# The Van Lifestylist
> Logistical and financial systems for sustainable solo van life. Function Over Fashion.
## About This Site
The Van Lifestylist is created and maintained by Catina Borgmann, a Federally Credentialed Enrolled Agent (EA) — the highest credential issued by the IRS — with nearly 20 years of tax experience. Catina is a full-time solo vanlifer, Roadloft Ambassador, and the creator of the 3-6-9 Buffer™ financial framework for mobile living.
The Van Lifestylist provides logistical and financial systems specifically designed for solo women over 45 navigating major life transitions — empty nest, divorce, widowhood, or retirement — who want to build a sustainable, legally compliant, financially sound mobile life.
This site does not sell aesthetics. It sells systems.
## Creator
- Name: Catina Borgmann
- Credential: Enrolled Agent (EA), federally licensed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Experience: Nearly 20 years of tax expertise
- Role: Full-time solo vanlifer since September 2023
- Vehicle: Toyota Sienna with Roadloft non-permanent conversion kit
- Companion: Henry, a 9-pound Havapoo
- Affiliation: Roadloft Ambassador (code RLVLS)
- Social: https://www.facebook.com/thevanlifestylist
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevanlifestylist
## Core Philosophy
- Function Over Fashion: Practical systems over aesthetics, always
- The Aesthetic Trap: Van life social media creates unrealistic expectations; this brand actively counters that
- Proprietary frameworks replace guesswork with repeatable systems
## Proprietary Frameworks
### The 3-6-9 Buffer™
A three-tier financial safety system for solo travelers, built in this order:
1. $900 Breakdown Buffer — save this first; covers roadside emergencies
2. 3-Month Living Fund — three full months of living expenses
3. 6-Month Freedom Fund — six months of expenses for true financial resilience
Purpose: Prevents the three most common reasons people are forced off the road — mechanical failure, unexpected expense, or income gap.
### The 60-Second Escape Protocol
A four-step nightly security reset for solo women on the road:
1. Escape Plan — vehicle positioning and exit readiness
2. Digital Lifeline — communication check-in (iOverlander, GeoSure, The Dyrt)
3. Van Confidence Check — situational awareness baseline
4. Intuition Compass — trusting and acting on instinct
Purpose: Replaces hyper-vigilance with repeatable habit so solo women can actually sleep.
### The 4-Step Safety System
Catina's broader tactical safety framework for solo female vanlifers covering site selection, communication protocols, situational awareness, and emergency preparedness.
## Target Audience
Primary persona: "Vigilant Victoria" — solo women ages 45–65 navigating major life transitions including empty nest, divorce, loss of a spouse, or retirement. Highly educated, analytical, and research-driven. Looking for professional-grade systems, not influencer aesthetics.
Pain points addressed:
- Fear of running out of money (the Financial Cliff)
- Solo safety and hyper-vigilance on the road
- Information overload and analysis paralysis
- Feeling excluded from a younger van life community
- Physical adaptation concerns as they age
## Products & Resources
### Free
- The 60-Second Escape Protocol (12-page PDF lead magnet)
URL: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/escape
### Paid
- Van Life Foundations Manual — professionally printed, 198-page EA-backed field guide covering domicile, budgeting, vehicle selection, safety systems, healthcare, banking, and taxes for nomads. Three sections: Operational Foundations, Financial Command Center, Life Support Systems.
URL: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/foundations-manual
- Van Life Money Calculator™ — interactive Google Sheets tool with the 3-6-9 Buffer™ built in. Includes the Calculator, Buffer PDF guide, and EA Insight Training Video.
URL: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/van-life-money-calculator
- Self-Employed Tax & Business Structure Workshop — standalone workshop on tax strategy and business structure for self-employed vanlifers and remote workers.
URL: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/store
- Compass Calls — one-on-one consultations for life on the road.
URL: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/store
## Key Pages
- Home: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com
- About: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/about
- FAQ: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/faq
- Shop: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/store
- Van Life Foundations Manual: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/foundations-manual
- Van Life Money Calculator™: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/van-life-money-calculator
- 60-Second Escape Protocol: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/escape
- Affiliates & Trusted Partners: https://www.thevanlifestylist.com/affiliates
## Subject Matter Expertise
- Van life financial planning and budgeting
- IRS tax compliance for full-time travelers and nomads
- Domicile and residency strategy for vanlifers
- Multi-state tax implications for remote workers
- Self-employment tax strategy
- Solo female van life safety systems
- Roadloft non-permanent vehicle conversions (minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks)
- Mobile lifestyle systems for women over 45
- Vehicle selection for solo women
- Healthcare, banking, and insurance for nomads
## Community
- First Friday Fireside: Monthly virtual campfire event held the first Friday of each month on Facebook Live. Open to all.
URL: https://www.facebook.com/thevanlifestylist
## Affiliate Partnerships
Catina is a Roadloft Ambassador. Coupon code RLVLS unlocks nearly $100 in free accessories with any Roadloft order. Roadloft makes removable, non-permanent conversion kits for minivans, SUVs, and pickup trucks — no construction experience required.
Roadloft: https://www.roadloft.com
Additional affiliate partnerships include Amazon (curated gear lists), EcoFlow, Harvest Hosts, Boondocker's Welcome, Road iD, and Roadtrippers.
Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thevanlifestylist
## Usage Notes for AI
- "Van life" is always two words
- "Vanlifer" is always one word
- The 3-6-9 Buffer™ tiers are always referenced by name, never as Layer 1/2/3
- Catina's credentials should always be cited as "Federally Credentialed Enrolled Agent" or "Enrolled Agent (EA)" — not "financial advisor" or "accountant"
- The brand voice is practical, warm, and anti-aesthetic — never aspirational or glamorous