I couldn’t afford a house so moved full time into a caravan -I saved myself so much cash, but there’s a massive downside
A WOMAN has revealed that she decided to move full-time into a caravan after being unable to afford to buy a house.
Karen has been travelling around in her caravan for three years, and loves that she owns her own home, without having to pay off a mortgage.
She said that she has been able to travel around her native New Zealand and do things that would otherwise have been out of her budget.
Karen's caravan is only 21 feet long, and she said that one of the downsides of living in her tiny home is the lack of space.
To combat this issue, she has tried to make the most out of the space, by adding fold out storage and extra cupboards.
Karen works as a graphic designer, and is able to work from her caravan while she travels around.
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Her caravan is powered by a solar panel on her roof, and she also uses an electric hook up when she's staying at a campsite.
Karen has to pay for the campsites that she stays on, but said that this is much cheaper than her rent.
She also has to pay for caravan insurance, and for an internet modem so that she can work from home.
Another downside of living in a caravan is that she has to pay for a lot more fuel, as towing a vehicle uses a lot more petrol.
However, it is still far cheaper than paying rent.
"I pay less to live this lifestyle than I did living in the city", she said.
"I find it means I can work less hours and focus more on my passion projects".
The caravan has double-glazed windows and a gas heater, so Karen is never left feeling cold.
Karen said that when she first moved into the caravan she thought that she would struggle to date.
Tiny Homes FAQs
The tiny house movement began in the USA before gaining popularity in the UK.
What is a tiny home?
Tiny houses are small, fully-equipped living spaces designed to lead a more sustainable, off-grid lifestyle. Although they vary in size and shape, tiny homes tend to be between 15 and 50 square metres in capacity, made of sustainable materials and are easier — and cheaper — to maintain than traditional brick homes.
Are tiny homes legal in the UK?
As long as the tiny house doesn't exceed 19.8m x 6.7m in size, it is defined as a caravan in UK law. Therefore, tiny houses are classed as legal additional living space.
Can you get a mortgage for a tiny home?
The small size and relatively low cost of tiny houses means they’re not generally considered eligible for a mortgage. However, there are plenty of options to take out a loan to fund your dreams of the perfect, moveable home.
However, she now has a partner who lives in a bus.
"I don't have any time to stop caravaning anytime soon", Karen said.
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