that full time camper insurance is very expensive, about £1000 a year and only available through one or two brokers.

You might find it helpful to join a forum for full timers (I can recommend one if you PM me). You will get much better information from people who are full timing already or in the process of doing it like you.

Good luck with doing it.

Denise

FrugalAndFabulous

Food wise I think any curry type meal that you could use chick peas/beans or lentils instead of meat would work well. Tuna Pasta or tinned salmon pasta.

Charlton_King

Beware. You would be 'of no fixed abode' and this could seriously affect many matters, ranging from NHS provision to any tax/NI affairs.

Loads of organisations expect you to have a permanent address and will not accept 'arranged mailing addresses'.

I suggest you should avoid any vehicle accidents and subsequent insurance claims while you're living in the way you suggest...

Mistral001

You can get very small fridges as low a 4L volume which run off 12volts for as little as £30 or £40. They will a hold litre bottle of milk some butter and some meat for a few meals.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LIVIVO-Fridge-Cooler-Thermoelectric-Running/dp/B07GC6628S

PS. the meals will have to be for just one though!

silverwhistle

Aldi have a thermostatic fridge as a special at the moment:



https://www.aldi.co.uk/grey-green-thermoelectric-coolbox/p/097507287367300

level200

Charlton_King wrote: »

Beware. You would be 'of no fixed abode' and this could seriously affect many matters, ranging from NHS provision to any tax/NI affairs.

Loads of organisations expect you to have a permanent address and will not accept 'arranged mailing addresses'.

I suggest you should avoid any vehicle accidents and subsequent insurance claims while you're living in the way you suggest...

Ill be using a friends address for important letters