We left our home to live permanently in a camper – now we no longer pay rent
A COUPLE have revealed they have left their home to live permanently in a camper van and are now not paying rent.
Craig and Victoria travel across the US in their RV and share how much their adventurous lifestyle costs.
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The couple has already paid off the camper in full and therefore does not have to pay any monthly costs.
They said that they don’t often park their camper on campsites, but just on the road, which saves them a lot of money.
However, they sometimes have to use campsites, on which they spend an average of £268.
To get internet in their van, Craig and Victoria use Starlink, which costs them around £145 a month.
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There is no washing machine in their van, but a visit to the launderette costs them just £5 a month.
The couple still pay a small fee of £7 for emptying their waste tanks and filling their water tank, although sometimes they can do this for free.
To keep themselves entertained during their travels, Craig and Victoria enjoy many free activities, such as hiking and rock climbing.
However, they sometimes spend money on museums and other activities, which costs them an average of £23.69 per month.
One of the biggest expenses for the duo is fuel, which costs them a whopping £764 a month.
However, if they decide to stay in one place for a while, they can save a lot on fuel.
Living in an RV is a great way to save money for a home while still remaining independent.
As the cost of living continues to rise, more adults are finding it difficult to afford a home and are choosing to stay in their family home longer.
The 2021 census found that more than half of people aged 23 and under still live with their parents.
Is it legal to live in a van?
IF you want to live in a van to save money or to travel, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are no laws in the UK that stop you.
However, you do need to ensure that your vehicle has passed its MOT and is fully road legal.
There may also be restrictions on where you can park your van to sleep.
For example, local authorities impose restrictions on certain streets or parking lots and you may be fined if you spend the night there.
It can also be dangerous to stop in certain places, especially at night.
Check the The guide to traffic rules for guidance.
The average price of a house in the UK was £285,000 in March 2023. This has now risen to a whopping £735,254. For many, this is unaffordable.
Research by the Resolution Foundation also shows that the average deposit for a first home buyer has tripled: from 5 percent of the house price in 1989 to 15 percent in 2019.
This means that buyers have to save for much longer and spend a larger percentage of their income to purchase a home.
Recent research by property website Zoopla found that 42 percent of adults under 40 who do not yet own a home have given up their current home because of the astronomical costs associated with buying a house.
This included 38 per cent of people earning more than £60,000 (almost double the average UK salary).
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