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I’m a proud gypsy who quit caravan life – I got a council house with a posh hot tub, but the neighbours called us names
Watch the video above to see how Tracey has transformed her garden
A TRAVELLER woman has revealed why living in a council home is much better than a caravan.
Tracey King, 50, recalls horror stories of her family living in a wagon without a bath or toilet.
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Her grandparents had lived in a traditional Bow Wagon all their lives and had 13 children, ten boys and three girls.
But it all became too much when the family was forced to sleep underneath the wagon as there was no room for them.
Despite some of the glam caravans you see online, Tracey says it was no luxury living in one.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, the mum-of-four said: "It wasn’t a luxury living in wagon, you’d get a bowl of water and wash yourself, it was hard work moving around with no money, no food, living off the land, it was a hard life."
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Fortunately her grandmother spoke to a vicar and managed to get a house to raise her family.
More and more travellers are beginning to live in houses as it becomes increasingly difficult for them to live their nomadic ways of life in a modern world.
According to Census, out of the 71,440 people who identified as Gypsy or Irish Traveller on the 2021 survey, 69,175 lived in households.
And Tracey wouldn't change a thing as she much prefers living in a house.
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The mum said: "A bath and toilet is a luxury I can’t live without.
"In motor home you don’t use the toilet inside, you use a portaloo outside," she explained.
Beyond the Wagon: The Truth About Traveller Life
Tracey said many in the community see using a caravan toilet as dirty because of the small living space.
She also revealed there is security with living in a stable home as you aren't worried about where you should travel next or if you can get your kids into the local school.
"You can go to school each day, opposed to travelling, they do a month here, a month there, sometimes there's not enough time to get the kids in school, although a lot only keep them in until 11."
Tracey claims many traveller kids are taken out of school at a young age, as traditionally they prefer them to get real life experience and learn a trade.
However, Tracey made a conscious effort to keep her children in school until they were at least 16, which she has done for her eldest three while homeschooling her youngest, 13-year-old Scarlett.
Facts on gypsy and traveller communities
Typically, gypsies is a term used to describe Romani people who migrated to Europe from India while traveller refers to a person with either Irish, Scottish or English heritage.
Around 300,000 Gypsy, Roma and Irish travellers are thought to live in the UK.
All three groups come from nomadic ways of life, however, as it is increasingly difficult to find land to live on, many are moving into permanent housing.
They place high value on family life and often live close together even after reaching adult years and getting married.
Often the men are the breadwinners of the family while the women stay home.
While many English gypsy girls are allowed to drink alcohol and go on holiday with their friends before they get married, their Irish counterparts are not.
Another bonus for Tracey and her husband Mark is the fact they now have their own private garden to do as they please, opting to go for a hot tub.
The mum managed to get it for a bargain price of £70 but as it costs £6 a day to run, the family don't keep it on all the time.
Tracey adds that it might seem expensive but it's priceless for her as the hot waves help soothe her chronic pain condition.
Fortunately, the sound of the bubble machine doesn't annoy her neighbours and they've become good friends with no complaints about her family enjoying their time in the pool outside.
But that hasn't always been the case for her family, who were often labelled as 'the travellers' on her road.
She added: "In a home you make real friends, my neighbours take us for us.
"We were never called Tracey and Mark, it was just the travellers, but now over the years the narrative has changed thanks to social media, and I've got so much love for it.
"It’s just a different way, now people accept us for us," she said, thanking her 319k followers on TikTok () for helping to beat the negative stereotypes.
House proud Tracey lives in a council house, and has done everything she can to make it her home.
While rent costs £1,100 per month, she says it's worth it to be close to town and friends.
Her giant garden is kitted out with her six foot wide spa pool and a pergola for her 'cosy corner' which features modern black outdoor furniture and an egg chair.
To the side, she has a built-in sandpit adorned with fake flowers to keep it colourful all year round.
To make life easier, Tracey has also used fake grass to keep the lawn looking lush and green throughout the year, and inside is just as extravagant.
Each of the rooms in Tracey's council home followers its own colour scheme, with her kitchen kitted out in red and gold accessories and a giant matching rug.
Her front room is silver and beige with hints of bejewelled floor length vases filled with fake red roses.
Her bathroom has also been completely transformed using a blue and yellow floral wallpaper.
While Tracey loves living in a house for a multitude of reasons - she says a static motor home like that of other travellers would be the best case scenario.
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"I would rather live in a mobile unit on land but the upfront costs are too expensive, then you aren’t paying rent.
"The kids like to be a bit free as they have so much land, quads, horses, but you can't really have that in a house."
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