Traveling full-time and making a living, too. It’s the dream for many, but you’re wondering how to make money living in a van. Is it possible for you?
Well, I’m going to spoil the ending for you. . . It doesn’t matter who you are or what your skill set is, you can make money living on the road!
As a full-time van lifer working remotely, I have done in-depth research on how to make my lifestyle possible. And I’m here to share with you what I’ve learned. Whether you work in the service industry or have specific skills, there’s work you can do while living in a van.
WHAT IS VAN LIFE, ANYWAY?
If you’re here, you’re likely considering living the van life. Or you are actively working toward it. The van life is the dream life for so many people around the world, and for a good reason! Traveling full-time, meeting fun and eccentric people, and making your life into exactly what you want it to be–it’s the life.
I am a full-time van lifer currently building out my rig. This lifestyle is difficult, but I have never been happier.
If you’re interested in learning more about the van life and van life culture, head over to my article about living in a van.
MAKING IT AS A WORKING NOMAD
Here are a few things to consider before trying to figure out ways to make money on the road:
- How often do you want to travel?
- Do you want/have the ability to work from your van?
- Is self-employment more attractive to you or would you rather work for someone?
- What are your skills?
- What are your dreams?
Having the answers to these questions in mind will help you narrow down the list below. It will also help you figure out what you need to do to make your dream work into a reality. For instance, I work for myself but I don’t have the ability to work from my van yet. Therefore, I have to work from cafes right now. But I am making plans to make my van work-ready.
Pro tip: If you’re in a stable work position right now, consider asking your boss if you can work remotely! You’ll be surprised how much work you can do from your van. Even if your position only lets you work remotely part-time, that’s more time you can spend traveling!
Quick Disclaimer
This isn’t meant to overwhelm you! Most of these options will likely be unreasonable for you and your particular circumstance. There are so many options here so that, hopefully, something will inspire you. And I hope that you take away from this the confidence that you can totally make something work!
Did I miss something in this article? Or do you want more information on something? Leave a comment below, I will always respond!
HOW TO MAKE MONEY LIVING IN A VAN
And now for the content you are here for. How do even make money living in a van?
Honestly, once you start doing the research, the options seem endless. No matter what your skillset is, no matter what your interests and passions are, there are options for you to work and travel at the same time.
I have organized these options into four sections: side gigs, service jobs, filler work, and careers. That way there are options for you to make money no matter what skills you have or where you are in your career.
Side Gigs: How to Make QUICK Money Living in a Van
#1: Sell your stuff
If you’re moving into a van, you might be looking to downsize anyway. Selling your things on eBay, at a pawnshop, in a yard sale, or on the Facebook marketplace is a great way to get money quickly and make living in a van more comfortable. Spark Joy style, comb through your things and get rid of everything that doesn’t create happiness in your space. . . then cash it in.
#2: Odd jobs on Craigslist or TaskRabbit
From mowing lawns to cleaning out attics, there are always people looking for help with miscellaneous tasks in your area. Plus, this is a great option to meet locals and engage in the communities you travel through.
#3: Food and shop delivery
If you’re willing to drive your rig around a city, this is a great short-term option. UberEats, Postmates, Door Dash, Grubhub, and Shipt are recommended. If you have a car, try Lyft or Uber, too.
#4: Rent your rig
If you’re not actively using your campervan, you can rent it out to make side cash. Outdoorsy and RV Share are the best resources. All you have to do is sign up and they rent out your rig for you!
Service Jobs: How to Make Money Living in a Van as a Service Provider
#5: Work for the National Park System
Picture this: you’ve been driving for day and finally reach your favorite National Park. You work in the park for a few months and then drive for another few days to work at another national park. This is exactly what many van lifers do. It’s a really great option if you want to get as much outdoor time as possible and don’t mind sticking to one place for a little while.
#6: Work as a Bartender
If you are a bartender, you know the scene will never bore you. This is a great option if you want to make good cash and get involved in the local nightlife. Many van lifers do this. Work at a bar while you’re exploring an area, then move on to the next bar. I guess it gives a new meaning to bar hoping!
#7: Workamping
Many campgrounds and RV parks will hire travelers to work on their campground. Workampers will usually receive a camp spot to live in during their time at the campground and will have duties ranging from grounds work, office management, sanitation, and security. Learn more about Workamping.
#8: Farm and harvest work
These jobs aren’t very easy to find and don’t often pay very well. But if working with crops is your thing, this is great to consider. Plus, you’ll get to meet some of the quirkiest people in the communities you work in! I recommend doing some research on the farms in the area you’re traveling to then giving them a call and asking if they can use some help for the period of time you’ll be around. If you want to make it as a migrant farmer, you’ll have to stick around for the entire harvest season, which can be two weeks to nine months.
#9: Seasonal retail work
Stores like L.L.Bean, Amazon, and other retail shops often hire people to work temporarily during the busy holiday season. Applying for these jobs can be competitive, but look around and apply early.
#10: Seasonal adventuring guides
Most places you travel to will have seasonal adventuring guide positions. From skiing, winter sports, climbing, hiking, backpacking, biking, I could go on. What outdoor activities do you like to do? Look into CoolWorks.
