Nicole Keefe, 27, stated he has escaped from the UK rental market
A 27 -year -old girl who was ‘struggling to pay the lease’ has escaped a lifetime of wheels together with her beloved canine, and says she pays solely £ 650 monthly.
Nicole Keefe had incessantly moved and, in 2023, stated she felt “trapped” and “depressing” and doubted that he would as soon as purchase a home whereas juggling with a 9-5 job as a trend photographer.
Her life took a flip when her automobile was discarded in September of the identical yr, which led her to purchase a Ford Transit transformed van of £ eight,500. This created a brand new house for her and her Cross Beagle-Petit Griffon sells, McCartney, named for a photographer and activist Linda McCartney.
Nicole parked close to his office and traveled by way of the UK on weekends till he obtained a cleansing work in a Dorset camp, which started his life in full -time vans.
Since then, he has develop into an impartial individual as a photographer, creator of content material for corporations and social media supervisor, exploring the nation with McCartney at his facet, from Scotland to northern Wales.
Nicole stated: “I spend round £ 650 monthly, that’s lower than I spent on lease and now I’ve extra choices on what expense my cash.
“I used to stay month by month, I could not have a social life and I could not merely purchase something.
“McCartney could be very completely happy to stay within the truck with me, he loves him, and I’ve develop into the very best model of myself.
“I’ve extra confidence and I really feel so free however I settled … I am unable to actually see myself returning to a piece of 9-5”.
Over time, Nicole has lived in 18 completely different homes, transferring incessantly after I was a toddler, after which as a result of “issues are usually not going effectively” with the companions in maturity.
Because of this, she is used to being transferring, and Van Life “has all the time been in (his) radar” due to social networks.
Nonetheless, he ended “following a typical path”, acquiring a title at Coventry College from 2016 to 2020 after which working full time as a photographer in a trend research in Washington, Tyne and Put on.
After three years on paper, Nicole felt “not fulfilled and easily depressing.”
Regardless of having “labored arduous and labored (his), he was nonetheless struggling to pay for lease and felt that” nearly by no means “might personal a home.
Virtually on the similar time, her automobile was canceled, which led her to purchase a truck to stay. In September 2023, he purchased a Ford Transit became Fb Market for round £ eight,500.
She stated: “All the pieces was very minimalist … I stored the bottom the identical. There’s a kitchen space, sink, mattress, photo voltaic panels and added a fridge, a gasoline camp plate and air fryer and obtained a brand new mattress.
“I did slightly extra including some leopard print and easily adorning it over time.”
Whereas on the lookout for distant work, he stayed at his 9-5, he lived within the truck, parked in a close-by parking zone and was touring by way of the nation on weekends.
He did this for 9 months together with his canine, McCartney, whereas most of his household thought he was “slightly loopy” and others had been “confused however supportive.”
In June 2024, he discovered a tenting work of the camp in a Fb group for Nomads.
After a digital interview, he was supplied the position an hour later, so he resigned from his work and moved to Dorset two weeks later.
He labored there for 3 months and used his weekends to discover the southern coast.
“I used to be actually beautiful, as a result of I went from feeling that I could not escape, and I felt actually trapped,” Nicole added.
At first, he fought with a restricted human interplay, since “he hated (his) personal firm,” however he progressively obtained used to going to espresso retailers alone and ended up “having fun with being alone.”
He stays in touch with family and friends, often faceting his lengthy distance associate, and is very grateful for his canine’s firm.
“Once I was transferring house on a regular basis, I all the time took McCartney for one or two months to ascertain himself,” he defined.
“I might cry and bark in the event that they left him alone at house, however he obtained used to the truck in two days and I believe he loves his routine.”
When she leaves it alone within the truck, she checks it often and makes use of a steering wheel block.
After three months in Dorset, Nicole felt she had recovered her “vitality” and was “extra motivated.”
He took a cafeteria work in Winchester whereas constructed his impartial work, changing into a full -time content material creator for corporations, photographer and social media supervisor in December 2024.
Since then, its observe -up underneath the deal with @thevanclub_ has grown, with greater than four,500 followers in Tiktok and about 1,800 on Instagram.
“Since then, I’ve gone wherever I need to go, it is fairly unusual to adapt as a result of I haven’t got to be anyplace the place I must be until I’ve a pictures job,” he stated.
Till now, Nicole has traveled to locations like Snowdonia, Cornwall, Warwickshire, Scotland and the Northeast.
Whereas touring, he parks in 24 -hour parking or on the highway, saying that his transit truck is “fairly discreet” and that he all the time ensures “respecting the house, with out leaving a hint.”
Nicole spends about £ 650 monthly on gas, gasoline, Wi-Fi, health club members and truck reimbursements.
Since they hugged Van Life, Nicole feels safer and says that that is her “favourite model” of herself.
Nicole plans to proceed residing in her truck over the subsequent 4 years and even when she lastly buys a home, she intends to maintain the truck for weekend journeys.
As soon as you possibly can now not drive, it hopes to show it into an workplace at house.
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