Savvy couple spend less than £10 a day travelling country full time in a van
A couple have revealed how they ditched city life to live in a van - with the move saving them hundreds of pounds a month.
Kennedy Lacy and partner Michael Shaw's journey began four years ago when the pair bought a converted Volkswagen transporter and began going on weekends away.
The couple, from Liverpool, fell in love with life on the road and decided to move into their new van permanently two years ago.
Before starting life in their four-wheeled home, the couple were living in a house with family members.
Now they spend their days travelling all around the UK in their motor home, saving hundreds of pounds on bills, with their monthly outgoings totalling between £230-£450, depending on petrol usage.
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The couple moved into the van permantantly two years ago (Jam Press)On the cheaper months they spend significantly less than £10 a day, which is more than three times less than the average price of a two-bed rental in Liverpool (£789 a month).
They get their electricity free from solar panels and water from campsites or the rain at no cost.
Each month the couple fork out between £80 and £300 on petrol, £20 on laundry, and £100 on treats.
"(Doing this) has helped save hundreds of pounds a month - with the rising costs of rent it's a great alternative to living a cheaper life," Kennedy, 26, said.
"No two days are the same, at first it feels like a big holiday until you realise it's a lifestyle so you slow down to enjoy the moments knowing you don't have a flight to catch in a few days.
"In the summer we love kayaking and paddle boarding. We also go wild swimming and cliff jumping.
Kennedy says travelling full time helps you slow down and enjoy the sights (Jam Press)
The duo manage to keep costs low on the road (Jam Press)"In the winter we love climbing up snowy mountains and having campfires under the stars.
"It's great just going round the different shops and villages to have a nose to."
The adventurous couple are saving hundreds on their bills by staying in campsites, with their biggest expense being petrol.
Kennedy said: "Electricity is free as we run off solar panels and a split charge, this is basically what runs from the engine battery to our three leisure batteries.
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"We have a 5kg Calor gas tank which costs £20 to refill.
"As of yet we have not changed it since September and it's still going strong. I would say we go through three a year.
"We spend between £80 - £300 a month on petrol depending on how much we're moving around.
"For example, when we lived down in Cornwall, everything was close knit and easy to get to.
They did their van up by watching videos online (Jam Press)
They've travelled across the country (Jam Press)"It was no more than an hour's drive to go somewhere new so we spent around £80 a month.
"However, when we were in Scotland which is a much bigger place it would cost us around £300 for a round trip and of course the petrol prices are going up."
The couple also work on the road to help cover their expenses, with Kennedy working as a travel influencer as well as picking up odd jobs.
She said: "I love seeing new places and meeting new people and I enjoy getting seasonal jobs in different parts of the UK.
"I recently worked in an ice cream hut on the beach of Crantock in Newquay, Cornwall."
So far, the couple have set up camp in forests, mountains farms and sometimes even pubs - but they never stay in the same place for more than four months.
On why they decided to move into the van, Kennedy said: "We were fed up and needed a huge change.
"Before van life, I was very much a city girl doing the same thing every weekend and going out to town.
"Mick was struggling with his mental health from a result of a tragic incident.
"We started our journey off by going away in our old van a Volkswagen T5 on weekends and immediately loved it and moved in.
They now described themselves as full time van-lifers (Jam Press)"Now four years down the line, we are full times van lifers living in our new self-converted transit van with our adventure dog, Buddy.
"One of the main factors for this lifestyle is that it massively helps with Mick's mental health since we are out here in nature.
"We love everything from nature walks to urban exploring and visiting different towns to see what's on offer."
Although they love what van life has to offer, such as meeting new people every day and watching the stars at night, there are some things they miss about home life.
Kennedy said: "We miss day-to-day things like being able to get in the bath and the use of a washing machine and shower all the time.
"Also being able to have down time, as with life on the road you're always moving, so it can wear you out at times.
"It's challenging yet so rewarding."
In 2021, Kennedy and Michael bought a new van, a Ford Transit, and decided to covert it themselves with very little experience.
However with the help of YouTube and fellow 'van lifers', the pair managed to pull off their transformation, costing them less than £3,500.
The couple are now setting their sights on travelling Europe in their motor home.
Kennedy added: "Our plans are to travel all over but we prefer not setting a plan or routine as we love to live wild and free.
"It's the best way and who knows where we will end up."
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