I bought a retro caravan via Facebook and transformed it with Temu & B&M bargains
A WOMAN has revealed she bought an old caravan through Facebook Marketplace and completely renovated it despite her limited budget.
Ebony Poole, a mum from the UK, explained how she transformed her once drab, retro house on wheels into a fantastic home with the help of bargains from B&M, Dunelm and Temu.
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The DIY enthusiast posted a before and after look at her caravan on social media, which surprised many.
She confirmed that not only had she re-upholstered the chairs with tarpaulins, but she had also used a bowl costing just £4 as a wash basin.
In a clip shared online, the clever mum wrote: “Join us on our caravan renovation journey.”
The content creator gave her followers an up-close look inside the dilapidated caravan, before the renovation.
Read more stories about the caravan
It had red chairs, brown cabinets, a gray floor and was in need of modernization.
But the mother then got to work and in another fragment gave a glimpse of the impressive transformation of her caravan, which amazed many people.
What was once very dated has been given a new lease of life and is now an incredibly modern and fresh space.
It is wonderfully light with trendy cream-coloured sofas and dark blue paint has been used to give the small house extra style.
Not only has the floor been replaced, the kitchen has also been renovated.
Ebony told Fabulous about her caravan renovation, explaining: “We found our [caravan] on Facebook Marketplace and we wanted something that belonged.
“I re-upholstered the seats with dust cloths and that cost £90.
“We bought a bowl from B&M for £4 and used it as our kitchen sink as we wanted something posh but still within our budget.
Eight Simple DIY Tips and Tricks
The Ultimate Guide for Homeowners and Renters:
“I bought wallpaper from Temu [and] All the cabinet handles were from Temu.
“Our floor was a leftover piece from a carpet shop for £40 and we wrapped the worktops/tables with DC-Fix from B&M.”
What’s more, the savvy saver said that to save money, she had painted her blinds and bought discounted items from Dunelm.
We still have a bit to do, but we love it
Ebony Poole
She said: “We painted the blinds with leftover French paint from the cabinets to give them a freshen up.
“We also had a lot of things from the Dunelm bargain basket, like the jungle themed wallpaper – that was £3.80.
How much does it cost to live in a caravan?
LIVING in a caravan can be an economical and flexible lifestyle choice in the UK. Here is a breakdown of the costs involved:
Initial costs
- Caravan Purchase: £8,000 – £40,000 (depending on size, age and condition)
- Caravan insurance: £200 – £800 per year
Ongoing monthly costs
- Pitch costs: £150 – £600 (varies by location and facilities)
- Utilities (electricity, gas, water): €40 – €120
- Maintenance and repairs: €20 – €80
- Internet and TV: €20 – €50
- Gas for heating/cooking: €15 – €40
Other potential costs
- Waste removal costs: €8 – €25
- Transport costs (when moving): Variable, depending on the distance
- Optional extras (awning, solar panels, etc.): £400 – £1,600 (one-off)
Sample monthly budget
- Pitch costs: €400
- Utilities: €80
- Maintenance and repairs: €40
- Internet and TV: €40
- Gas for heating/cooking: €25
- Total: €585
Annual estimated costs
- Total monthly costs: £585 x 12 = £7,020
- Insurance: €500
- Maintenance and repairs: €480
- Total annual costs: €8,000
Tips to save
- Rates for pitches outside high season: Look for lower rates outside of peak season.
- Performing maintenance yourself: Carry out minor repairs yourself.
- Energy efficiency: Invest in solar panels to reduce energy costs.
Although the initial costs of setting up can be significant, the ongoing costs of living in a caravan are relatively low, making it a viable option for those looking for an affordable and mobile lifestyle in the UK.
“We removed the oven and fridge as we didn’t want to use gas in the caravan so we bought a fridge from Facebook Marketplace which cost £30.
“It’s a fridge for the whole family. As a family of five, we thought the original fridge that comes with a caravan wouldn’t be big enough to fit in.
Why Caravan Holidays Are So Underrated
CARAVAN park holidays are a quintessentially British phenomenon.
And with the cost of living crisis having a major impact on British wallets, more and more people are turning to the UK economy for an affordable holiday.
Josie O’Brien, Senior Digital Writer at Fabulous, explains why she believes caravan holidays are seriously underrated…
WHEN I was little, my mother used to collect the £9.50 holiday vouchers from The Sun.
She used them to book a few nights at a caravan park during the school holidays.
As an adult I know how easy a simple caravan holiday is.
No hassle with passports, no baggage limits and no average hotel breakfast with old bread and grey eggs.
As an adult, I still love caravan holidays.
In a world where we do everything for Instagram, a caravan park takes you back to basics.
There is no obligation to dress up, no stress about taking a million scenic excursions in one week and I don’t get upset as easily in tourist attractions as I do abroad.
I like to go to caravan parks on the coast and enjoy walking along the beach promenade.
What I like most are the fresh mussels, the ice cream and the classic pubs where you can have a drink in the afternoon.
And then of course there are the costs.
Staying in a caravan is definitely a lot cheaper than my international travels.
Because I don’t have expensive hotel bills and I can cook for myself, I spend hundreds of euros less than I would abroad.
I have had some of my best and most relaxing holidays in caravans, I may buy one of my own someday.
“We just use our air fryer when we go out because we felt it was a waste of cupboard space.”
The DIY enthusiast continued: “We built a new kitchen. The wood was coping boards, which made it cheaper and they were also more flexible. We got this from a timber merchant and it cost about £40.”
SOCIAL MEDIA USERS BEAM
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ebonypoolehas clearly come as a surprise to many, as social media users responded en masse to the comments, praising the caravan’s renovation.
Someone said, “Awesome, I love it.”
You did a fantastic job! Well done, it’s beautiful
TikTok user
Another added: “Oh my god I love this!”
A third commented: “It’s beautiful.”
While someone else wrote: “These are goals.”
At the same time, another beamed: “Wow…you did a fantastic job! Well done, it’s beautiful.”
And that’s not all, one DIY enthusiast wrote: “We bought our first bus today and this gives me BIG INSPIRATION!!!”
“Beautiful work!!! Well done.”
To which Ebony responded, writing, “We still have a lot to do but thank you, we love it.”
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