WHEELY NICE
My mental health was terrible so I quit my teaching job & moved into a van to save cash -but it’s freezing in the winter
Scroll down to find out whether it's legal to live in a van in the UK
A WOMAN has revealed that she quit her job and moved full time into a van after her mental health took a turn for the worse.
Emily loves living in her tiny camper-van, but freezing winter temperatures and a lack of space means that it can sometimes be a struggle.
2
2
Just a year and a half ago, Emily was a teacher in a primary school, but she said that the job completely drained her mental health.
"It was the worst it had ever been in my entire life", she said.
She decided to switch careers, and after gaining a yoga qualification, set up her own company, and began to teach classes.
However, her yoga teaching job doesn't pay as much, so in order to sustain her lifestyle, she decided to ditch the apartment she shared with her husband, and buy a van.
Read more real life stories
Despite the small space, Emily, who shares the van with her dog Remy, said that she doesn't feel like she's missing out on anything that she used to have in her apartment.
"We had so many pots and pans we never used, and now we have one pot and one pan, and it's everything we need", she told the .
Emily's husband occasionally lives with her in the camper-van, but mostly lives in his car, as he travels around in his job as a mountaineering guide.
The van was £8,800 off Facebook Marketplace, and had previously only been used for hunting, meaning that it was in a great condition.
Most read in Fabulous
Emily then spent £3800 renovating it and turning it into her dream van.
Van lifer reveals why they decided not to go back to renting
When she first moved into her new home, back in January, the weather was freezing, and she struggled to stay warm.
However, she now has a propane heater that keeps her toasty all throughout the winte.
To power the appliances in the van, Emily has installed solar panels on the roof, meaning that her van is able to run off grid.
And despite her bed being much smaller than the one she used to have in her apartment, Emily said that it is the most comfortable mattress she has ever had.
Is it legal to live in a van?
IF you are looking to live in a van to save money or travel, you'll be pleased to know that there are no UK laws stopping you.
However, you must ensure your vehicle has passed its MOT and is fully road legal.
There could also be restrictions on where you can park up to sleep in your van.
For example, local authorities place restrictions on certain streets or lay-bys, and you could be fined if you spend the night there.
It could also be unsafe to stop in certain locations, particularly at night-time.
Check the for guidance.
"I sleep better here than I have ever slept anywhere", she said.
She added that her van even has a skylight in it, which has allowed her to see the Northern Lights whilst lying in bed.
Emily said that she has been criticised for having a dog living with her in the van, but she insisted that Remy leads a happy lifestyle.
"She spends most of her time outside and is running around the woods", she said.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Emily said that her change of lifestyle has allowed her to become much happier, meaning that she has the energy to try and make other people feel happier as well.
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: [email protected] and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.
Topics