7 Reasons Why I’m Not Upgrading to a Van
When I tell people I live out of a compact car, I sometimes get unsolicited advice suggesting I upgrade to a van. Some folks think a compact car is too small, especially for long-term living, and a van would offer more space and convenience. Upgrading has many advantages, but I ruled out this option before I embarked on car living. Here are seven reasons why I chose not to upgrade to a van.
1. I bought my car in cash and have no car payments.
I own my car free and clear. There is no cost to live out of my vehicle. Yes, it’s small. But I’m able to make it work for me in my current circumstances. I have a full-time office job where I spend most of my waking hours during the day, so I spend very little time in my car. It is used for transportation and sleeping. The car I currently have works quite well for those two functions. There is no need to spend money to upgrade.
2. My car is still practically new with a free maintenance agreement.
I started living out of my car when it was only a year and a half old and had less than 10,000 miles. When I purchased it, it came with a 3-year free maintenance agreement. My maintenance costs for the two and half years I’ve owned the car have been zero. I like not having those extra expenses. It translates to more savings.
3. My car gets excellent gas mileage.
My compact car averages 35–40 miles per gallon in town and about 45–50 on the highway. Upgrading to a van would double my cost for fuel. Maybe more.
4. I wanted to try out this lifestyle in my car.
Since I aimed to save as much money as possible, working with what I already had made perfect sense. If it didn’t work out, I would have spent nothing on vehicle costs. Even after one year of living out of my car, I have no desire to upgrade.
5. I can save a lot more money.
Vans are more expensive than compact cars. My primary goal for living out of a car is to save enough to buy my own place in cash. Upgrading to a van would defeat the purpose since gas, maintenance, insurance, and everything else would cost more. I don’t want to spend any money on an upgrade, and I don’t want to spend more money on vehicle costs. I want to transition from living rent-free to living mortgage-free. My priority continues to be to save money, not spend it on upgrades.
6. It encourages minimalism.
A van would undoubtedly have more space and be more convenient, but I wanted to see how little space I needed. After living out of my car for a year, I’ve discovered I need very little, and this has translated into living a life of considerably more abundance and freedom. It has been a tremendous learning experience.
7. It encourages being outdoors.
A small car is not a good place to hang out. It compels you to be more active and do more things outside. I’ve always enjoyed hiking and being out in nature, and I’ve done a lot more of it ever since I started living out of my car. Organizing my life around what I enjoy has significantly boosted my overall mental and physical health.
Would I consider upgrading to a van in the future? Yes. I will continue saving money after I’m in a mortgage-free home. When I retire in a few years, having a van will allow me to travel all over the country for a year or two. I have a long list of places I want to visit. The adventures will continue.
=====
I have lived in my car since August 2023. You can follow my adventures on Facebook and Instagram