Callum and dog Nellie spend their time travelling the UK in a self-converted van that cost just £1,300 to purchase and fix up – freeing him from the shackles of rent or a mortgage
Callum is one of many Brits who have packed in their 9-5 for a much slower, cheaper way of life.
The self-described nomad found a van listed on the selling platform Gumtree for £1,000 that hadn’t been on the road in eight years. Callum managed to knock the seller down to £800 and forked out around £500 in repairs to ‘get it up to scratch’.
Callum’s new home, which came to a grand total of £1,300, is now fully kitted out and also homes his dog Nellie. While the nomad may have to fork out occasional charges for staying at camping grounds, he pays no rent or mortgage – saving him on average a staggering £1,223 per month.
His low outgoings allow him to pocket almost all of the money he earns from ad hoc labouring and let him take the entire summer as well as December and January off to explore the UK. He has driven around Scotland and regularly frequents tourist hotspots like the Lake District in the three years he’s been ‘micro camping’.
“I think living in a van solves a lot of problems; I just feel more happy leading this life and ditching the rat race,” he told Livernation. “I actually get to enjoy my favourite seasons more freely whereas before I had to worry about earning money and paying bills… For one person it doesn’t really feel that small anymore.”
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Callum says he has now become a ‘minimalist’ and sold his big caravan for a smaller van to reduce the cost of fuel and insurance. “Right now I don’t have to work every week,” he added. “I can take an off whenever I want, I have got everything stocked up inside my van.”
When wanting to top up on pocket money for dog treats and petrol, Callum works as a labourer and brick layer for his friend’s companies. He is currently roaming the south coast of Britain with Nellie in in self-converted Renault Kangoo Camper and has no plans to change his van life anytime soon. You can follow his journey here.
Did you pack the rat race in for an alternative lifestyle? Email [email protected]
