This isn’t something we really want to get in to, but it is an important step because vans are expensive.
The budget on a van is two fold: First we have money, second we have space. Budgeting for both is a crucial aspect of a van build, as it helps ensure that the campervan project is thoughtfully designed and reduces any risk of ruin (which in this case, is going broke or missing your ferry out of the country).
If you haven’t done this already, check our article out for a good starting point on what you actually need your van to do. To summarise that process, you’ve got to:
Brainstorm essential features and items: Start by listing all the items and features you’d like to have in your van. Think about your needs in terms of sleeping arrangements, cooking facilities, storage, power, and any other considerations specific to your lifestyle and travel goals.
Define must-haves and nice-to-haves: Must-haves are the essential items and features that you absolutely need in your van to make it functional and comfortable for your intended lifestyle. These are the non-negotiable aspects of your build. Nice-to-haves, on the other hand, are the items and features that would be great to include but aren’t strictly necessary for your van’s functionality.
Consider the financial and spatial implications of each item: Once you have your list, evaluate the cost and space requirements of each item or feature. This will help you determine which items are must-haves and which are nice-to-haves. For us, that meant taking an approximate guess about how much each one will cost, and putting it to the right of that item in our list. We also did a rudimentary Large/ Medium/ Small column to check we could fit everything we wanted in our base van of choice.
We recommend that you write these all down onto a spreadsheet. Our preferred software of choice is Google Sheets.
Financial budgeting
Establishing a realistic budget for your van build. Start with how much you have got. Determine how much money you can allocate for your van build, taking into account your current financial situation and any future expenses related to van life. It’s important to be realistic and set a budget that you can stick to without causing unnecessary financial strain.
Allocate funds for must-have items and features. Once you have your overall budget, dedicate a portion of it to cover the costs of your must-have items and features. Do you have enough to cover your bare minimums? If not, you are going to need to re-evaluate now. Have some money left over? Great, let’s move on.
Prioritise nice-to-haves within your financial budget. With your must-haves and contingencies accounted for, allocate any remaining funds to your nice-to-haves. Prioritise these items based on their importance to you, and be prepared to cut some of it out. Remember, this isn’t a hard and fast cut, just a provisional one. Your budget will change as time goes on and you find some things you want to upgrade and some items you get a mega deal on.
Trade-offs. As you work on your van build, you may need to make trade-offs and compromises to stay within your budget. This could mean opting for a more affordable, space-saving solution or choosing to forgo a nice-to-have item in favour of a more essential feature. Be flexible and adaptable throughout the process to achieve a successful build.
Considering creative solutions to maximise both money and space. Look for creative ways to stretch your budget and make the most of your van’s available space. This might involve repurposing materials, seeking out second-hand items, or coming up with innovative space-saving solutions. By thinking outside the box, you can maximise the potential of your van build without breaking the bank.
Your budget is an evolving beast
Setting aside funds for contingencies and unexpected expenses. Unexpected expenses are bound to arise during a van build, so it’s wise to set aside a contingency fund to cover any unforeseen costs. This will help you avoid financial stress and allow for a smoother build process.
Monitoring your spending and space usage throughout the build process. Keep a close eye on your expenses and the use of space within your van during the build process. Regularly compare your actual spending and space usage to your initial budget and make any necessary adjustments to stay on track.
Making adjustments to your budget and priorities as needed. If you find that you are exceeding your budget or running out of space, come back to this google sheet, or piece of paper, or mental map and reassess your priorities and make any necessary adjustments. This could mean reallocating funds, changing the layout, or reconsidering the importance of certain items or features. Be flexible and open to change.
Learning from the experience and applying it to future van builds or upgrades. Throughout the van build process, take note of any lessons learned and use this knowledge to inform future builds or upgrades. By reflecting on your experiences, you can continue to refine your budgeting skills and create a van that is both functional and financially sustainable.
Don’t forget your fixed costs. You are going to need to pay for van insurance, for road tax, for an MOT, services. Don’t forget to add that into your budgeting.
Spatial budgeting
Assess your essentials. Take a moment, before we get into the planning of the van, to understand some of the size requirements of your must haves and nice to haves. Check that you are actually going to have space to fit all the big ones in and start planting some seeds in the design part of your brain about where the big items are going to need to go.
Designing a floor plan that accommodates must-have items and features. We’ll cover this in the next article.
What we did
Based on our must haves and nice to haves, here is the table we came up with:
| Item | Approximate Cost | Approximate Size |
| Must haves: | ||
| Big enough sofa for 2 people to lounge on | £400 | Large |
| Off grid for 4 days (Big fresh water tank, solar power, Battery power, grey water tank) | £1750 | Large x 2 |
| Shower and a toilet | £700 | Large |
| Large enough kitchen worktop | £200 | Large |
| Didn’t feel like in a vehicle (sleep) | N/A | N/A |
| Must be able to stand up | N/A | N/A |
| TOTAL | £3050 | |
| Nice to haves: | ||
| Skylights | £400 | Small |
| Outdoor shower | £300 | Medium |
| Heating | £300 | Medium |
| Awning | £150 | Medium |
| Feeling of space | N/A | N/A |
| Scandinavian/Hygge feel | N/A | N/A |
| Soft lighting | £50 | Small |
| No internal walls, one big space | N/A | N/A |
| Big sink | £150 | Small |
| Plywood finish/Scandinavian style | £500 | Small |
| TOTAL | £1850 |
Ok, so our total must haves and nice to haves comes to £4900. That wasn’t a terrifying number to us, but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t take into account any build materials, labour, tools, soft furnishings, electronics, insurance etc.
There is a lot more money to go into building a van. All of a sudden, the number seemed crazy high and we were forced to think more about what we really desperately wanted.
In the end, we dropped the heating and an outdoor shower, both things that we will install another time, if we get a chance.It also confirmed our suspicion that we were going to need a long wheelbase van to get a big sofa, a big kitchen, a full length (longways) bed and a bathroom into the van.
You’ll notice that some of our must haves are quite abstract and don’t have a price or size next to them. If yours does too, that’s ok.