Why would someone give up modern comforts to live in a small, tightly packed van? It just doesn’t make sense…or does it?
I was intrigued by Vanlife for the unrestricted freedom it provides and for the concept of living a more minimal lifestyle. Less things means more happiness, or so they say. I’d rather fill my life with memorable experiences than with things. My dislike for the consumerist lifestyle pushed me to think of alternatives. I reflected on what brings me joy and decided to focus on removing clutter and things that distract from finding a sense of happiness and peace.
I can’t exactly remember what first peaked my interest in Vanlife, maybe it was a joke someone had made or just a random thought that sifted through my mind, but either way, one day I found myself watching a lot of Youtube videos on people living the Vanlife. I thought it was so cool and unique! I love unconventional ways of living…who says you have to live in a big house?! I spent a lot of time exploring the different van styles and interior design choices people made to maximize the use of the small space.
Typically, people start Vanlife as a means to travel and live without restrictions. For some it provides financial freedom, for others, it provides the liberty to move around. For whatever the reason, Vanlife can be challenging, but it’s a rewarding choice in more ways than one. I started Vanlife because I wanted to save money that I would otherwise spend on rent, I wanted to do something good for the environment, and I just thought it would be a cool idea to pursue!
In a van, you have your own space for a cheap price. Single apartments are very expensive and living with roommates can be annoying. But in a van, you choose where you want to go and you have your own personal space. I started Vanlife in conjunction with starting my Master’s degree, so my objective was to save money rather than have it all be spent on rent.
I also started Vanlife because I wanted to put in an effort to do something good for the environment. Now this may sound a bit contradictory because I’m driving around this big cargo van, so the amount of fuel I’m burning through definitely doesn’t have a great impact on the environment…but if you look at it in terms of electricity usage and water consumption, it tells a different story.
In a week I go through about 10L of water, used primarily to drink and clean dishes (Side note: I fill up my water bottle in public places whenever I can, so if you included all the water I drink, then my weekly consumption would be more than 10L). Now if you think about someone living in Toronto, the water consumption is on average 210L per day!1
In terms of electricity, I have two 12V batteries in the van that are connected to the main car battery. So, whenever I drive, the two batteries get charged and they don’t drain the main car battery when I’m not driving. With these batteries, I’m able to have lights inside my van, I can cook with a hot plate, boil water with my small kettle, as well as charge my phone and laptop. So basically this is all the electricity I really need! Of course, I can’t make elaborate meals, and cooking takes a little longer since I can’t use the hotplate and boil water at the same time. But, overall, the set-up works well! Some people even have solar panels on the roof of their van which I think is a fantastic idea and something I would eventually like to add.
The following is a list of some Pros and Cons to Vanlife:
Pros____________________________________________________
- Save money, yippy!
- No need to pay cabfare when drinking downtown (just walk “home”)
- Less materialistic
- Experience new things daily
- Save water
- Save electricity
- Wherever you go, you have everything you need with you
Cons_____________________________________________________
- Not a lot of space
- Limited cooking
- Limited water supply
- Plan showers ahead of time
- Figure out where to park each night
- Need to locate dumpsters for waste disposal
- Food refrigeration can be an issue
- No immediate Internet/Wi-Fi
I have always gravitated towards the concept of simple living and a life that refrains from materialism, so it was only natural for me to stumble upon Vanlife. There are sacrifices to be made for those who pursue Vanlife, but it all comes down to your core values and what you want from life.