The couple moved into a van to save money, but gas and parking costs were higher than expected

Young people decided to move into their own house on wheels. They spend on living the same amount as the cost of renting a house in a major city. What are these expenses and can they be avoided, the publication said The Sun.

Photo: IStock

Austin and Melanie Shocraft bought a Mercedes Sprinter van in June 2021 and hit the road the following year, visiting several states and even spending some time in Canada.

The couple's van cost about $60 including taxes. The couple then spent $000 to turn the van into their home.

“We made sure we had workspaces where both of us could sit and work and have meetings,” Melanie said.

Austin and Melanie took out a loan to buy the van and refit it.

On the subject: On vacation on a trailer: how to choose and rent a motorhome in America

They spend about $3500 a month on food, gas, and camping fees.

“Our monthly expenses are quite comparable to what we paid only for rent in Boston or New York when we lived in these cities,” Melanie said.

According to the couple, camping costs about $30 per night.

However, they were able to get higher rates when they stayed longer than one night.

The couple often ate at restaurants or shopped for groceries at local stores.

"It's definitely a higher level of what people are spending, and you don't have to do the same by any means," Austin said, noting that living in a van can be "much, much cheaper."

The way Austin and Melanie cut costs is by using apps to find free places to park their van.

“We used a really cool app called HarvestHost that lets you book one or two nights for free,” Melanie explained. — It could be a winery, a farm or a brewery. The only request is to help support the business.”

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

“So we saw a lot of really cool local businesses,” she said.

But the couple decided to give up life in a van for a while and return to a standard house.

They moved into an apartment in Ithaca, New York after Melanie went to graduate school.

“It was important that we stay in one place for a while,” she explained. “We decided to switch to a comfortable apartment instead of a van while I'm in this program, but it's definitely been a lot of fun.”

Read also on ForumDaily:

Tap water in many states is contaminated with toxic chemicals

You can now reschedule your biometric appointment online: the immigration service has launched a new tool

Zuckerberg releases 'Twitter killer': how Meta's Threads app works

The number of spots on the Sun has reached a 20-year high: we are threatened by dangerous heat and powerful solar storms

Only a few days left before Amazon Prime Day: how to register and where to look for discounts

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.