A YOUNG woman has revealed that she lives in a van and doesn’t pay a single penny in rent.
Not only this, but for Rosie, a cliff jump instructor and yoga teacher from the UK , her water and electricity is also free.
And that’s not all, as Rosie, who is also an artist, writer and traveller , explained that a £40 gas bottle lasts her and her boyfriend an entire year – yes, you heard that correctly.
Eager to open up on her very “ cheap ” way of living , the Cornwall -based content creator took to social media to share a breakdown of her affordable living costs .
The youngster, who lives in a Renault Trafic LWB, which she claimed is the “perfect” size, claimed that she only needs to work 15 hours a week to fund her life on the road.
Rosie explained that her van , which she has named Remy, cost her £3,500 to buy initially, but now costs her £0 in rent.
Although she doesn’t have to pay rent , Rosie’s insurance was £800 for the year and road tax set her back £300 for 12 months.
But despite these costs, Rosie said: “A gas bottle for the year costs me £40, water and electric is free.”
When it comes to Rosie’s food costs, she shops in Aldi and spends around £30 a week on groceries for her and her partner.
She acknowledged that her man pays for the two of them to go for a meal out every now and then, and also occasionally buys them snacks.
Where petrol is concerned, Rosie explained: “Depending on where I go it varies between £20 to £100 a week for fuel.”
While a full tank of diesel is £120, which lasts Rosie “nearly 800 miles on long trips,” she added: “Usually I am only driving to work, so it averages about £40 a week for fuel.”
In total, Rosie spends just £70 a week in total on living costs, as she continued: “This has meant I only need to earn £150 a week to keep my bank balance stable.”
Not only is Rosie now able to work less to fund her lifestyle, but this also means she now has “so much time” to go surfing and focus on her health and fitness .
The Rise Of Van Life
The rise of van life began during the pandemic in 2020. With no one able to leave the country, staycations became popular for many say camping blog venturecampers .
On top of that, the rising cost of renting a house has put many off doing so, especially when wages have failed to keep up with the cost of living crisis.
Although it has gained popularity again, many people opted for van life in the 60s and 70s.
Social media users react
Rosie’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ offline.and.outdoors , has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 72,200 views.
Not only this, but it’s also amassed 7,041 likes and 82 comments.
This looks like an absolute dream
TikTok user
Social media users were gobsmacked by Rosie’s “dream” lifestyle and many raced to the comments to express this.
One person said: “Wow. This is beautiful! It’s great to see that this is a viable option, what a life!”
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 to 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 stop in certain locations, particularly at night-time.
Check the The Highway Code guide for guidance.
Another added: “This looks like an absolute dream.”
A third commented: “Wow I love this!!”
Meanwhile, others were eager to know more about her van life, as one user asked: “What’re you doing for electricity?”
To this, Rosie replied and confirmed: “Currently I don’t have any in the van, just charge my phone at work or on drives to places. But I’m planning on getting some solar panels and a power bank soon!”
I only need to earn £150 a week to keep my bank balance stable
Rosie
As well as this, another user wondered: “How is water free?”
In response, Rosie shared: “There’s a bunch of free fill up taps in the town I live near.”
Not only this, but one person questioned: “Did you covert the van yourself?”
Rosie wrote back and highlighted: “I built my own kitchen from old pallet wood , but the rest was done by the previous owner.”
