10 ESSENTIAL things YOU need to know before you start VAN LIFE // S07E03

[@RunningOffGrid]

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[@donna-trevorsintransit]

Hope you both ok, missing your lovely faces.

[@Alloneword-cp2xw]

Loving these 'things you need to know' videos. Just watched another one previously. I'm thinking about it myself. Just me, 1 person which I think can help (space etc etc). My thought/plan is to stay within the UK and work at festivals during the summer and then work the land the rest of the time, so moving but then stopping for a while whilst I work at say a farm picking for a month or 2. Clearly I need to look into this more with what opportunities there are out there outside of the festival season but essentially it's to live in the van and work but temp as a helping hand sort of role. I'm fortunate that I have a house so have a permanent residence (my Mum lives in the house so all good there) as a base I can come back to when needed. Got some work to do, but I think it's possible.

[@aliciathom3463]

Another shout out for Park4Night. We have been traveling in Europe for two months from our home in Turkey and have used it for every park up. Currently in a lovely site next to a river in Slovenia, which we would never have found without P4N.

[@DAAyre]

Eu breakdown with green flag is only £11 a month. I’ve the same van as you. It’s to cheap not to have it

[@RunningOffGrid]

Yup I think that's probably very sensible. Now to convince Sadge 🤣

[@DAAyre]

@@RunningOffGrid That include recovery of the van and it’s occupants back to the UK if unable to be repaired. There’s a green flag app. Check it out.

[@LaureninGermany]

Germany is fantastic and being vegetarian and vegan is very easy here and getting easier. Happy to help if you have any questions.

[@RunningOffGrid]

Thank you 💖

[@Alloneword-cp2xw]

One thing I have wondered, if it's raining, is it noisy in the van? I'm assuming hell yes? 🤔

[@RunningOffGrid]

It certainly can be, a storm in the van is quite interesting... especially strong winds.

[@RunningOffGrid]

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[@bjc860]

Hope all is well guys, any new videos coming out?

[@helenvwalker7919]

Couldn't agree more about Park4night!

[@manondeslauriers2645]

Thanks for this nice reviews of essentials. Absolute necessity as I am going from cottage tenancy to full time vanlifer in 2 months time. Love your videos. Manon aka Petunia

[@RunningOffGrid]

That sounds exciting, where are you travelling?

[@manondeslauriers2645]

@@RunningOffGrid Will start by going as far north as possible, ie Scotland then come back south slowly until I cannot deal with the weather. Plan to spend Xmas with friends in Northern Italy, getting there through France. Spend 90 days in continental Europe and back to UK for 3 months and restart. I am really inspired by your videos!

[@Alloneword-cp2xw]

@@manondeslauriers2645 How you getting on with the plan? 1 month to go is it?

[@manondeslauriers2645]

@@Alloneword-cp2xw about 2 weeks or so to go. Busy getting rid of furniture, books and clothes. Looking forward to vanlife and simplicity

[@always.wondering.wandering]

Great list! Any thing I can learn about van life I so appreciate. I like that you use guide books, I'm a big fan of that too. Well done Alan and Sadge, thanks!

[@RunningOffGrid]

Thanks Adele

[@Ray-ts6pp]

Hi Alan and Sadge, wondering how everything is? We've been. worrying about how you both are and the baby? Not heard from you in a while xx

[@RunningOffGrid]

All okay just super busy renovating and building. Update soon 🙂

[@elaineagar6128]

But if something happens insurance is a god send x

[@RunningOffGrid]

Absolutely! Needs careful thought

[@Saffygoss]

Such great content love how u guys are soooo real van life is not as cheap as people say my van is 22 years old and fabulous but I still need to work my butt off to keep it and it’s never give me any bother so not really indicative of vans age and like you said need a few income source’s or at least seasonal work and a bit of a emergency stash hope you don’t give up van life when baby comes and go all sensible 😂 would be great to see you carry on even part time

[@Paula-ln1bq]

On an unrelated note, you both have the most beautiful eyes!

[@RunningOffGrid]

😘

[@sylviapage8572]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Some great advice.

[@RunningOffGrid]

Thank you

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello You Two - greetings from Poland. An excellent video to help those considering your lifestyle.

[@RunningOffGrid]

Thank you Michael, more vlogs soon!

[@robertburton.wandering.won9154]

Really really useful, thank you so much! 👍👍👍 ...and stop slouching Alan!

[@RunningOffGrid]

🤣

[@kathleens4252]

Love the outtakes !!!

[@RunningOffGrid]

☺️🤣

[@hollyexley]

Very useful thank you! Especially the pants tip 😆 What would you say are some of your most essential items of clothing?

[@RunningOffGrid]

Pants and socks 🤣

[@maryt2422]

Really good advice thanks

[@RunningOffGrid]

Thanks Mary

[@luisgiraldo8848]

You should section your video into segments with timestamps or something so that I know what to expect. I could not finish the video since I couldnt skip to the sections I thought were interesting. Thank you for your hard work and sharing your experiences with us

[@RunningOffGrid]

Oh good idea I will look at that

[@LaureninGermany]

@@RunningOffGrid hi guys, you just need to write timestamps in the description. I play the video and make them where I would like people to start watching a section. Like you could put: 0:00 insurance 2:20 our cool sponsor People might not watch the whole thing, but they will watch what they’re interested in and come back.

