We bought a 30-year-old caravan riddled with damp – now we’re making it our dream home for £500
A COUPLE have revealed how they are turning a 30-year-old, damp-riddled caravan into their dream tiny home for just £500.
Hayley Rubery and her partner Ben found their future pad on Facebook Marketplace, with a hefty discount thanks to the mould inside.
The pair were looking to enjoy the freedom of van life without sinking upwards of £30k into an expensive camper conversion.
Having bought the van for just £500, bargained down from £1,500, they have now limited themselves to another £500 to do it up, for a total £1,000 budget.
Hayley, an influencer from Norwich, Norfolk, said: “We’ve always loved the idea of van life.
“It’s a 30-year-old caravan…We expected a bit of damp, we didn’t let it put us off.
“We’re having to do it quite slowly because of the cost of everything.”
The couple have used all sorts of cheap hacks to remodel the van so far.
They are doing all the work themselves to keep costs down, starting by reinsulating the entire thing to prevent more damp.
After that, they removed the damp wood and bought some new plywood from a timber yard at £5 a piece.
Cost-cutters like stick-on tiles and leftover paint meant the kitchen could be renovated for just £60, while £20 vinyl flooring will be laid down once the work is complete.
Hayley added: “Everything we could keep, we have kept.
“We only replaced what we had to.
“It’s surprising what a difference you can make on a small budget.
“I’ve just been winging it.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the whole thing finished.
“Caravans get a bad reputation sometimes but I don’t think it’s a waste of money.”
She and Ben hope to have the entire project finished in time for a road trip to Scotland in August.
Finishing touches include a mini projector and some new furniture to give the van a “country vibe”.
It comes after a rare Ford dubbed the “most important in history” by Jeremy Clarkson went up for sale at an eye-watering price.