We gave up normal life for full-time delivery lorry home with 3 under 5s… we get in with step ladder but save £1,000s
A COUPLE who gave up normal life to live in a lorry home with three kids under five have said they have no regrets.
Keira and Richard Reid, originally from Essex, gave up their 9-5s and moved into a van two years ago.
They say it's saving them thousands of pounds a year.
The couple, alongside their three children, documents their day-to-day lives and share it with the world on their social media @touringwiththekids.
The Reids have now sold much of their belongings from their home, and are off on a "big adventure".
The couple said: "We finally sell up after two years living full time on the road.
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"This week we get stuck in with the mammoth task of getting everything sorted in just two weeks because we head off on our next big adventure very soon.
"Opening up the doors of our past has been an interesting one, uncovering all those memories in boxes and trying to sort our way through them all.
"Our life on the road really has become so minimalistic compared to how we used to live."
Keira and Richard said they are now off on their "next adventure".
Two years ago the couple quit their jobs and sold their house to travel the world with their three kids and dog.
The family-of-five, plus chocolate Labrador Charlie, were living in a three-bedroom detached property in Carlisle, Cumbria.
But they sold up, left their marketing and forestry careers behind and called a £16,000 self-converted transit home.
It was significantly cheaper than their old way of life, with monthly fuel and gas costs much lower than their mortgage.
They also saved on utility bills as electricity is "free".
Richard exclusively told The Sun last year: "It is cheaper, absolutely.
"Before we had a mortgage, so each month we were obviously repaying the bank, but now we are debt free.
"We own everything and don't owe anyone any money.
We finally sell up after two years living full time on the road.
"We track our finances so I record every receipt, but it's great because our electricity comes from the van itself.
"When we drive, it charges our batteries, so electricity is essentially free."
The couple recently stayed overnight at the UK's most luxurious motorway service station for £26 - but broke its main rule.
Facilities include 50 "fully serviced" pitches for camper vans and caravans, as well as a toilet block, which includes washing up and laundry points.
There is also a dog walking trail which boasts "absolutely stunning" views, and a restaurant in which children eat for £1 all day, every day.
As they pull up, Keira says: "We aren't just staying in a car park, it actually has it's own campsite, which is pretty cool."
Our life on the road really has become so minimalistic compared to how we used to live
However, the couple are baffled by a sign spotted after they park up.
Keira pans to the sign pitched in the grass alongside the tarmac, which says: "Please don't play on the banks."
Ric says: "Why? Why are they not able to play on the banks for?"
Keira adds: "That is a bit of a killjoy, innit?"
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Later, Ric is seen holding one the children and tells him: "I've got some disappointing news. Read the sign... not allowed to play on the banks."
Keira says: "What do you reckon to that rule, Jack?" And Ric adds: "Say 'rules are for breaking'".
We quit being ‘slaves to society’ to live off-grid
By James Halpin
A COUPLE have told how they have quit being "slaves to society" to live off-grid in a van.
Billie and Steve ditched the rat race to travel the world in their "gyspy wagon" for free.
Billie says that the pair's main motivation for going off-grid is to escape being trapped in a life they don't want to lead.
She told YouTube channel Liveration : "We are not trapped in a society that controls us and living this life is freedom."
"We don't want a lot, we just want to live a simple, humble life."
They now have no mortgage and say they are able to live in the moment without worrying about bills.
Billie said: "It's not right for everybody, but for us it's the best thing.
"All that stress you carry with you, the bills coming in, getting up in the morning to go to work you can't stand - it's all gone."
Instead, in their van, named Luna The Green Goddess, they only have to worry about finding a good spot to sleep each night.
The converted Volkswagen LT35 has solar panels on the roof and a skylight so they can look out at the sky or stars.
The conversion, which cost about £5,600, has added plenty of storage throughout the £2,400 motor.
It also has an electric cooker, a gas stove, and even a sink.
They can sleep inside the van in a cosy section that can be shut off.
Each night they find somewhere to sleep which they try to make as beautiful and scenic as possible.
But some nights they go to campsites, especially during the winter when they can't use solar power.
Despite having low overheads they also have to work for short periods during the year in order to fund the lifestyle.
But that could be wherever they choose as they can take the comforts of their home with them - including their spice rack, books, and artwork.
They're now planning to put in a wood burner into the van to keep them warmer during winter.