[@RunningOffGrid]

@@LaureninGermany nice thank you

[@luisgiraldo8848]

@@RunningOffGrid There is also a new youtube feature that allows you to seperate your video into "Chapters" so I can look at the progress bar or whatever it is called and read the name of those chapters. It seems pretty nifty

[@edandjane4050]

Guys!... love your vids!. No breakdown is a gamble, but won't bankrupt you I guess. BUT...Medical!!! Now, I'm old enough to be your parent so I'm assuming the role for a minute (loco parentis etc etc...). I broke my leg in Italy, had to have operations there (compound fracture tib/fib) and then flown back with a private nurse as my leg couldn't be pinned over there). Anyway, IF I wasn't insured I would have been bankrupt. It's not worth it for £200 ish. I would reconsider this as it could be a life changing debt if you were unlucky enough to have a bad accident. Anyway... got that off my chest! Best wishes and glad all is well with you.

[@RunningOffGrid]

Yes that's a fair point although you do get medical cover with the European health card that's equivalent to what would be offered locally. So just depends where you get injured as to how much of a problem it would be. We have insurance now as Sadge is pregnant but do agree it was a risk.

[@reviewer1248]

Very useful, sensible and practical advice xxx👌🏽🌈🌈💕

[@RunningOffGrid]

Thank you ☺️

[@logothaironsides2942]

what is sadge short for? Is it sagitarius or sasha????

[@wirralwontshe7809]

Comment for the algo :) safe travels 👍💚

[@RunningOffGrid]

Merci beaucoup 😘

[@lisarettig2740]

❤️

[@RunningOffGrid]

😘

[@0484091]

Super video, as always.. we are heading out in full time van life come November.. we will be renting our house out. Any advice on that process? Do you have to leave a registered address for yourselves..etc? Take care both, Look forward to next week's show 😊

[@RunningOffGrid]

We used Open Rent which has worked very well for us. You will need an address I would yes absolutely.

[@connie.sawtell]

Sadge, did you say you still work on the road?

[@RunningOffGrid]

Yes and Alan does Open University

[@normanburnett4100]

How are you?

[@drewhodge3820]

What do think the average monthly budget is while travelling round Europe? Especially with the increased costs fuel/food etc.

[@RunningOffGrid]

Ooo that's a tricky one, I think it really depends on how far you travel. If you don't move much and don't do any activities etc perhaps £300 a month? Realistically it's probably more like £600-£800. Perhaps even 1K. We might look at doing a brake down and really crunching the numbers in a future video if that would be useful. Would be interesting to see

[@drewhodge3820]

@@RunningOffGrid My goal is to travel enough to do the Shengan shuffle. 3 months in the EU and 3 months in somewhere like Croatia etc and then 3 months in the EU and finally 3 months in the UK for the summer. It's just me and my young son. If I rent my home out and I have income from other rentals I would have £1200-£1400 a month. I'm frugal so I wouldn't be going crazy. I just want to see more of the world and visit museums and historic sites and to give my 9 year old son a more rounded education. I still have lots of things to sort out for the rest of this year. So starting next Spring it might be a 90 day trip to Spain and then back for the UK for the Summer then chase the warmer weather by the Autumn and Winter.

[@RunningOffGrid]

@@drewhodge3820 sounds very doable, basically what we have done. You will love it!

[@manondeslauriers2645]

@@drewhodge3820 I am considering something similar. It will be me and my dog. Being a solo woman makes me freak out at times. I will take it easy at first, and do a 90 days Europe, 90 days UK, starting mid September. My budget will be similar to yours. I hope it can work. Manon aka ProjetPetunia

[@drewhodge3820]

@@manondeslauriers2645 Originally I planned to set off in September but I had a tenant trash one of my rental properties. So I've spent the last 4 months totally refurbishing the property top to bottom. That was the 16 weeks I had set out to complete my camper build. I have almost everything ready for the camper build, including 600Ah of Lifepo4 battery and 800w of solar and even a diesel hot water system for the shower. This time I'm renting through a letting agent and an extra insurance policy to cover loss of rental income. That was only £20 a month which is a small price to pay. For that price they even include legal cover if a tenant stops paying they will do the eviction and cover the lost rent. So for £20 it's a no brainer. I'm going to have a couple of weeks break/holiday during the summer holidays and then crack on with my camper build. Maybe we will see you on the road one day.

[@thatfenderbloke]

Brexit -heart breaking

[@RunningOffGrid]

yes

[@bjc860]

I beg to differ, imagine a totalitarian organisation that orders your country to do something without asking it's people with no accountability... Look at the Dutch farmers, now imagine digital i.ds. forced on the population with the ability to turn your bank account off if you refuse to do what they order you to .... There's bigger things than inconvenience and roaming charges to worry about... Why do you think the establishment was so mad when we left... Anyway, I hope you're both ok, not seen any vids for 3 weeks... Not like you guys.. 👍

[@thatfenderbloke]

Omg , i don't have to imagine anything I can see every day the shite we're in thank you.

[@programmabilities]

rule #1 of van life: don't give your van a name.

[@RunningOffGrid]

No way! Your van needs an identity!