No rent.
Low bills.
Earl's Poor Man's Guide to Living in a VanHow to cut your bills to almost nothing on a fixed income
- Sleep free and legal, eat for about $20 a week, and stay warm without a heater.
- Every bill, one at a time: food, fuel, water, showers, phone, repairs and paperwork.
- Safety first, all the way through: carbon monoxide, cold, heat, the knock at 2 a.m.
For anyone who needs their money to go further
On a fixed income
A pension or a Social Security check that doesn't stretch to cover rent anymore.
Just lost a home
A job, a lease or a partner gone, and you need a cheap way to keep going while you get back on your feet.
Already living in a vehicle
A car, van, SUV or truck, and you're still going broke every month.
Thinking about it
You want to know what it really takes, and what it really costs, before you move in.
Clear, large type and pages you'll actually use
Every chapter ends with a short version you can reread in ten seconds, and the worksheets print on regular US Letter paper.
25 chapters, from your first night to getting back indoors
- 01Know your numberTrack every dollar and find what's sinking you
- 02Sleeping for freePublic land, safe parking, asking permission
- 03Staying clean for almost nothingShowers, laundry and the bathroom problem
- 04Eating cheap without a fridgeThe pantry, the cooler and food safety
- 05The one-burner recipesMeals at a dollar or two a serving
- 06WaterHow much, where to fill, how to keep it safe
- 07FuelStaying put, routes and the seasons
- 08Power and phoneWhat you really use, and cheap phone plans
- 09Keeping the vehicle alive cheaplyThe 10-minute weekly check
- 10PaperworkMail, insurance, home state, ID and benefits
- 11The bare-bones setupBed, storage and privacy with no tools
- 12Staying safe and staying welcomeCarbon monoxide, fire, the knock, towing
- 13Getting through your first winterStaying warm without fire
- 14Buying a cheap vehicleChecks, inspections and scams to avoid
- 15The gear listWhat to buy first, next and later
- 16Surviving summer heatShade, airflow and when to leave
- 17Living in a car, SUV or truckNo van needed
- 18Pets on the roadKeeping them safe and welcome
- 19Staying safe on your ownRoutines for solo travelers
- 20Health care and medicine on a budgetClinics, prescriptions and first aid
- 21Making money on the roadKeeping a job and avoiding job scams
- 22A week of meals7-day plan and shopping list
- 2330 mistakes beginners makeSkip the expensive lessons
- 24Getting back into housingPrograms, waiting lists and move-in costs
- 25Your first 30 daysYour first night, step by step, then week by week
A full week of meals for about $20
No fridge, one burner, and every opened can finished by the next day. The book gives you the plan, the recipes and the shopping list, so the drive-thru stops eating your paycheck.
Rough cost at discount-grocery prices. Your store and region will vary.
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Peanut butter oats | Bean burritos | Black bean and corn salad |
| Day 2 | Cold-soak oats | Bean and corn salad | Bean burritos |
| Day 3 | Peanut butter banana roll-up | Tuna and crackers | Lentil soup |
| Day 4 | Cold-soak oats | Lentil soup | Potato and corn hash |
| Day 5 | Peanut butter oats | Chickpea smash wraps | Garlic tomato pasta |
| Day 6 | Cold-soak oats | Chickpea smash wraps | Pinto bean soup |
| Day 7 | Peanut butter oats | Pinto bean soup | Egg drop ramen |
Nobody moves into a vehicle because everything went right. I put everything in this book in one place, in order, so you can skip the hard way: where to sleep, how to eat cheap, how to stay warm, and how to stay safe while you do it.
Stay warm, stay legal, and I'll see you down the road.
Questions people ask
Is this a printed book?
No. It's a 146-page PDF you download right after you buy. You can read it on a phone, tablet or computer, and the worksheets and checklists print on regular US Letter paper.
Do I need a van?
No. Chapter 17 covers sleeping and living in a car, SUV or pickup, and most of the book works the same in any vehicle.
I haven't moved into a vehicle yet. Is it for me?
Yes, especially. Chapter 14 covers buying a cheap vehicle without getting burned, and Chapter 25 walks you through your first night and first month.
Is it for the United States only?
The money-saving and safety advice works anywhere, but the laws, programs and phone numbers in the book are for the United States.
Is this legal, medical or financial advice?
No. It's general information to help you live cheaper and safer. Laws on sleeping in vehicles change from place to place, so the book shows you how to check the rules where you are.
How do I get it?
Checkout is handled by Gumroad. After you pay, you get the download link on the page and by email right away.
What if it isn't for me?
Email within 7 days of buying and you'll get a full refund.
No rent. Low bills.
Everything you need to live cheaper and safer in a vehicle, in one 146-page guide you can keep on your phone and print at home.
Get the guide