Total Newb Starting Out - Just want to talk

Newbie's Corner
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I’m Anthony and I’m eager to take the leap into van life. Just here to talk and share my story. Right now I am driving a 2DR Bronco with a tent on the roof. I’ve done some cross-country car camping and lots of a park stays (with the tent.) Imposter syndrome is creeping around since its a Bronco (off road SUV) and not a true van, but I think its about the “vibe” and not the vehicle, right?

I write (abparr dot com) and I started a telehealth company (empathyunlimitedccp dot org) as a psychologist using ACT and ABA, I work a lot and don’t make enough to live off yet. So, still in the transition stage.

Anyway, I just joined this community and am looking to make connections and learn. Thanks for reading this far. I hope I’ve set this in the correct spot on this forum. :slight_smile:

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Greetings & Welcome!

I don’t think it’s about the vehicle, but more about the lifestyle and the adventure. Some of us were born to wander and explore. I chose to live on wheels right out of high school, chasing higher paying jobs, while exploring the country, and 60+ years later, I’m still living my version of The American Dream.

For me, freedom requires money. Not necessarily a lot, but at least enough to live comfortably in our chosen lifestyle, and never have to worry about it.

You mentioned that you’re not making enough to live on. Well, you’re in luck, we live in the magical age of the internet, making it easier than ever to build a mostly hands free income, and making as much money as we desire.

Money making websites can be found really cheap. I’ve seen bundles of thousands of them on ebay for under $20. Not all of them are great money makers, but many of them are, and many of them can be mostly hands free. Just promote them, and watch the money start rolling in. My ad board makes several thousands of dollars a month, hands free. Considerably more than my living & traveling expenses, and that’s just one of several that I have. I also have a job board, and a housing board for a medium sized city (~40k population). All hands free.

Reseller sites are another consideration. You sell a product or service, but it is actually outsourced. I like services that charge monthly, and pay monthly, rather than single purchases that only pay once. I do one that offers website maintenance for $49.95/mo and I make $25 per month for each sign up. That one now has nearly 250 regulars. When I started it, I paid somebody off Fiverr $20 to promote it, and got my first 100 customers within a month, then repeated it for a second month. That was one of the websites from a bundle, already set up with the service provider.

If one website doesn’t make enough, you just start more, until you reach the income level you desire. Some people might have dozens. The neatest part is if they’re hands free, you can spend your time doing whatever you enjoy, while they’re making you money.

Cheers!

"A day without income, is a day wasted." ~ Truth Matters



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Thanks for the positive energy and comments. I have “itchy feet” and always wanted to “wander” about, but I settled down after college, built a house, and had kids; so the opposite. I’m older now, the kids are moving out, and my feet are ready to go. I do a lot of short trips, but it’s a bit of a tease to be honest. My heart seems pulled west, my base is in Louisiana. Just trying to balance practicality with actualizing my dreams. There is so much psychology that I never considered, logistics are one thing- mental health and living a life aligned with personal values, that is an entire different critter. I appreciate what you said about the vehicle. It helps.

I think is the right place for me right now. :slight_smile:

I know the money will come, I’m not afraid of work or limited to any “boxes” when it comes to employment. The job that grants me freedom is the work for me.

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Okay, so here is a newbie question:

Is a shower and a toilet worth the effort of getting a camper (TAB 320 Boondock, specifically)

When I car camp, I usually just use state park showers, LOVES, and biodegradable wipes.

Sometimes, I think I am getting in my own way trying to secure a camper and doing that whole thing, many of us do, “analysis paralysis” just to avoid perceived “risk.”

Any thoughts? Am I overthinking it, or is that reasonable?

Pre-thanks. :slight_smile:

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Greetings!

It’s certainly a different lifestyle, and some say that having a home to return to makes all the difference. Some of us don’t especially want a traditional house or apartment. I’m like a turtle, taking my home with me, wherever I may roam.

California has been a huge disappointment for me the last several years, too high prices, too much traffic, and campgrounds that want a year+ for reservations. Oregon & Washington aren’t much better. This online reservations only stuff really sucks, and I love the PNW. Even the first come first served sites are always full these days, and usually with trashy people. The Eastern half of the country is looking better & better. We’re going to head North to somewhere around the Great Lakes for the summer.

My traveling companions have never taken the Mississippi River cruise, so we’re contemplating taking the one from St. Paul, MN to New Orleans & back round trip, or maybe take a train back. Lot’s of options to see scenery away from normal roads.

Some people like trailers, I prefer camper vans or motorhomes, so I don’t have to go outside in nasty weather, or if I need to drive away.

A toilet & shower make my life much better, but like many things, it boils down to personal preference. I like to be fully self contained, so if the weather’s bad, or nowhere is handy, I have my own. I also don’t have to worry about catching the creepy crud from public facilities.

"The simplest solution is usually the best solution." ~ Truth Matters



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Van_Dweller, you have me absolutely intrigued and very interested in learning more about these "“money making websites” to be found on eBay… what the heck are they, how do they work, and how do I learn more about the do’s & don’ts of buying them?

Cheers,
Melody

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Does anyone have a TAB 320 Boondock? I’m thinking of that as my perfect camper trailer for my Bronco and living on the road.

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I do not know about the vehicle

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Greetings!

If you go on ebay and search for “money making websites” or “website bundles” you will get many choices. Some of the bundles have thousands of websites for you to choose from, for under $20.

Then you select the websites to try. I like ones where the customers pay monthly, rather than single product sales, although there is really big money in selling ebooks. One of our businesses is selling ebooks, although that one is not fully automated. We sell one ebook per month, advertised nationally. We always exceed our goal of selling 1,000 in a month. Our ebooks are priced between $9.95-$39.95 depending on content. We pay someone off Fiverr $20/mo to promote them. Our hosting for multiple sites costs $20/mo. Originally I did the promotions myself, but got much better response by outsourcing it.

My outsourced website maintenance website is nationwide, my classified ad board, job board, and housing board are just for the town I was in at the time, because I felt they were filling a need. Craigslist didn’t really cover that town, and there were no employment agencies or help for easily finding housing. These all simply run themselves once set up, and you just pay someone else to promote them.

Many services are in constant need, people needing websites made, repaired, updated, etc. Businesses and websites need advertising & promotion. Websites need hosting. SEO & backlinks etc. People like to learn new skills, how to make money, or save money. Business directory websites can be a goldmine. Imagine a few hundred businesses paying you $20/mo. My home services directory for a big city has nearly 500 people paying me monthly. My healthcare board for the same city has over 100 doctors, dentists, & more paying me monthly, even though there are several others for the city. I just added new categories to mine, in home health care, and nursing home locator.

The possibility’s are nearly endless, and we don’t need to reinvent wheels, just use them to our advantage. I don’t worry about competition, many of my advertisers have their ads in all the other directories as well.

A friend runs a garage sale board for a major city, and is making big bucks from it, supporting his whole family with a single website. He says there’s half a dozen others in his area doing the same thing. He promotes his on Craigslist.

Perhaps the key here is to concentrate on self running websites, that way you can have many, without taking up your valuable time. We only have so much time in a day, but if we can make money while we’re doing something else, that’s a win.

Cheers!

"The simplest solution is usually the best solution." ~ Truth Matters



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Thank you so much for the info, Van_Dweller! I’ll be diving into some research this weekend!

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