Lived in a Chrysler Town and Country van for about two years. Living in a van was quite an adjustment at first but got better in time. Moved into my van since it gave me the freedom to explore Florida on my own. Now and then I missed having a real bed. Got a cot in the van that was comfortable and could fold or move around if I needed to.
Strapped for cash? It’s common to view living in a van as an inexpensive way of life, this is a logical fallacy in many ways. First, a traffic accident can happen anytime and sink the best laid plans in an instant. Having an AAA membership is a must, as just a dead battery will paralyze you. My AAA membership saved me several times I had either a flat tire or dead battery.
Mechanical breakdowns usually happen at the worst time, on a Friday and can’t be fixed until Monday. Once I was stranded at a hotel from a Saturday to Tuesday waiting for my van to be fixed. If you have no credit or bad credit you better come up with cash to pay for anything. Not having access to a credit card that will get you by until your next payday will ground you and render you homeless.
When driving an older van that has little value, it might be better to replace than repair. Being pro-active with a maintenance schedule is the way to go. Doing some of your own repairs fine, but having the van repaired and going again quickly may be better. Spending just one night in a hotel may crimp your budget.
Spending another penny per gallon of gasoline means a few more dollars every week or month off your meager budget. Finding a safe place to park every night is a must, that’s crucial.