A WOMAN who ditched her expensive flat to live in a van and then a boat has revealed how much financial freedom she now has.
Kristin Hanes, 44 made the bold decision to leave her old life behind her, after losing her job of 15 years, back in 2016.
Kristin ditched her apartment to live full time in a van[/caption]
She says her new life is so peaceful[/caption]
Kristin and Tom split their time between their yacht and van[/caption]
She had been working as a radio journalist, but after mass layoffs saw her without work, she decided to give up her £1485 a month flat.
Kristin, from Oregon, US, and her partner of 11 years Tom Polling, 55, began living in a van on campsites before buying a yacht, and now split their time between both.
The couple now permanently travel around the US and Mexico, and revealed they have been able to become debt free and save for retirement, thanks to their unconventional living.
“Life is short and there’s just so much to go and explore in nature, there’s a lot of freedom and flexibility with this lifestyle”, Kristin told PA Real Life.
“I’m not needing to go to work between nine and five, the benefits of working remotely, and I don’t have a huge rent to pay.
“I’m now saving up for retirement and getting that financial freedom in order.”
Kristin says her new life is a “peaceful existence”, as she no longer has to worry about constantly making money.
She revealed that it was Tom’s idea for the couple to move on to a campsite, as renting a flat is “so expensive”.
“At first I thought this was crazy, and there was no way I would give up an apartment”, she said.
“So he started doing it, and I would end up camping with him most nights.”
However, after a while, she came around to the idea, and in 2018 bought her first campervan a Chevy Astro.
In 2021, the duo upgraded to a Sprinter van, which they now live in during the summer months, travelling across the US.
In the winter, they live in a boat that they renovated, and which is docked in Mexico.
Despite at first moving into a van for financial reasons, Kristin revealed she has now grown to love the peace and freedom of nomadic living.
“You get far away from the masses, the congestion, the traffic and you can just be in these beautiful areas,” she said.
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 The Highway Code guide for guidance.
When the couple first bought their van, it was “totally empty” and “bare bone metal”, but over the years, they have crafted it in to a cosy home.
Their humble abode has a bed, a freezer, a portable stove and a surface space to prepare food.
It can also carry 27 gallons of water, meaning they can take daily showers without stressing about running out.
Kristin revealed that many people can’t understand why she lives “on the fringes” of society.
However, she said she has a huge community of like-minded people who have also chosen to ditch normality to live in a van or a boat.