7 Ways to Save Money on Your Skoolie Conversion

Is there a better feeling than finding a great deal while in the middle of a massive project?

Brandi and I have been converting an old school bus into our dream home since May 2021. We definitely had a far more ambitious timeline for completely finishing the project (“Can we finish it in four months? Maybe, but definitely no more than six months!”). Now going on eight months into our project, we have long since adjusted our expectations for when our skoolie SHOULD be completed. Instead, we have shifted our focus towards achieving two goals: staying within our budget and building our home with intentionality in every decision we make.

There are seven primary ways that we save money on our skoolie build. Adherence to these seven methods has allowed us to NOT pay full price for over 80% of all the items purchased for our build. 

Here is how we have done it:

1)  Slow Down

As mentioned above we had grandiose visions of a fast build process. Fast conversions are incredibly appealing - you get to travel and live the life of your dreams in the blink of an eye! Who doesn’t want that? 

There are tradeoffs with flying through a tiny home build, and chief among them are increased materials costs. You don’t have time to scour the ends of the Internet for the best deals when you have a strict deadline for when your bus must be completed. You are stuck with paying full price for most materials from Amazon or your local big box hardware store. 

Whenever possible it is always best to slow down and relax your strict deadlines for conversion completion. This allows you the time and space to consider your options, choose the best route, and buy materials that have been carefully curated to deliver the most bang for your buck.

2) Pick a mechanically sound vehicle to convert

This step is incredibly important! Take your time when perusing the bus market and wait for the right bus to come to you. It will come! Similar to our previous step, the more time you have, the more ability you have to seek out the perfect bus for your needs. 

There are a ton of things to consider when it comes to finding the perfect bus for you. How much interior space do you need for your home? Do you want a larger bus with more space or a smaller bus that is easier to drive and park? How fast do you want to travel? Do you prefer the city or remote destinations? Will you be full-time or part-time living in your rig? How many people will be living in the space? These are just a few of the many lifestyle questions to ponder when looking for rigs. 

An equally extensive list of questions exists when it comes to inspecting the mechanics of a bus. If you are not mechanically inclined, that is ok! If you find a bus or van you want to view, make sure to bring a trusted mechanic who is familiar with the type of engine you are looking at. There are also a ton of amazing resources online to help you know what to look for when inspecting a bus you are interested in. We will put links to some of our favorite resources at the end of this post, so don’t forget to check them out!

3) Buy a small bus (if it suits your needs!) 

They are usually more expensive upfront than larger buses, but parts are more affordable and more readily accessible than those in larger buses. A smaller bus has less square footage and will require fewer building materials.

4) Always be on the hunt for deals!

The next great deal is always waiting to be found! Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are two of our favorite online platforms for finding bargains; Facebook Marketplace in particular has been a godsend for our build! Routinely scouring these online marketplaces for items you can use in your bus will yield great results. We keep a list of the things we actually need for our conversion near the computer and hunt for them pretty frequently online. The great thing about Facebook Marketplace especially, is that it tailors its suggestions for you the more you use it. 

Another good option is reseller/overstock warehouses. These venues often buy excess products from local retailers and sell them to the general public at heavily discounted rates. We found a deals warehouse local to us by typing “Deals” into the search bar on Facebook. Our particular warehouse is called “Addicted2Deals” and is located in Bristol, WI. It has saved us so much money! 

Habitat for Humanity Restores are also a must-visit when converting a vehicle!

5) Ask your community for help

Family, friends, neighbors, local groups you belong to, friends of friends, strangers - you will be amazed by how many people will show up if you ask! The communities you belong to are an invaluable resource in so many facets of a conversion process. Whether it is lending you tools, offering advice on different projects, donating their time to help you with projects - you have more people in your corner than you realize!

6) Buy the essentials first

It is SO tempting to buy wallpaper, tile, appliances, art, and all the other shiny things once you have your bus. Don’t do it! Buy what is absolutely necessary first - you can always add in the supporting pieces later. This gives you the freedom to ensure that your bus has a solid foundation to build upon and allows you the ability to run all the expensive systems that turn your bus or van from a vehicle into a home.

7) DIY your Plumbing and Electrical Systems 

I know. It is so tempting to outsource all the work to an electrician and plumber and wash your hands of the headache entirely. In the long run, you will be much better off by learning how to install these systems yourself, and here’s why.

First, you will save a ton of money by installing it yourself and not paying for someone to install the entire system over many hours of work. *Disclaimer: do have a professional double-check your work once you have installed it to make sure that everything is safe. You don’t want electrical fires to happen in your home!*

Second, you are going to be the one responsible for maintaining your systems on the road. When something breaks, you are the best person you have to fix the problem! The more that you know about your system, the more capable you will be to solve any issues that will inevitably arise on the road. You save yourself time and money by having the knowledge and capacity to fix anything in your home. 

Let us know in the comments what tips you have for saving money on an adventure rig conversion! 

Check out the links below to see some of our favorite bus conversion resources!

Tips & TricksBrandi JordanComment