The Real Nomadland: A Single Mom and Kiddo VanLIfe Story
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  • Home
    • About >
      • Our Van >
        • 2018 Ford Transit Cargo Van
  • The Build
    • Planning is Different Then Doing - VanLife Van Build
    • How Much Does it Cost to Convert a Van?
    • How Much Time Does it Take to Convert a Van?
    • DIY Van Conversion Checklist >
      • Phase One DIY Van Conversion - Research >
        • Designing Your Perfect #VanBuild While Going on Practice Van Life Adventures
      • Phase Two DIY Van Build: Making Decisions for Your DIY Van Conversion >
        • Rural Internet
      • Phase Three DIY Van Build: Selecting and Buying the Van DIY Van Conversion >
        • Finding a Van
      • Phase Four DIY Van Build: Prepping the Layout- DIY Van Conversion >
        • Detailing the Van Before Conversion
      • Phase Five DIY Van Build: Installing Windows on Van Conversion for #vanlife
      • Phase Six DIY Van Build: Vent Fan for our Conversion Van >
        • Vent Placement in Conversion Van
        • Cutting a Hole for a Vent Fan for our Conversion Van
      • Phase Seven DIY Van Build: Installing the Subfloor
      • Solar Panels on Conversion Van >
        • Wind Solar Power on Conversion Van
        • Van Conversion Solar Set Up - Everything You Need
        • How Much Solar Power Do I Need?
  • Our Adventures
    • The Backstory >
      • We Found a Van!
      • Pre-Purchase Van Freak Out
      • Vanlife- Van Purchase Day
      • Registering an Out of State Vehicle
      • Full Time Van Life Diaries >
        • Full Time Van Life - Kates Blog
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week one
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week two >
          • Kingman Arizona
        • Full Time Van Lifers - Are We Homeless or Not?
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week three
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week four
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week five
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week six
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week seven
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week eight
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week nine
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week ten
      • Single Mom Cross Country Road Trip
    • Van Life Adventures >
      • Sea World - Orlando
      • Aquatica- Orlando
      • Treasure Island Florida
      • Great Wolf Lodge, Concord, North Carolina
    • Friends on the Road
    • Roadschooling
  • Resources
    • Basic Van Life Must Haves
    • Van Life Overnight Parking - Where Do You Sleep?
    • Van Life Trash
    • Financially Supporting Van Life
    • Vanlife Websites and Blogs
    • Vanlife Hashtags for Families on the Road
    • Vanlife YouTube Channels
    • Random #VanLife Stuff
  • YouTube
  • Contact
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YOUR CART

Making Money on the Road

Thinking about ways to financially support yourself on the open road? Check out some of these great ideas!
​

How to Make Money on the Road
In the years we studied van life before taking the plunge, and consistently since we have been full time on the road, the most common question we see circulate is every possible variation of "How do you support yourself on the road?"

Valid question, right? So, how do you earn money on the road? The answers are as varied as the people.  We each need to determine the color of our own parachute, think outside of the proverbial box, and create our own financial path.

For inspiration, we have collected some creative money-making ideas (and links!) of actual van lifers...  (scroll down even further for our income)

Affiliate Marketer 
Artist
Bartender
​Bookkeeper 
Camp Site Host
Candle Sales
Circus Employee 
Clothing Designer 
Consultant (in various fields)
DJ
English Teacher
Freelance Writer
​Handyman
​Holistic Healer
Insurance Agent
​Jewelry Designer
Juicery Owner
Lyft / Uber/ Grub Hub Driver
Marketing Manager
Massage Therapist
Mechanic 
Mobile Mechanic 
​Odd Jobs in Each City or Town 
Online Instructor 
Photography
Rental Property Owner
Social Media Marketer 
Scavenger Hunt Designer 
Mental Health Therapist
​Van Conversion Builder
Web Designer

Freelance and Flexible Job Sites to Consider:
​RVer Job Exchange
Etsy
Fiverr
Flexjobs 
Freelancer
Ryob (blogger with a great list of freelance ideas)
Upwork

If you have an idea to add, let us know!

Kate & Mel's Van Life Income
I (Mel) am a business consultant for professionals in the mental and  behavioral health / family services field.  I'm a licensed marriage & family therapist in three states (California lic no 102308, Oklahoma lic no 1153, and North Carolina lic no 2143); the Founding Director and Clinical Supervisor of  Family & Children's Counseling Services, Inc., and  the author of a  National Supervised Visitation online training program. 

My non-money making ventures include  a therapy-focused YouTube channel, Can We Talk?, and the oft-neglected therapy blog, The Motley Ms. 

Kate is an amazing roadschooling student and an aspiring photographer. (Her photos will soon be displayed on Kate & Mel!)

Kate & Mel

The Build
We are Kate & Mel, daughter and mother fulltime van life nomads who have set out on a gypsy adventure in our currently being built van, Eliza. Join us as we explore the non-glamorous, not-Pinterest-worthy, real, figure-it-out-as-we-go, sometimes ugly, but always glorious, version of full time van living.

Find Us on Social Media
Instagram: Kate & Mel Adventure
YouTube: Kate & Mel 
Twitter:  Kate & Mel Travel 
Pinterest: Kate & Mel Adventure 

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Single mom and kiddo set out on a nomad, van life, roadschooling lifestyle. Watch the beginner diy van conversion, first time homeschooling, first time build, first time on the road experiences, newbie family van life adventures unfold. 

We will share van life travels and tips to encourage other people to get out and explore the open road.