I live in a van so I don’t pay any rent or bills – yes I have to wash in a river and forage for food, but it’s worth it
A COUPLE have revealed that they live in a van and as a result, don’t have to pay any rent or bills.
The pair describe themselves as “free spirits”, who are currently exploring the “wilder side” of Europe in their self-built campervan.
Laura and Aaron converted the van from scratch into a funky Hobbit-house on wheels and now live their dream “fairycore” life.
The adventurous couple, who are both artists, explained that they saved up £10,000 in 18 months between them and were able to buy and convert the van and do a six month trip.
But now, the pair have shared the affordability of their lifestyle, as they revealed that to save cash, they spend time foraging for food.
Not only this, but their van doesn’t have a shower, so they wash in rivers too.
Posting on social media, the couple shared a short clip of their stylish van and penned: “POV: You drive far far away to the mountains to live simply in your campervan with no rent or bills to pay, spending your days foraging for food and bathing in rivers.”
The couple, who recommend off grid living, have shared a close-up look inside their unique home online.
Laura explained: “We wanted our van to feel like a cabin inside and used all upcycled and second-hand materials.
“Because of this, our conversion was super cheap and it only cost us $1,500 [£1,100].”
Their “tiny kitchen” has “loads of room for ingredients”, and Aaron explained that to get running water, they simply press a foot pump that is under their sink.
They have a slide out gas stove so that they can cook outside in nature and have a solar panel on the roof.
The roof of the orange van has been covered with wooden panels placed diagonally to give the home an interesting and unique appearance.
The kitchen area continues the natural wooden theme, and has potted plants and wicker baskets flooding the space, as well as large windows allowing for plenty of natural light.
Is it legal to live in a van?
IF you are looking to live in a van to save money or travel, you'll be pleased to know that there are no UK laws stopping you.
However, you must ensure your vehicle has passed its MOT and is fully road legal.
There could also be restrictions on where you can park up and sleep in your van.
For example, local authorities place restrictions on certain streets or lay-bys, and you could be fined if you spend the night there.
It could also be unsafe to spend the night in some locations (particularly at night time).
Check the The Highway Code guide for guidance.
Shelving and storage space cover the area above the windows and are filled with blankets, jars and other random home objects.
Even the driver and passenger area of the vehicle have been completely transformed with wooden features, a pink floral wreath and a long stick across the dashboard.
It’s a fraction of what we used to spend renting in cities
Laura and Aaron
SOCIAL MEDIA USERS REACT
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @parkingonthewildside, has clearly left many very impressed, as it has quickly racked up a jaw-dropping 785,000 views.
Social media users were open-mouthed at the couple’s lifestyle and many took to the comments to express this.
The dream
TikTok user
One person said: “I WANT THIS LIFE SO BAD.”
Another added: “This is literally all I want.”
A third commented: “I want this to be my future.”
Whilst someone else simply penned: “The dream.”
At the same time, one user asked: “What about car insurance or the phone bill?”
To this, Laura and Aaron replied: “Yeah we do have to pay those but it’s a fraction of what we used to spend renting in cities.”
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