RENT prices can be crippling, so many people are looking towards cheaper alternatives than brick and mortar homes to save some cash.
Steph revealed how she managed to convert a box truck in a cosy home for only £500.
The craftmonger, who sells her creations online, has lived in her blue Mercedes Sprinter Luton with her two rescue dogs, Blue and Sunny, for around three years.
After leaving home, Steph said she’s had a very nomadic lifestyle, and has tried living in a caravan, tent, and a few wagons before buying her current home.
Speaking to YouTube channel Liveration, she said: “I paid about £3,000 for it. The back was empty, so no conversion was done yet. The conversion cost me about £500 tops.
“The thing that cost me the most money was insulation, which was about £250. You have to be a little savvy.”
Steph transformed the truck on a budget and added homely touches such as a pasta machine, writing desk, rocking chair, as well as a sewing machine and spinning wheel for her crafts.
The truck also has a single bed and she uses a sleeping bag for her bedding.
Under the bed is storage for her clothes and crafts, and she prepares her meals in her “little, basic” kitchen on a camping stove.
While she’s made the home snug, she doesn’t have running water and keeps water jugs under the sink.
Meanwhile, her loo is a camping toilet kept in a little wooden box that she constructed for privacy.
Steph insisted: “The whole point of this lifestyle is to live simply.
“Living like this isn’t for everyone, but for me, it’s perfect. I feel free, and I get to live life on my terms. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
She said she grew up living in the countryside and wanted to stay close to family but the rent was “so high that it just wasn’t working.”
Steph claims she is “technically homeless in the eyes of the government” despite “sheltering herself.”
Steph has lived in her box truck for three years[/caption]
She kitted out the inside for £500[/caption]
Many people were impressed with her unusual dwelling, with one saying: “Anyone else noticed that folks living alternative lifestyles seem like some of the nicest people around?”
Another added: “Finally , someone who doesn’t have unlimited conversion money. It’s beautiful and one of a kind.”
And a third commented: “What a wholesome way of 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.
