12 Ways to Save Money While Living the Van Life

While living in a van might seem cheaper than an apartment, you might be surprised how quickly expenses can add up. Our top expenses are gas and food, depending on how much we drive and eat out.

Buying your campervan is can also be a huge initial expense. Our first van was a Chevy Astro, and we made sure we could afford our Mercedes Sprinter before we purchased it in 2021.

If you want to live in a van and save some money along the way, we’ve rounded up our best money-saving tips for life on the road.

1. Find Free Campsites

One of the best ways to live in a van affordably is by learning how to find free camping spots. National Forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands offer countless dispersed camping opportunities where you can park your van, often for up to two weeks for free. I’ve found some of my most peaceful spots using apps like iOverlander and The Dyrt Pro.

Look for established pullouts and clearings that show signs of previous campers – these spots are usually safe bets for overnight stays.

Many van dwellers rotate between different public lands to comply with stay limits while maintaining zero camping costs.

If you want to learn more about finding free campsites, check out my Van Life Parking Playbook.

2. Cook Your Own Meals

One of the biggest ways I keep my van life expenses affordable is through smart meal planning and cooking. We cook most of our meals from scratch and have a Costco membership for items that are expensive at regular grocery stores, like coffee, Indian lentil packets, nuts, peanut butter, and protein powder. We also buy huge bags of frozen blueberries, chicken and salmon, which we store in our van’s ARB Zero freezer.

I’ve found bulk buying staples at places like Winco also saves money on groceries. Here are some van life meal ideas for you:

• 10 Simple Camping Meals for Van Life

3. Get a Cheap Phone Plan

I am astounded when I hear how much some people pay for their cell phone bills. We both have Visible, which offers unlimited data, texts and phone calls for as low as $25 per month. We upgraded to the $45 per month plan so we can also use our phones in Mexico as we spend half the year here. Visible is an off-shoot of Verizon and gets great services, and is fast enough to work and stream TV shows.

• Check out Visible here.

4. Enjoy Free or Cheap Activities

With van life, there are TONS of free activities to enjoy, even if you buy minimal gear. Hiking, jogging, walking, reading at libraries, or attending community events are all great ways to enjoy yourself without spending a ton. We also have a $25/month Planet Fitness membership which allows us to work out and shower all over the United States. This has been incredibly handy for us and an affordable way to lift weights.

You can also find free museum days or outdoor concerts in cities, or you can use an app like Groupon to zero in on deals.

5. Maintain Your Own Rig

We have a Mercedes Sprinter van, which costs a TON of money for maintenance at the dealership. Luckily my partner Tom is very handy, and he’s done all the maintenance himself. We purchase the oil from a Mercedes dealership and he changes it on his own, plus all the filters. He also did the maintenance on our Chevy Astro van.

Simple tasks like maintaining your tire air pressure, regularly checking and changing your oil, and replacing filters can get a lot more longevity out of your van before you have to take it to the shop.

6. Choose a Cheaper Campervan

Our first van was a Chevy Astro that was just $6,000. We did minimal upgrades to the van to prepare it for camping, such as a roof vent, solar system and 12-volt fridge. The back seat already folded down to create a bed, and we used camping mats as our mattress. It wasn’t until later, when I was making good money blogging, that we upgraded to a Sprinter van.

For weekend warriors, I recommend a hybrid approach combining a basic minivan with camping gear. You can build a simple bed platform out of plywood or get a removable car camping kit.

7. Buy Less Stuff

Living with less has transformed my van life experience. Rather than stuffing my van with “just in case” items, I stick to essentials that serve multiple purposes.

I’ve adopted a strict “one in, one out” policy that keeps my average monthly cost to live in check. Before adding anything new, I evaluate whether it truly enhances my lifestyle. Most van dwellers I’ve met agree – the less you own, the more freedom you enjoy.

8. Drive Less and More Efficiently

I’ve learned that smart driving habits can slash your monthly expense for vanlife dramatically while living the van life. By maintaining a steady 60-65 mph on highways, I’ve improved my fuel economy dramatically in our Sprinter van. Using cruise control on flat terrain and coasting downhill have also helped optimize my fuel consumption.

Route planning is crucial for fuel savings. I use apps like GasBuddy to find the cheapest fuel prices and plan my fill-ups in areas known for lower gas costs. The app Upside gets you cash back on fueling up at certain gas stations.

9. Use a Scrubba Wash Bag

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A post shared by Kristin Hanes | The Wayward Home (@thewaywardhome)

Laundromats can cost a pretty penny, depending on where you are doing laundry. We recommend investing in a Scrubba Wash Bag to tide you over between those laundromat visits. With the Scrubba, we use detergent sheets, soak our clothes for a few hours, rinse, and then hang dry. This works particularly well in a desert climate. The downside is you’ll need to have sufficient water on hand for washing and rinsing, but you can find water in a public bathroom or day-use area of a campground.

10. Using Rocket Money to Track Expenses

One of the best ways to save money, whatever your lifestyle, is to get some sort of budgeting app where you can see exactly where your money is going. I love using Rocket Money because it also shows subscriptions and what’s coming up. I can quickly get a handle on which subscriptions I am using and which need to be cancelled. It’s also very eye-opening to see how much I’m spending monthly on things like gas and food. Rocket Money has a low monthly fee, but I think it’s worth it.

• Check out Rocket Money

11. Find Free WiFi

If you’re really living on a budget, you probably won’t want to invest in something like Starlink to fuel your internet needs. Luckily, there are plenty of places to get free WiFi. Public libraries, some grocery stores, Starbucks and fast food joints like McDonalds often have WiFi. You can park in the lot and get WiFi right in your campervan without buying anything.

12. Utilize Membership Programs

Programs like Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome, Thousand Trails and a National Parks pass can significantly cut down on camping and entrance frees for national parks and monuments.

Final Thoughts on Van Life Savings

Living in a van doesn’t have to drain your bank account. By implementing these cost-cutting strategies – from free camping and efficient meal planning to smart driving habits and minimalist living – you can significantly reduce your monthly expenses while enjoying the freedom of life on the road.

The key to sustainable van life isn’t about spending less on everything, but rather investing wisely in the right areas while eliminating unnecessary expenses. With careful planning and mindful choices, you can create a comfortable and fulfilling van life experience that’s gentle on your wallet.