My name’s Stephi Lee and I’ve been living on the road, nonstop traveling since October 2017.
I’ve traveled all over the U.S in my 2006 Honda Element, which I converted into a mini-camper fully equipped with a bed, solar shower, cooler and everything I need.
Fulfilling my Passion
Art and social media have allowed me to continue living the lifestyle I want to live– traveling wherever I want, whenever I want.
With YouTube and Instagram, my adventures are my work. I create travel vlogs, photography, and art inspired by the places I explore and the people I meet.
Getting Started
I graduated from Massachusetts College of Art & Design last May with a degree in illustration. I left my home and started living the van life full time with around $10,000 in my bank account, which I had saved from art sales.
I’ve been on the road for 6 months now, and haven’t even spent half that yet. Living the van life has allowed me to save money because I’m not spending it on expensive things like rent. Therefore, I’m able to have more time to focus on my passions.
Working Remotely
I’ve been doing custom drawings and paintings for people since I was 13 years old. After graduating college, I began doing freelance illustration work for magazines and various companies.
I communicate with clients through email and mail out the finished work to their location, so I’m able to work from anywhere. How much money I make depends on how many jobs I’m working on at a time. Some freelance jobs will pay over $1000 for a single piece.
Sponsorships
After a few months of traveling, my Instagram (@stephilee) started to gain popularity and I started a YouTube channel, which now has over 230k subscribers. I vlog my adventures and talk about living on the road, traveling with Cystic Fibrosis, and my outlooks on life.
I’m now able to earn an income through sponsorships and YouTube vlogs, as well as through my online art store and occasional freelance jobs.
Schedule
I spend a couple hours a day working on art, and the rest of the time working on growing my social media. It’s a full time job that never ends, but I love it and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Advice
My advice for anyone looking to pursue a nomadic lifestyle is to follow your passion and your intuition. Save up money before you travel or find a job that you can do on the road.
There are SO many ways to make money online. It’s all about finding what best suits you. Trust your intuition, it will guide you to the places you need to go to make your dream life come true. I did and I’ve never been more happy to wake up and live my life to the fullest every day.