I live in a van…I have no bills, just pay for food & I travel to places like St. Tropez and but I wouldn’t recommend it
DESPITE having to only pay for food and fuel, living in a van is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Amélise, aka @ameinavan shares what it’s like to live in a van full time on her YouTube channel.
The vlogger, who is currently in St. Tropez, uploads weekly videos for her 475k subscribers.
And in a recent video, which has been viewed nearly 10 million times, Ame revealed the “three worst things about living in a van”.
The first was not having privacy, and she explained: “Living in a van means the world is your back garden, so there’s always somebody watching what you’re doing, at all times.”
The second thing was what Ame called “the general chaos that is your life”.
And by this she meant no two days are the same, and things go wrong regularly.
Ame was referring to items breaking, her heater melting, not knowing where you’re going to be parking up next.
The final thing she didn’t like about living in a van full time was “constant burnout”.
Ame said: “Although van life might look like a holiday most of the time, it’s actually just a really intense way of existing.”
She repeated how “things go wrong on a daily basis” and you have to keep “finding places to sleep”, which she said gets “incredibly draining”.
Whilst Ame said all that on top of travelling was “amazing”, sometimes you just want to feel “safe and secure somewhere”.
She also previously admitted that living in a van “puts you at different risks” compared to living in a house.
Ame explained how you are “more vulnerable in a vehicle” having to drive a lot, and park in not-so secure places.
She added: “You never have to sleep in the corner of a sketchy car park if you were in a house.
“I do do my research and mostly find good places to park.”
Ame bought her van back in 2019 and spent 18 months building everything inside.
The vehicle, building materials, tools and decor cost her less than £10,000 but she believes it’s money well-spent, because it allows her to travel and make money.
I find green water pumps – normally in forests or side of roads, and fill up my Jerry Cans with water for free
She fondly refers to her van as Gloria, and has visited some beautiful places on her travelss – Verona, Cannes, and Switzerland to name a few.
As for what her living costs are, electricity is free as it is sourced from two solar panels on top of the van.
Her heater runs off diesel, which she also buys to fuel the van.
In terms of water for showering and washing up, she doesn’t pay a penny.
In another video, Ame revealed how she sources water and said: “I find these green pumps – normally in forests or side of roads.
“I have two 25l Jerry Cans which I fill up for free and chuck them in the back of the van.”
At the beginning of her van life, Ame admitted to intentionally keeping her monthly outgoings low.
And would “eat basic things”, always “find free places for water”, and camped in the wild for the first year. She added: “I didn’t stay in campsites.”
It also depended on where she was visiting: “I spent a lot of time in France in St Tropez, it’s not cheap down there, but in the van it was.”
Why I could never live in a tiny home
Tiny homes are getting increasingly popular in the UK, especially in the cost of living crisis when first-time buyers are struggling to get on the property ladder or current homeowners are having to pay ridiculous interest rates on mortgages.
But Rebecca Miller, Fabulous’ Associate Editor, has shared why living in a tiny home would be her idea of a nightmare.
“I’m currently in the process of selling my flat and buying a house, and as I pack up all my belongings, I’m worried where it is all going to go – there is so much stuff!
Fortunately, I’m very privileged to be buying a house with more square feet than my current flat.
But it got me wondering, could I ever live in a small space? And the answer is no.
- Less personal space
Living with another person immediately cuts down on personal space, but remove several rooms, and I’d be left with only the bathroom as my sanctuary. I’m not sure I’d be able to cope!
- Less storage space
I’m like a magpie, I like collecting pretty things, and I like my belongings to be organised. With limited storage space, I’d find it really hard to keep everything neat and tidy.
- Can’t play host
One of the joys of being an independent adult is being able to host – friends, family, overnight stays, and dinner parties. Where would I gather everyone for a Sunday lunch if my table only sat two? Not to mention, how would I cook a Sunday lunch?
- No room to grow
Both as an individual, as part of a couple and also my hobbies, can be restricted by physical space. When I first moved into my flat, I was overjoyed at having my own balcony, and it has been a space where my love for gardening has grown. Five years on, my balcony is now overflowing with plants, and I’ve had to set up a mini propagator in the living room!