The manual that covers what no one else is talking about.
Most van life content focuses on builds, gear, and campsites. The Van Life Foundations Manual covers the infrastructure that actually keeps you on the road: legal domicile selection, multi-state tax compliance, financial safety nets, insurance strategy, vehicle maintenance systems, legacy and estate planning, and emergency preparedness. All 250 pages are written by Catina Borgmann, a Federally Credentialed Enrolled Agent (EA), a federally licensed tax professional, and full-time solo vanlifer — professional-grade guidance you won't find anywhere else in the van life space.
This is a physical printed product shipped to your door. 250 numbered pages, professionally printed and 3-hole punched, ready to drop into a standard 1"–1.5" 3-ring binder. Shipping is included. US addresses only.
Also included: Access to the Van Life Money Calculator™ (a $37 value) — the interactive Google Sheets tool built on the 3-6-9 Buffer™ framework. Included because the financial chapters reference it directly.
What's inside — 9 chapters across 3 sections:
Section 1 — Operational Foundations
Ch. 1: Legal Residency & Address Infrastructure — domicile selection, PMB setup, vehicle registration, mail forwarding on the road, setting up your IRS online account, getting through ID.me verification
Ch. 2: Insurance — health coverage for nomads, ACA marketplace strategy, COBRA vs. the Marketplace, health sharing ministries, Medigap for Medicare-age travelers, prescriptions on the road, auto insurance for van life, agreed vs. stated value coverage
Ch. 3: Vehicle Maintenance Systems — pre-launch prep, safety equipment (CO detector, fire extinguisher, first aid kit), maintenance routines, scheduled service intervals, complete tracking system
Section 2 — Financial Command Center
Ch. 4: The Financial Engine — the 3-6-9 Buffer™ (3-Month Living Fund, 6-Month Freedom Fund, Breakdown Buffer), budget tiers, the real cost of traveling solo, road banking, month-to-month management
Ch. 5: Tax & Legal Compliance — EA-backed tax guidance, splitting your year between two states, the itinerant tax status rule (the "tax turtle" trap), domicile maintenance, state tax navigation, nexus rules, the 183-day statutory residency trap, multi-state complications for remote workers and retirees, retirement income on the road
Ch. 6: Legacy & Legal Protection — estate planning, Durable POA, Healthcare Directive, digital asset planning, next-of-kin defaults for solo travelers, emergency pet planning
Ch. 7: Financial Planning & Protection — retirement accounts, ACA subsidy strategy for the pre-Medicare window, Social Security timing for vanlifers, HSA strategy, life insurance decisions, long-term care planning, beneficiary designations
Section 3 — Life Support Systems
Ch. 8: The Digital ICE File — cloud-based emergency vault, password management, emergency contact system, what to do beyond the first 48 hours if something happens to you on the road
Ch. 9: Lifestyle Library — safety and site selection, traveling with pets, hygiene, connectivity, the Nomadic Anchor (family, guilt & connection), cooking, route planning, wardrobe
Plus: Resources & Links, a 60+ term Glossary, and the About the Author section.
Each chapter includes checklists, worksheets, comparison tables, and cross-references — built to be used, not just read. Write in the margins. Check off the checklists. Update the worksheets as your situation evolves.
Format: Physical product — 250 pages, professionally printed, 3-hole punched. Shipping included to US addresses. A binder shopping list with recommended supplies is included with your order.
The manual that covers what no one else is talking about.
Most van life content focuses on builds, gear, and campsites. The Van Life Foundations Manual covers the infrastructure that actually keeps you on the road: legal domicile selection, multi-state tax compliance, financial safety nets, insurance strategy, vehicle maintenance systems, legacy and estate planning, and emergency preparedness. All 250 pages are written by Catina Borgmann, a Federally Credentialed Enrolled Agent (EA), a federally licensed tax professional, and full-time solo vanlifer — professional-grade guidance you won't find anywhere else in the van life space.
This is a physical printed product shipped to your door. 250 numbered pages, professionally printed and 3-hole punched, ready to drop into a standard 1"–1.5" 3-ring binder. Shipping is included. US addresses only.
Also included: Access to the Van Life Money Calculator™ (a $37 value) — the interactive Google Sheets tool built on the 3-6-9 Buffer™ framework. Included because the financial chapters reference it directly.
What's inside — 9 chapters across 3 sections:
Section 1 — Operational Foundations
Ch. 1: Legal Residency & Address Infrastructure — domicile selection, PMB setup, vehicle registration, mail forwarding on the road, setting up your IRS online account, getting through ID.me verification
Ch. 2: Insurance — health coverage for nomads, ACA marketplace strategy, COBRA vs. the Marketplace, health sharing ministries, Medigap for Medicare-age travelers, prescriptions on the road, auto insurance for van life, agreed vs. stated value coverage
Ch. 3: Vehicle Maintenance Systems — pre-launch prep, safety equipment (CO detector, fire extinguisher, first aid kit), maintenance routines, scheduled service intervals, complete tracking system
Section 2 — Financial Command Center
Ch. 4: The Financial Engine — the 3-6-9 Buffer™ (3-Month Living Fund, 6-Month Freedom Fund, Breakdown Buffer), budget tiers, the real cost of traveling solo, road banking, month-to-month management
Ch. 5: Tax & Legal Compliance — EA-backed tax guidance, splitting your year between two states, the itinerant tax status rule (the "tax turtle" trap), domicile maintenance, state tax navigation, nexus rules, the 183-day statutory residency trap, multi-state complications for remote workers and retirees, retirement income on the road
Ch. 6: Legacy & Legal Protection — estate planning, Durable POA, Healthcare Directive, digital asset planning, next-of-kin defaults for solo travelers, emergency pet planning
Ch. 7: Financial Planning & Protection — retirement accounts, ACA subsidy strategy for the pre-Medicare window, Social Security timing for vanlifers, HSA strategy, life insurance decisions, long-term care planning, beneficiary designations
Section 3 — Life Support Systems
Ch. 8: The Digital ICE File — cloud-based emergency vault, password management, emergency contact system, what to do beyond the first 48 hours if something happens to you on the road
Ch. 9: Lifestyle Library — safety and site selection, traveling with pets, hygiene, connectivity, the Nomadic Anchor (family, guilt & connection), cooking, route planning, wardrobe
Plus: Resources & Links, a 60+ term Glossary, and the About the Author section.
Each chapter includes checklists, worksheets, comparison tables, and cross-references — built to be used, not just read. Write in the margins. Check off the checklists. Update the worksheets as your situation evolves.
Format: Physical product — 250 pages, professionally printed, 3-hole punched. Shipping included to US addresses. A binder shopping list with recommended supplies is included with your order.
