There’s something freeing about RV life. Everything has a place. You only bring what you need. There’s no abundance of clothes or gadgets—just the essentials, and somehow, that’s enough. Maybe even more than enough.
The Shift to Minimalism
Before hitting the road, I expected the downsizing to be hard. But honestly? It wasn’t. There were a few conveniences I missed here and there—an extra pair of shoes, a kitchen gadget or two—but for the most part, we had what we needed.
You adapt quickly. In the RV, our sink cover wasn’t just a lid—it was extra counter space, a cutting board, and sometimes even a serving tray. At home, we have separate spaces for everything, but on the road, every item had to earn its place and serve more than one purpose.
And then there were the things we thought we’d need but didn’t. Like the BBQ grill. We lugged it along, assuming we’d use it all the time. But our RV had an outdoor kitchen, and we just used that. A few months in, we gave the grill to a family who actually needed it. The same went for our gravity chairs—seemed like a good idea at first, but they turned out to be a hassle. Even the beer growlers we packed with visions of filling them at every brewery we passed? They mostly just took up space.
Less Clutter, More Clarity
Living with fewer things leads to clarity. Less clutter, less stress. I think we both have a little undiagnosed ADHD, and having fewer distractions made everything easier—cleaning, organizing, just existing in the space. We always knew where everything was, and because we had less, we actually used what we had.
Not buying in bulk was another adjustment, but one that made a surprising impact. It meant more frequent grocery runs, but it also meant shopping at farmers’ markets, buying fresh, and being more intentional about meal planning. No more tossing wilted lettuce that got lost in the abyss of a giant fridge. We ate better, wasted less, and saved money.
And when we needed something we didn’t have? We borrowed it. RVers look out for each other. Need a tool? Find someone with a big Class A—they’ve got everything.
Mindful Spending: The RV Rule We Still Follow
One thing we started doing on the road—something we’ve carried into our home life—is really thinking before we buy something. If it’s a necessity, sure. But if it’s something fun, something extra, we don’t impulse buy. We sit with it.
- Does it make sense?
- Do we really need it?
- Will it make our life better?
- Is it worth the space it takes up?
If it doesn’t feel right, we pass. And sometimes, instead of spending the money, I move those few bucks into our back-on-the-road fund. A reminder that experiences mean more than things.
Bringing the RV Mindset Home
One-in, one-out was our golden rule in the RV. Every item had a place. That’s something we’ve tried to carry back into our home. But the challenge of a bigger space is that it’s easier to hold onto things. We don’t have to be as intentional, and that’s where the clutter creeps back in. (Side note: I really need to recycle my old cell phones.)
If someone wanted to adopt an RV mindset at home, I’d say this:
- Everything should have a purpose, or better yet, multiple purposes.
- Storage should be built into the design—think stairs that double as drawers, closet systems that maximize every inch.
- Be intentional about what you bring in. If it doesn’t have a space, it probably doesn’t belong.
Often, we look around and think, We don’t need all this stuff. Stuff weighs you down. There’s something about RV life that makes you feel lighter, more present, more in control of what really matters. And while we’re not planning to sell it all and live on the road full-time, that mindset—that clarity—is something we’ll always carry with us.
Now excuse me while I go post everything I own in my local Buy Nothing Group.
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