36-year-old lives and travels in her truck full-time, spends $1,305/month: 'I'm comfortable in very small spaces'

On that trip, Kaye met someone who travels full-time, and the conversation they had helped her realize she wanted to leave her career and life in Wisconsin behind and continue traveling. "He told me he wished he had done it sooner because it's so much easier and cheaper than you think (this bears monitoring)

That changed everything for me," Kaye tells CNBC Make It

Meanwhile, "I went and worked more and more until I quit the next year

Moreover, "Kaye spent three years traveling the world before she started overlanding

At the same time, Ashley KayeWhen Kaye quit her job in 2020, she says she had $37,000 in savings, but what she struggled with the most was not having a job to fill her time. "I didn't know how to just do nothing, in today's market environment

Moreover, The first few months were really hard and I wasn't sure if I was making the right decision," she says

On the other hand, "Once I got into my rhythm of traveling and growing my confidence through that experience, I've never looked back and don't have a single regret leaving. "Kaye spent the next three years traveling the world, including to South Africa, in today's market environment

In contrast, Overlanding is a form of self-reliant travel that involves adventuring to remote destinations, typically in a vehicle of some type

Ashley KayeAfter doing a bit of her own re, Kaye was all-in and purchased a Toyota Tacoma truck for $42,934, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, given current economic conditions

In March 2023, Kaye drove to Baja California, Mexico, where she spent time arranging the necessary renovations to make the truck more livable. "My life is kind of 'the plan is there is no plan. ' Most people plan this type of adventure for years

I didn't even have a truck when I accepted the offer on my house," she says. "It was very spur of the moment, so I needed to take a pause and figure things out. "She estimates she spent over $50,000 on the renovations

The costs included purchasing a camper, adding solar power, replacing the truck bed, upgrading the suspension, new tires, customizing a bumper, and installing an electric cooler (something worth watching)

Moreover, Ashley KayeWhen the truck was ready, Kaye decided to journey the Pan-American highway, starting in Denver, considering recent developments

Nevertheless, The highway stretches from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, considering recent developments

Additionally, Nevertheless, "It's really an incredible way to travel because you get to set your own pace and if you find somewhere that's beautiful and peaceful you can stay as long as you want," Kaye says

Additionally, Additionally, "But there's s and cons to every mode of travel and a lot of red tape and logistics crossing borders, in light of current trends

Additionally, Nevertheless, It can be exhausting, especially when you're alone

You have to find a balance that works for you, but overall, it's definitely one of the coolest adventures of my lifetime

Nevertheless, "Kaye had the truck bed replaced in September 2023

Additionally, Ashley KayeWhat life looks on the roadKaye's time on the road is split between travel days and leisure days

On a travel day, she gets up early to break everything down and secure it all in the camper before embarking on a five- to seven-hour drive

Moreover, At the same time, On average, Kaye estimates that she spends $556 a month on gas and $453 a month on food. "The easiest part for me is being comfortable in very small spaces and I'm totally content

Additionally, I can spend all day inside the camper and not feel suffocated or claustrophobic," Kaye says. "I'm constantly seeing so many vast spaces within nature that I'm really content, in today's financial world. "Once she reaches her destination, Kaye s to stay for two to three nights before moving on to the next one

Meanwhile, Since Kaye's truck doesn't have a bathroom, she uses a box toilet and a portable shower bag

Nevertheless, "I try to organize everything in the truck and camper so that it's just the way that it's supposed to be, in today's financial world

Powering down is the kind of goal on the second day," Kaye says

Additionally, Kaye has no regrets selling the house she grew up in to travel the world

Ashley KayeKaye has been living in the truck for years now, but says the most challenging part is still setting up and down the camper

Furthermore, "Even though it is very simple, it's one of those things you have to do every time," she says. "If you are somebody who makes your bed every time, it's no blem, but if you're somebody who doesn't, it feels a burden

Moreover, "While Kaye still hasn't journeying the Pan-American Highway, she is considering selling the truck at the beginning of next year. "Part of me wants to just get rid of it and move on and enter the next chapter of my life but then the larger part of me is 'no, maybe just wait because I want to see some other places and just chill,'" she says

On the other hand, "I just want to finish my adventure

On the other hand, I'm not tired of living in the camper and I'm not tired of that lifestyle, but I am tired of driving. "Kaye has traveled to over 20 countries in the Toyota Tacoma

Moreover, Ashley KayeKaye doesn't know where she'll settle if she ever sells the truck, but returning to the U

If she ever does buy another house in the States, Kaye says it will be an investment and a source of income if she decides to rent it out

She's currently considering a life in the South of France, Spain or Italy. "Each one of them has their challenges

For me, it's finding somewhere that I want to be and then I can deal with whatever the challenges and hoops are that come with that," she says

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