Let me tell you about Heath and Alyssa Padgett. They’ve been living full-time in an RV, making a living, and sharing their journey online. They run a blog at HeathandAlyssa.com, and I’m a big fan. In fact, I’ve been on their podcast, and we’re friends.
Back in 2014, they quit their jobs, bought a motorhome, and embarked on a year-long road trip across the U.S. They worked jobs in all 50 states for a documentary they created called Hourly America. After a year of RV living, they realized it was the lifestyle for them. They paid off a lot of debt, built a video production business, and still love RV life.
This extraordinary couple has been featured on major platforms like CNN, CBS, People Magazine, Business Insider, and Forbes.
I gathered some questions from my readers to ask Heath and Alyssa about their full-time RV lifestyle. Here’s how they manage to live in an RV while building a successful business.
**Tell me your story. Who are you and what do you do?**
Alyssa: After Heath proposed, we wanted to start our marriage in a unique way. We both wanted to quit our jobs and escape the Texas heat. We thought about living in different states like California, Oregon, Colorado, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Initially, we planned to rent Airbnbs for a month in each place to see how we liked them. But then I realized we’d be driving across the country and missing out on so many states. So, I suggested we visit all 50 states for our honeymoon instead. Heath agreed, and we started planning. We chose an RV because it was the most cost-effective way to travel, and I wasn’t keen on spending my first year of marriage camping in tents.
Heath: We didn’t have a lot of savings, so we knew we had to make money while traveling. With some advice from a mentor, I came up with the idea to work a job in each state. Alyssa wasn’t thrilled about me working during our honeymoon, but when I found an online job to sponsor the project, she was on board. They paid us $1,000 a month for seven months in exchange for blog posts about each job and provided us with camera equipment to film a documentary, which was something I always wanted to do. Alyssa joined me at each job and helped film for our documentary, Hourly America.
**Did both of you want to switch to RVing, or was one of you the driving force?**
Heath: We both thought traveling in an RV sounded cool. Both our grandparents had RVs, but we didn’t know much about the lifestyle. RVing seemed like the most economical and fun way to travel the country. We bought our first RV for $11,500, did a $500 renovation, and sold it 18 months and 20,000 miles later for $10,000. Not bad for taking it to the lower 48 states.
**Can you tell my readers about the documentary you created?**
Heath: The idea was to work a job in all 50 states. I reached out to Snagajob, an online job board, for help finding jobs across the country. They agreed to sponsor us and provided the equipment to film my experiences. We had no film experience and struggled initially, but as we met more people, we found a common story of individuals leaving traditional jobs for more fulfilling hourly work. This storyline resonated with us. You can watch our documentary on our Facebook page. It features some of the hourly workers who inspired us and shared what a “real job” means to them.
**What were some big obstacles you had to overcome?**
Alyssa: The hardest part was getting people to take me seriously. Every time Heath started a new job, we had to explain the film, and people often dismissed my role. It felt like they didn’t see me as part of the team. After finishing the film, we merged our blogs and branded everything as Heath & Alyssa to emphasize our partnership.
Heath: Telling Alyssa’s parents was scary. I wanted them to know I could take care of her. We also had to overcome fears of failure, like running out of money or breaking down in the RV. The first year on the road forced us to find comfort in uncomfortable situations, but it also brought many great adventures.
**Can you tell me about your RV?**
Alyssa: We have a 2016 Winnebago Brave 31C. It’s the 50th-anniversary model, inspired by the original Brave. We chose it because it has a king-size bed, which is rare for an RV. It’s 33 feet long and has all the amenities we need.
Heath: It’s a great size for two people working inside. We chose it so we could have separate workspaces. It has multiple workstations, which is important since we work full-time in the RV.
**What’s an average day like for you?**
Alyssa: Heath brings me coffee in bed.
Heath: I wake up around six, make coffee, read, journal, and write my to-do list. Our days are similar to most people’s, but we also have days where we drive long distances or explore national parks. Most days are standard workdays in or around our RV.
Alyssa: We try to spend a lot of time outside. Depending on the campground, we go for daily walks, bike rides, or kayaking. I edit video content, and we recently started a YouTube channel to get us out of the RV more.
**Do you plan on having children? If so, will you continue RV life?**
Alyssa: We plan to start a family after five years of marriage, and we’re about to celebrate our third anniversary. We’re open to having kids in the RV. We want to roadschool our kids, even if we eventually live in a house.
**How do you make a living while RVing full-time?**
Alyssa: In September 2014, our bank account hit $68. Heath found a consulting gig, which led to us filming courses for clients. This kickstarted our video production company. We also blog, run a podcast, and recently started a vlog. Michelle’s course helped us learn how to make money from our website, and we’ve seen significant growth in our affiliate income.
Heath: In addition to video production, sponsored content, and affiliate income, I started a software company called CampgroundBooking.com. It’s not profitable yet but takes up a lot of time.
**How do you save money RVing and in everyday life?**
Alyssa: I’ve always been a saver, and living in an RV means we get rid of something old when we buy something new. We save money by cooking all our meals and rarely eating out.
Heath: We’ve saved a lot by bartering services. We write blog posts and produce videos for campgrounds in exchange for free rent. This has significantly cut down our lodging expenses.
**What is your favorite thing about being a nomad and not having a “normal” home?**
Alyssa: Never seeing the same thing twice. The landscapes across the country are incredibly diverse. We’ve visited many national parks and plan to visit all 59 together.
Heath: The freedom. This lifestyle offers a lot of flexibility in how we spend our time, who we hang out with, and what projects we work on. After working in an office, I can’t imagine going back to that environment.
**Do you think you’ll ever live in a more traditional home in the future?**
Alyssa: Absolutely. I look forward to having a dishwasher and endless hot water, but that’s a few years off. We want to RV across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand first.
Heath: Yes, but we’ll definitely have RV hookups for friends to visit.
**What has been most challenging and rewarding?**
Alyssa: Spending 100% of our time within ten feet of each other. We’ve experienced so much life together, which has brought us closer but also sparked some arguments.
Heath: Working together can be stressful, and it’s hard to detach from work. We have to be intentional about having quality time where we aren’t talking about work.
**What has been your favorite place to visit in your RV so far?**
Alyssa: The road to Alaska. RVing across Canada into Alaska was a humbling and beautiful experience.
Heath: The Tetons in Wyoming. The mountains are majestic, and there are great hiking and kayaking spots. Plus, Jackson is a cool town.
**What three pieces of advice would you give to someone starting a similar journey?**
1. Embrace the unknown as an opportunity to grow. The unknown offers meaningful life experiences and adventures.
2. Trust your gut and don’t rely too much on roadmaps. While it’s helpful to learn from others, it’s important to follow your own path.
3. Focus on extending your financial runway. Constantly find ways to bring in more money and decrease expenses to keep living this lifestyle.
Are you interested in living in an RV full-time or traveling more? What other questions do you have?