Funding the Conversion
Funding My Van Life Dream: A Step-by-Step Plan
Everyone has their own success story, and while money doesn’t guarantee happiness, it does provide freedom and opportunity. For me, achieving the dream of owning a van and doing a full DIY conversion required careful planning, saving, and relentless work.
Laying the Financial Groundwork
When my now Husband and I sat down at a café to review my finances, I set clear goals:
Determine a deposit amount for my van from personal funds.
Calculate monthly savings needed to reach that deposit.
Allocate funds for the van conversion costs.
We also consulted with my builder to estimate labor and material costs, giving me a clear target for how much to save before starting the conversion.
The Plan
My financial strategy was simple but disciplined:
Monthly spending allowance: $700–$800, divided into four categories (four mason jars).
Van fund savings: $2,000 per month directed to my Van Fund.
I began this plan in December 2020 and purchased my van in March 2021. From April to July, all income went directly to the materials and conversion costs.
My Income Streams
To reach my goals, I relied on multiple streams of income:
Full-time: Company in Ontario (6+ years)
Part-time: Sports/Health Nutrition industry (8+ years)
Side work: Coaching athletes in cheerleading, and creative photography/videography projects
Typical Week
Monday: 5:30–6:30 am Coaching → 7 am–7 pm Nutrition Store → 7:30–8:30 pm Coaching
Tuesday: 8–9 am Meeting → On-call work → 4–5 pm Coaching
Wednesday: 5:30–6:30 am Coaching → 7 am–7 pm Nutrition Store
Thursday: 5:30–6:30 am Coaching → On-call work
Friday: 7 am–7 pm Nutrition Store → 7:30–8:30 pm Coaching
Saturday: 10 am Coaching → Nutrition Store (odd hours)
Sunday: Me day :)
Balancing multiple jobs was exhausting at times, but the goal of van life kept me motivated. I also prioritized self-care and emotional healing, taking time to recharge and spend quality moments with my four-legged companion.
Lessons Learned
Discipline is key: Consistent savings and a clear plan make large purchases achievable.
Prioritize health: Burnout can happen, so carve out time for emotional and physical well-being.
Community support matters: Generous gifts and encouragement from friends helped tremendously.
Sharing the Journey
I documented this journey in detail on my YouTube channel, including a day in the life balancing multiple careers, coaching, and creative work. Check out the full video here.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me along this van life adventure! If you enjoy following my journey, please subscribe and engage —there are more adventures, van conversion tips, and travel photography stories coming soon.
