Exclusive:
Getting onto the property ladder in the current economic climate is a nightmare so one couple decided to take matters into their own hands and transform an old school bus into a chic place to live
The cost of living crisis and the state of the housing market, seemingly around the world, make it difficult for anyone to rent a property and practically impossible to buy. It’s no surprise that more and more people are turning to alternative measures – including tiny homes and converting vehicles into a place to live.
One couple who decided to take matters into their own hands and create and build their home is Mandy and her husband Ritomo, both 32. The Japanese teachers converted an old school bus, which cost £3,500 ($6,000) into a cosy space where they live with their dog, Oscar. Showing the progress on social media, the couple from Canada revealed exactly how they had created the space and even confessed they had no previous DIY experience.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, they shared the stunning space in a series of images, explaining that it had taken around two years of hard work for it to feel finished, but they had been living in it for three years. When asked how much the couple had spent on it, Mandy revealed that in addition to “a lot of sweat blood and tears” the whole project had come to roughly £14,355 ($25,000) – including almost £6,000 ($10,000) spent on solar panels for their energy.
Discussing the renovation, she said: “We had never built anything in our lives, and also had no money. We mostly relied on YouTube, asking friends who were more knowledgeable than us questions, etc. We had one handy friend who would come help us chip away at things here and there.
“The electrical was done by my electrician cousin. We didn’t want to die in an electrical fire. We did what we could to make it pretty with the materials we could afford. We just put as much as we could from every paycheck into it as we went.”
In addition to a gorgeous piano/bar dining area, there is a spacious kitchen, living area with TV, toilet, and bedroom with a king-size mattress. When asked about the shower situation, Mandy explained that they don’t have an outside tank because the Canadian winters are too cold and it would freeze the water. Instead, they have a propane water heater and shower outside, which she said was “amazing” to be able to do when in the woods.
Revealing more about what it’s like living on a bus, Mandy admitted that there is only one downside. She said: “Ritomo sometimes likes to dance while listening to music. But if it’s 2am, the whole bus will rock with his dancing and it’s hard to sleep when that’s going on.”
Sharing what led to the couple moving into a bus, Mandy revealed that when the pair were laid off during Covid they had to come up with an idea of making money and somewhere to live. She said: “[The best thing is] I don’t pay $2-3000 to rent a place that’s not mine, I live in an area of Canada that I would absolutely never ever be able to afford otherwise. I have hot showers in a forest every day. I have no utilities, I create my own electricity, my water consumption is very low… cleaning takes like 15 minutes.
She finished: “Parking can be tricky. I always plan out parking meticulously in advance but I’m very comfortable. There’s no luxury that I am missing here. I even have a VR, a TV, a Ps5, huge kitchen. I’m all set.”
People viewing the school bus renovation on social media were in awe with many calling in ‘awesome’ and ‘beautiful’. One person sweetly replied: “Honestly this is one of the cosiest and serene looking builds I have seen in awhile. I just know you’re an interesting person with cool stories to share & an open spirit. I hope your travels in life lead you to beautiful places, people & memories.”
After living on the bus for over two years Mandy and Ritomo are selling their beloved vehicle on Facebook for something easier to park. She said: “We decided to sell because we want to travel to places that may not allow for the size of the bus for the next year or so. I have a dream of hitting every national park in Canada and the States, or at least a lot of them.
“Many of those places are difficult to get into with a vehicle as large as the bus. The van we bought was mostly converted already, we don’t have the time to do another build, unfortunately. It’s a big change. The bus design and features are much better. But I’m willing to make the sacrifice for easier access to mindless wandering.”
For anyone considering bus life, Mandy says the key ingredient is patience. She finished: “We literally didn’t know anything, but just believed that if you want to learn anything, you can. The bus was like a university of how to build stuff.
“We often built something, realised it was terrible, and then built it a second time better. Sometimes three times. You will need 1000s of hours and patience for problem-solving. You also need to keep in mind that buses are really bouncy so everything you make needs to be able to flex.”
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