WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THE CHANGE
Remember how #vanlife became viral on Instagram? It was around the time when everyone was still cooped up at home and thinking about the next great adventure. But now that everything is open – this carefree lifestyle is still around grasping the minds of people besotted with Wanderlust. Now each one of us is grasping for more life and adventure. This is precisely what van life has to offer; a home on wheels that allows you to cut expenses, see the world and refocus on things that really matter.
Living the van life means adventure, especially when most days bring uncertainty. With your home on wheels, the whole world becomes your ” staycation’. You can spend your days hiking, exploring and taking picturesque photos along beautiful landscapes while saving on transportation and housing costs. No doubt, housing costs are expensive, whether that’s mortgages, rent or utility bills.
Van life saves you a significant amount on these monthly expenses, among other money-saving tactics. For instance, van life offers limited storage, which means you have to cut down on things you don’t need. Not only does this give you a chance to rid yourself of needless lockdown purchases, but it’s said to be psychologically beneficial and a quick way to make cash.
And if travelling the world whilst saving money isn’t enough to convince you, this might. Your days become flexible, and time becomes your own. Working from home has become part of our lives but why not do it with a view of the Welsh mountains, the Eiffel tower or a beach in southern Spain, or the pristine shores of Bali, or maybe even Phuket? And what better way to switch off than pack up your things and hit the road? And if the 9-5 still isn’t for you, van life offers seasonal work. You can save money and travel for half the year, gaining an incredible sense of freedom and the ability to work on your own terms.
Image credit: Fun Life Crisis
Van life also forces you to welcome change and take on every opportunity: exploring new cities, venturing into the wilderness, and meeting a new community of people. In fact, with coronavirus making online communication the centre of technology, it’s easy to meet other nomadic travellers. Most social media platforms provide van life social groups and meet-ups, including a U.K. annual event called Vanlife Eats in Hampshire. Vanlife Eats offers a series of opportunities for van dwellers, including live music, van life workshops, late-night fire pits and even ‘Van Fitness’ classes. In other words, it’s a nomadic Coachella.
Ultimately, van life gives you a sense of freedom and liberation you wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere, offering you a money-saving lifestyle all whilst undertaking a permanent ‘staycation’ – with the year we’ve all had, don’t spend another in lockdown.
By Holly Lewis
