I’ve been out of town for two weeks, which made physically working on the van impossible. Instead, I spent some of that time getting organized. I began working on my “need/want” list of items for the van, worked a little bit on the van’s overall layout, and began tracking my expenses in Google Sheets.

Google Sheets is a free part of the Google Drive suite which also includes Google Docs, Forms, and Slides. They are available for free to anyone with a gmail address, and can be accessed from any computer. I used to pay for Microsoft Office, but Google Drive does everything I need, it’s free, and being able to access my documents from any computer is super convenient.

To create the spreadsheet I came up with a few simple data points that I wanted to track: the date of purchase, the price, the seller, and the category. Off to the side, I created a few “smart” fields that automatically update based on the category of each item. According to the spreadsheet, I’ve spent a total of $7,457.98 to date, which includes the $6,500 I originally spent on the van. That means in addition to my original investment, I’ve spent a total of $957.98 so far on the van.

That $957 consists of three categories: accessories, tools, and parts for the van. Accessories (which isn’t the most accurate word) are things I bought because of the van, but will use on other projects. Right now that includes safety goggles and a small step ladder. $252 of that total went toward tools which, again, I’ll be using on other projects in the future. Some of the tools I’ve purchased so far include an angle grinder, an oscillating saw, and accessories and blades to go along with them. In the final category, Van Parts, I’m putting things I’ve purchased and installed into the van. Some of these items include the $92 stereo, the nearly $200 in door latches, and a $318 MaxxAir Deluxe Fan, which should be arriving next week.

Off to the side of the spreadsheet you’ll see two totals. The “grand total” includes every dollar accounted for on the sheet, while the “van total” includes only the van and van parts and does not include the tools and accessories. You can see the totals for each category off to the side, too.

For those who want to follow along, you can view the spreadsheet in your browser at the following link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oqHzO9SZU3sbWQz0UXHMNneCb-tNMCYHu8yD6Zkzn0k

A lot of vanlifers suggest coming up with a budget before you begin your build and working backwards from there. I, perhaps foolishly, am not doing that. Instead I’m buying the tools and parts I need as I go, moving things forward a little bit each payday. Instead of buying a cheaper vent fan or smaller refrigerator that I know I’m going to need to upgrade, I’m simply saving up to buy the stuff I want the first time around.

While I wait a few more days for temperatures to drop back down below 100F here in Oklahoma, I’ll be working on my want/need list and some other things from the comfort of my air conditioned home.