Jump directly to the content

BUYING your own home and living mortgage free is a near-impossible dream for most.

But one creative single dad decided to think outside the box and make his dream pad for him and his daughter for just £35,000 – on an Airstream caravan.

Single dad Tom decided to ditch his £1,000-a-month flat in Lichfield to transform this Airstream caravan and live mortgage free
14
Single dad Tom decided to ditch his £1,000-a-month flat in Lichfield to transform this Airstream caravan and live mortgage free
He spent £11,000 on the initial caravan and spent further funds stripping it and renovating it for him and his daughter Katie
14
He spent £11,000 on the initial caravan and spent further funds stripping it and renovating it for him and his daughter Katie
How To Live Mortgage's Sarah Beeny was seriously impressed by Tom's plans
14
How To Live Mortgage's Sarah Beeny was seriously impressed by Tom's plans

Project manager Tom, 36, revealed his plans for his family-home-on-wheels on Channel 4’s How to Live Mortgage Free.

The show, hosted by Sarah Beeny, gives a great deal of insight into how it’s possible to adapt and survive in an increasingly difficult housing market – without breaking the bank.

Tom currently spends £1,000 a month renting a two-bedroom flat in Lichfield in the Midlands, where daughter Katie sleeps three nights a week.

The old interior of the caravan was wooden, small and poky, and a far cry from the light airy home Tom created after hard work
14
The old interior of the caravan was wooden, small and poky, and a far cry from the light airy home Tom created after hard work
The caravan is 34ft long, and cut Tom's living quarters down by almost 75 per cent
14
The caravan is 34ft long, and cut Tom's living quarters down by almost 75 per cent
The finished design was to be parked in a campsite full time, for £500 a month
14
The finished design was to be parked in a campsite full time, for £500 a month
The inside of the home was painted white and given new, space-saving furniture
14
The inside of the home was painted white and given new, space-saving furniture
The open-plan kitchen even had bar stools for him and his daughter to eat on
14
The open-plan kitchen even had bar stools for him and his daughter to eat on

After spending £11,000 on the initial caravan, Tom planned to fully convert the dated 34ft-long pad to contain two bedrooms, a lounge area, bathroom and kitchen using a budget of £15,000.

After admitting he has spent £84,000 over seven years of rent, Tom said: “I just don’t like being tied down. I want to be freer.”

MOST READ IN LIVING

'Happy and outgoing' little girl is battling a condition so rare it has no name - so it may be named after her
MEDICAL MYSTERY

'Happy and outgoing' little girl is battling a condition so rare it has no name - so it may be named after her

Mum burned while saving her kids from a raging fire recalls her skin MELTING as she tried to escape
HORROR HOUSE FIRE

Mum burned while saving her kids from a raging fire recalls her skin MELTING as she tried to escape

Primark are selling magical Harry Potter PJs and dressing gowns for men... and prices start at £4
Snuggle muggle

Primark are selling magical Harry Potter PJs and dressing gowns for men... and prices start at £4

Remember Wife Swap's foul-mouthed Lizzy Bardsley? Here's what the mum-of-eight looks like now
LIZ-LE BIT DIFFERENT

Remember Wife Swap's foul-mouthed Lizzy Bardsley? Here's what the mum-of-eight looks like now

Tom said he planned to move the caravan to a local campsite full time, where he expects to pay £500 for full use of the services, halving his monthly rent and bills.

Architect Damion Burrows was on hand to offer advice on how to make the small home feel big and airy, and suggested making the central space into a wet room bathroom for the shower.

The caravan features two bedrooms, a kitchen and lounge area and a bathroom
14
The caravan features two bedrooms, a kitchen and lounge area and a bathroom
The large sofa doubles up as a bed, and Tom said he sleeps on it when Katie comes to stay three times a week
14
The large sofa doubles up as a bed, and Tom said he sleeps on it when Katie comes to stay three times a week
Instead of waking up the sight of other houses, Tom can gaze upon peaceful fields
14
Instead of waking up the sight of other houses, Tom can gaze upon peaceful fields

Tom spent £24,000 on renovations, a bit more over budget, but Sarah was amazed at the result.

She said: "What an achievement. This is really fantastic."

Daughter Katie was also overjoyed and said the best bit was "waking up and seeing the amazing views instead of the boring houses."

In order to make the most out of his small living quarters, which were going to be three-quarters smaller than before, he used tricks such as a drop leaf table that can fold away to save space.

Several tricks were used to make the caravan appear bigger, such as using a drop leaf table
14
Several tricks were used to make the caravan appear bigger, such as using a drop leaf table
Tom spent £24,000 on renovations, a bit more over his initial budget, but said it was worth it
14
Tom spent £24,000 on renovations, a bit more over his initial budget, but said it was worth it
When Katie stays at the caravan, she gets full use of the large master bedroom
14
When Katie stays at the caravan, she gets full use of the large master bedroom

How to Live Mortgage Free with Sarah Beeny airs on Wednesday on Channel 4 at 8pm.

We recently revealed how a man built his family a three-bedroom home on a double-decker bus for just £20,000 in a bid to live mortgage free.

And another episode showed how a couple saved £180k by paying off their mortgage in just nine years.

machibet777.com