Why Would You?

The decision to move into your vehicle will not come lightly. There are many factors that would lead a person to dramatically downsize and go mobile. One of the most pressing factors is the rising cost of living. More and more people are moving into their cars, not because they are jobless but because the cost of living is so high a single income cannot afford even a small apartment in some areas.

Another reason for going mobile is for work purposes. Some people are able to acquire remote jobs that send them to different places, or allow them to roam as they work. Owning an RV is a cheaper alternative to home ownership and if your family is small enough it is an option many are taking.

A third reason is Rent Striking. The never capped profits for landlords is another reason people are taking to their vehicles. The rising costs with no end in sight have given people a reason to say that they would rather keep their paychecks than continue giving them to the greedy landlords.

What To Do

How you go about converting your vehicle into a home depends on what kind of vehicle you have, and why you are doing it. If you are being evicted from your home and need to convert quickly, try to remember to keep your emotions steady in the process. This is most likely a very stressful situation but remember that you are not alone. A family would need something larger, such as an RV so the purpose of this article is for the solo nomad or for a couple. Watching You Tube videos of people who have been doing it for a long time is a great place to start learning what you’ll need in your micro home.

• Determine Floorplan and Layout

The size and style of your vehicle will determine where you’ll be positioned to sleep at night, and what kind of amenities you can include. Search for people on You Tube who have as close to your type of vehicle as possible for ideas and inspiration.

• Downsize and Plan

You certainly won’t have the room that you had in your apartment or home, so you’ll need to decide what you want to keep and what you’ll need to get rid of. Storage units are not that expensive depending on the size and style. If you have friends or family that can store your things, start bringing things over. Prepare yourself with a physical address for legal purposes. While many services do not deliver to a post office box, there are companies that offer physical addresses for those on the road. Look over the items that you have on hand to see what you can bring with you in the car and start acquiring items that would be more useful, such as a portable power station.

• Get Comfy

If you had the time and the space to completely renovate the interior than you are a fortunate one. Removing seats, building platforms out of plywood and stringing up fairy lights are very nice but not necessary if you are under a time or budget crunch. If time allows it, try to spend a few nights in your new home before you leave the nest completely.

Handy Items

No matter what type of vehicle you moved into, there are some items that would come in handy to have. Whether you are a city dweller who has a corporate job, or suburbanite who has a regular profession, or if you are a pure nomad looking to make your living on the road, there are things that make living in a micro home on wheels easier.

• Rechargeable Portable Power Station
• Rechargeable Lanterns and Lights
• Mini Fridge or Cooler (but be aware you’ll need to get ice regularly for a cooler)
• Black Out Shades
• Some Way to Make Food (kettle, mini crockpot, hot plate)
• White Vinegar and Water in a Spray Bottle (to clean dishes)
• Lysol Wipes and Baby/Toilet Wipes
• Entertainment for Rainy Days

There are also items needed depending on where you are going to be spending most of your time. If the weather is hot or cold you will need fans or hand/toe warmers. Something to always think about is that you will have to have your windows rolled down slightly when you are sleeping at night, no matter what kind of weather, for ventilation. Animals and human predators alike will need to be kept out while you sleep so make sure that you have weather and rain guards on your windows. 

Not as Hard as You Think

No matter the reason for moving into your car or van, you will quickly see that it’s not as hard as one would imagine. The most important thing is having a comfortable place to sleep at night, and if you have the ability to get a nice foam mattress do so. Make sure that you are warm or cool enough at night and you’ll see that all else will fall into place. There are more and more people waking up to the fact that humans really don’t need all that much to get by. The consuming of goods is not only destroying our savings accounts and credit scores, but it is hurting the environment and society as well. Once you are living in a smaller space, you will appreciate the things that you have so much more, and you’ll think twice about buying more junk as you won’t have the place to store it. Your purchases of even food will become naturally more mindful and less wasteful. You’ll consume what you purchase as you need it, and find less food growing moldy and being thrown out. Find a safe place to park at night that is on level ground and you’ll be just fine. A gym membership for showers if it’s needed will set you on your way. If you have steady income you’ll find that removing the largest item in your budget, housing, will open your eyes to how abundant your life really is; your landlord has just been taking it all.