After college in May 2021, a woman who’d always dreamed of a nomadic life found herself still living with her mom. Danielle, who preferred not to share her last name, exclusively told People that she stayed home to avoid the “cycle of paying rent.”
To make her childhood dream a reality and skip those typical housing costs, she decided to transform a bus into a mobile home. In September 2021, she found a mini school bus and kicked off a three-and-a-half-year renovation project.
“I knew that if I were to live in a vehicle, I wanted it to be as comfortable as possible,” the 26-year-old stated. “For that reason, I chose a bus because it has more space than a van and I had more opportunity to customize it exactly how I wanted, compared to an RV.”
Danielle spent between $25,000 and $35,000 on her bus renovation, including the cost of the bus. To save time and money on the conversion, and to make it easier to drive, she specifically looked for a shorter bus.
Other things she really wanted were a vehicle with under 200,000 miles and a straight roof. That made building out the interior simpler and also allowed for some awesome stargazing.
Besides the bus itself, the biggest expense was getting solar panels for electricity, which she said cost almost $3,000, materials and all.
“The second most expensive thing was the spray foam insulation,” she said. “I did it myself, but the kit cost $900.”
Danielle completed approximately 85% of the project on her own. She hired help for tasks she was unfamiliar with, such as seat removal, admitting, “I didn’t know where to begin.”
While a friend occasionally assisted with demolition, she enlisted a handyman named Marco from Craigslist to install solar panels. During periods of burnout, Marco provided weekly or biweekly assistance for about five months, after which Danielle completed the rest of the renovation herself.
Danielle finally finished the bus in March 2025 and has been living comfortably in it for about five months.
“My friends think it is a very cool lifestyle. I have done a couple of trips with friends in the bus,” she remarked. “My family initially thought it was just a phase until I actually bought the bus. They are now very proud but also concerned for safety.”
Currently, Danielle supports herself with savings and various odd jobs, having previously worked in solar sales. Her ultimate goal is to secure a remote position, which would afford her greater freedom.
While the bus lifestyle has proven successful for Danielle, she stresses that it’s not universally suitable. She explained, “Someone who wants to live nomadically or even if they would like to be stationary in a bus, they have to be okay with not having all the luxuries of a traditional home. For example, sourcing your own water, disposing of bodily waste, etc.”
Danielle usually parks her bus at truck rest stops, Walmart parking lots, national parks, or campgrounds when she travels. She acknowledged that her bus is better equipped for colder climates. Therefore, she generally moves to cooler regions during hot seasons to be comfortable.
“This lifestyle is meant for a person who is comfortable with change and things not always going how you plan,” she stated. “People see the romanticized version, but it’s important to research the not-so-glamorous parts and decide whether it’s a way of life you would be comfortable with.”
“I learned everything along the way. Don’t let fear hold you back from living your dreams,” Danielle emphasized, encouraging others to embrace uncertainty.
