A married couple are enjoying savings of around £1,400 a month after switching to living and working from a campervan.
They converted a minibus into a campervan, which suits their remote working and their passion for travel.
Robert and Mariona Bolohan, aged 28 and 26 respectively, decided to switch up their accommodation after they couldn’t buy a house, despite having a £40,000 deposit.
Robert told CashLady.com: “The idea was inspired by people on social media trying #VanLife during the pandemic. We thought it could really suit our lifestyle, as we work remotely and love to travel.”
They make “significant” savings each month on rent and energy costs and the fuel costs are “pretty cheap” at the moment.
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The couple previously paid some £900 a month on rent, along with £150 on council tax and £200 on energy bills.
Their previous expenses added up to around £1,800 a month which have now all gone. They pay around £400 each month on fuel, meaning they save some £1,400 a month in total.
Robert and Mariona bought the minibus in April 2022 and spent eight months converting the vehicle into a fully electric, off-grid campervan.
They decided to purchase a minibus over a normal van as they tend to be bigger, selling their car so they could invest the money in the van.
Robert said: “There was a lot of work which needed to be done, and we did almost all of it ourselves rather than paying for someone else to do it.
“We had to ensure the vehicle was in order mechanically, fixing everything and then making sure there was no rust.
“Then we rust-proofed and soundproofed it and made sure the insulation was sufficient. Then we added plumbing and electricity, built the walls and the furniture, and added the final homely touches.”
They added solar panels and batteries so the vehicle never runs out of power. They also tried to make savings during the redesign process.
Robert explained: “Thorough research was key to making sure we got the best quality items for our money, and we often bought in bulk where we could, to cut costs.”
Since moving into the van in December last year, the thrifty couple have saved around £7,000 in expenses.
They are also cutting their costs as they have a more minimalist lifestyle given the limited space in the van.
They use free parking whenever they can and shop at local markets for groceries, which are often cheaper than the supermarkets.
The couple said that although the minibus is smaller than their previous home, it feels “huge” because they can travel around wherever they want.
Robert said: “The move hasn’t impacted anything with our jobs as we have been running our business remotely for the past eight years anyway.”
The campervan has Wi-Fi and the couple say being able to go out and explore after work has helped them avoid burnout from their work.
Their goal is to save up to buy a house in the UK or Spain. Robert said: “We’ve been working non-stop for ten years, and even though we are still working, moving into a van has changed our whole lifestyle in incomprehensible ways and will allow us to visit places where we may want to live one day.
“When the time is right, we can then sell the van and upgrade to a house.”
