Hello! :)

[VanLifeCrisis]

I'm not a van dweller yet, but I want to be.&nbsp; I already live very simply, in a cabin i rent off my boss (a complication im realizing).&nbsp; I live on 500 or so a month.&nbsp; It was much more.&nbsp; <br /><br />Not too long ago I was bemoaning my inability to afford a decent car to get around in, and someone said to me "why are you so broke, you have pretty much no bills?&nbsp; What are you spending it on?"&nbsp; I didn't know the answer.&nbsp; So i started doing the math and realized i was blowing half my money on crap and eating out.&nbsp; When i did figure out what i could save up in a year, i abandoned my idea to get a new car (more waste) and started thinking of longer term goals.&nbsp; Something more fulfilling than just existing the way I am now. <br /><br />My plan is to save up that car payment i would have been making and put that toward buying a rental investment property (houses are pretty cheap here, and rentals fill up fast).&nbsp; I will also save a portion to get a used cargo van to replace my dying minivan (that i do sleep in sometimes), and I have been finding and bookmarking tons of info on how to convert it.&nbsp; My brother in law is a carpenter, and he loves building stuff like this and is going to help out <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; Tho he thinks im crazy to consider traveling.<br /><br />When i eventually take off to travel, I'll have family collect the rent on the property and keep up with any problems for a percentage of the rent.<br /><br />I know a lot of people who van dwell have a fixed income coming in, but I won't, and I have a really tough time with interviews (a phobia almost)...in fact every job i have ever had except for one, was interview free.&nbsp; SO i need some other method of getting passive income while on the road.&nbsp; Anyone else have luck with a similar setup?&nbsp; Besides drifting from job to job how do you make up for expenses?<br /><br />Anyway...hi <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<span style="color: #0000ff;">When i eventually take off to travel, I'll have family collect the rent on the property and keep up with any problems for a percentage of the rent.</span><br /><br />Welcome VanLifeCrisis and may the force be with you regarding rental properties and relatives.&nbsp; <br /><strong><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Dragonfly</span></strong>

 

[Mortisha]

Hello VanLifeCrisis... I too am in the planning stage. I am working on my van now and getting it ready. Welcome and good luck!

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Thanks!&nbsp; <br /><br />@Dragonfly&nbsp; Not to confident in that working out huh?&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; Well maybe i can find something else where that wouldn't be hard to swing by occasionally.&nbsp; Just houses and land are very cheap here, and almost no red tape..if any building codes and permits exist they aren't enforced&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> .

 

[VanTrekker]

Hello VanLifeCrisis!&nbsp; Great to meet you.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br /> Just keep dreaming and planning about the future.&nbsp; Good things will happen.&nbsp; Vandwellers probably are some of the biggest daydreamers and happiest people on the planet.&nbsp; The more we think and dream and explore, the more the mind opens up.&nbsp; Each of our circumstances is different so there might be better individual solutions.<br /><br />I started living in my van after&nbsp;Mom passed away.&nbsp; Dad is elderly so I live in the driveway most days and help him with&nbsp;his house.&nbsp; It's been a good way to keep a foot in both worlds and practice sleeping in a small space.&nbsp; For the next few days, it's play time, going biking and van camping..<br /><br /><br />To try and generate an income stream, I'm exploring the possiblity of writing a number of e-books about various topics and marketing them on my blog as well as through the Kindle and Nook platforms.&nbsp;<br /><br /> Some people place ads on blogs, some sell their own products, etc.&nbsp; It helps.&nbsp; As John from Azgrand.com reminded me, once you start selling your own stuff&nbsp;on a personal webpage, there is little work after that...&nbsp; Things like recipes or a guide on gardening might never have to be changed.&nbsp; Add a youtube video or twelve and the hits will really take off.<br /><br />I have a donate button on my blog and have twice had someone leave a donation.&nbsp; One of those times was today.&nbsp; It is really cool because I'm getting ready to leave on a trip and now one of the readers left a&nbsp;blessing&nbsp;that will buy a nice lunch and an ice cold beverage on the bike ride.&nbsp; It really made my day&nbsp;today... and tomorrow!&nbsp;<br /><br />Best of luck and hang in there.&nbsp; There is still a lot of positive energy and good people in the universe.&nbsp; One can make money, live a comfortable life and&nbsp;be happy an without huge debt.&nbsp; Somehow things usually work out for the better.&nbsp; <br /><br />It's great to have you here.&nbsp; I can tell you are a person who gives a lot of thought to where you are going and the future will be good to you.<br /><br />V.T.&nbsp;

 

[tinythetrucker]

<p>Welcome VanLifeCrisis.</p>

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Hey thanks a lot!<br /><br />@Vantrekker Thanks for the encouragement, I hope you have a blast on your bike rides.&nbsp; I used to pedal 10 miles to work and 10 miles back for a while (doesnt sound like much but i live in Appalachians.. flat ground is an anomaly), and i loved it.&nbsp; Got a minivan and kind of forgot about the bike (and got out of shape heh).&nbsp; Need to revisit it.&nbsp; I have tried online income streams in the past but haven't had one pay off.&nbsp; I made a little (tiny, miniscule) amount doing amazon mturk, but i kept feeling like it was slave labor to work for so little.&nbsp; Ive written some squidoo articles but im not a big social networking type so marketing is non-existent for them.&nbsp; I wish your ebook angle luck, I considered trying it but wasn't really sure what to make one about that people would actually buy <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; You have some really cool pictures on your blog, i wonder if you could sell them or earn some revenue off them.