Filler Jobs: Make Quick Money Living in a Van with Specific Skills
#11: Freelancing (writing, photography, videography, etc.)
There are so many options for freelancers, and some people even make a career out of freelancing. Basically, freelancers are hired to complete specific projects. A freelance copywriter might be hired to write a series of blog posts for a blog, a freelance photographer might be hired to take and edit photos for a website, and so on. Upwork and Fiverr are the best places to look for freelance work.
#12: Panhandle
Showcase your talent in the streets–and profit. Play your music, dance, perform magic tricks–we’ve all seen street performers before, and there is an abundance of possibility! If panhandling is an option for you, just check whether it’s legal in your area first!
#13: Sell your crafts on Etsy
You can craft your way to cash! I’m sure you’re familiar with Etsy–it’s a platform where anyone can set up an account and sell their homemade crafts. From knits, paintings, t-shirts, tiles, you name it.
#14: Teach English
VIPKid is a platform I’ve heard get things about from other van lifers. Basically, you set up an account, work one-on-one with kids teaching them English, and then you get paid. And you set your own hours!
Careers: How to Make a Career While Living in a Van
Quick note before we jump into careers you can make on the road: building a career takes time. There is no get-rich-quick scheme to land you a full-blown successful career right out of the gate. If you want to build a career that compliments your nomadic goals, then dream, research, and plan while doing other work listed above.
#15: Blogging
If you want to be a blogger, then I have to let you in on a secret: profiting from your blog takes strategy. Most bloggers don’t profit from their blogs because they aren’t smart about it. But you are talented and the world deserves to hear what you have to say!
That’s why I recommend the Blogging Fast Lane Accelerator Course. If you follow the link, it will take you to their free training where you learn about their content strategy. Without that course, you wouldn’t be reading this post!
(P.S. If you are skeptical, I have written a detailed and honest review of the Blogging Fast Lane Course.)
#16: Conventional careers that are remote/require travel
There are plenty of conventional jobs that require you to travel or that you can do remotely. These include:
- Traveling nurse
- Marketing
- Web & graphic design
- Programing & app development
- Copywriting
- Affiliate marketing
- Truck driving
- Virtual assistance
- Bookkeeping
- Transcription
- Property management
#17: Become a social media influencer
If you’re good at producing engaging social media content (or if you already have a following on your social media accounts) then you should consider becoming an influencer. Most influencers make their money through sponsors and sponsored content on their social media accounts. Most influencers are on Instagram and YouTube and target millennials and younger. If you want to kickstart your influencer career, I recommend checking out this free blogging training. Although it about starting a blog, the information in the training might apply to your career as an influencer.
#18: Fulfill your dreams of being an artist
Whether you’re a painter, musician, podcast producer, you name it, making a career out of producing your art is possible. Especially if you are a musician, making your art into a career lends itself to travel organically. While you’re making quick money, I hope you consider growing your business as an artist.
BLOGGING FAST LANE | PROFIT FROM YOUR PASSIONS
I want to take a moment and talk about a course that has truly changed my life. I know that blogging isn’t for everybody, but honestly, this course could turn anyone into a wildly successful blogger in a matter of two years (which, if you don’t know, is really good).
So what is the Blogging Fast Lane Accelerator course? It is a 90-day course that gives you everything you need to know to create a successful blog. Whether you are so new to blogging you don’t know where to begin or you already have a blog of your own, this course meets you where you are and takes you to where you want to be.
It has everything from WordPress tutorial videos and helping you find your blogging niche, to ranking on Google and creating a loyal audience. And it’s so simple. Even if you are a novice blogger, Tom and Anna (the creators of the course) help you understand the course material with ease.
You don’t have to be a tech genius (you don’t even need to be a good writer) to be a blogger. All you need is to have passions and interests that you want to talk about with the world! Profit from your passions and achieve time freedom.
You might be skeptical of the course, and I understand that. That’s why I have also created a thorough and honest review of the Blogging Fast lane Accelerator Course. In the review, I include an overview of the FAST lane funnel foundation (aka their tried and tested blogging model), what is included in the course (plus free bonuses if you sign up after attending their free training), the pros and cons of the course, and comparisons to other blogging resources.
CONCLUSION: YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A WORKING NOMAD!
I hope this article has helped you realize that making money on the road is 100% possible–for you! You don’t need to have a successful business or an expensive degree to successfully make money on the road, nor do you have to work in low-paying service jobs for the rest of your life.
There are dozens of ways to make money on the road. With some elbow grease, I’m sure that you will find something that works for you. From service jobs to desk jobs, you can make something work!
Did this article leave you with questions? Go ahead and leave them in the comments below and I will always respond to you!
Do you dream of being a working nomad? What are your dreams? I would love to hear about them. Let me know in the comments below what you dream of being able to do! And if I can answer any questions to help you get there, be sure to drop those, too!
Thanks for stopping by <3
Affiliate disclaimer: By clicking on some links in this article and making a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
