| Year | Total | Comm. | Cooking Fuel |
PO box | Storage Unit |
Water | clothing | hygiene | luxuries | medical | sundry | Gear | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $93.01 | $25.75 | - | - | - | $1.72 | - | $10.87 | $3.74 | $33.82 | $1.41 | $15.70 | |||
| 2019 | $703.25 | $149.13 | $49.67 | $76.00 | $190.00 | $4.74 | - | $56.01 | $49.64 | $19.10 | $11.87 | $97.09 | |||
| 2020 | $512.78 | $176.09 | $46.59 | $86.00 | $20.00 | $6.36 | - | $73.45 | $10.58 | $17.76 | $13.95 | $62.00 | |||
| 2021 | $492.07 | - | $31.02 | $59.00 | - | $10.36 | $18.18 | $9.14 | $15.38 | $4.08 | $11.80 | $333.11 | |||
| 2022 | $719.68 | $353.50 | $54.42 | $86.25 | - | - | $50.70 | $36.74 | $50.02 | $16.85 | $7.06 | $64.14 | |||
| 2023 | $400.32 | $175.00 | $63.02 | $28.00 | - | - | $12.91 | $30.75 | - | $32.01 | - | $58.63 | |||
| 2024 | $313.71 | $25.00 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $14.16 | - | $274.55 | |||
| cumulative Totals | 3,234.82 | $904.47 | $244.72 | $335.25 | $210.00 | $23.18 | $81.79 | $216.96 | $129.36 | $137.78 | $46.09 | $905.22 |
I've been a van dweller since very late November of 2018, so year "2018" was only one month, van expenses wise.
"Comm." is communications services, including cell phone and mobile data.
I mostly use butane, and have bought 85 canisters (7 cases of 12 each, plus 1 single)
for a total cost of $194.59,
with an average cost per canister of $2.29, and per case of $27.34 (and a price range of $21.93 to $37.44 per case).
I use propane only during ultra cold periods and when I've run out of butane.
In total, I've bought 10 bottles for $50.13,
with an average cost per bottle of $5.01 (and a price range of $3.47 to $7.48 per bottle).
Inventory:
I started van life with about 3 and a half canisters of butane, and later, a Friend kindly gifted me one full bottle of propane. :)
As of late April 2024, I have about half a bottle of propane (I'm way overdue to order some butane).
According to Reliable Friends, I use much less fuel than is typical.
From the beginning, I've experimented with ways to save fuel, including:
crockpot,
dash heating.
"Storage Unit": I had a small unit pre-van-life, however the facility became unuseable in spring of 2020.
It was located in the area where I spent the summers of 2018 & 2019, and was a handy convenience for a Beginner.
"Water": When I started out, I occasionly bought water, however I now have multiple reliable sources of no fee water. :)
"Gear" is more substantial, longer life items.
The most costly individual item was a (single) new AGM house battery,
bought in 2024, after my original AGM house batteries died.