We sold everything and ditched miserable 9-5 to live on a 32ft boat – we’ve saved thousands & work only two days a week

A COUPLE who quit the 9-5 to live on a boat have revealed how they have saved thousands on rent – and now only work two days a week.

Scott and Sandy Trevethan ditched their life on land in Australia and bought a £59,000 boat as their new home.

Scott had the idea of buying a boat after his dad tragically died from cancer in December 2020.

And just two months later, he took the plunge and bought one.

Having recently got divorced, and both his kids, Rhys, 21, and Kane, 18, flying the nest, the accountant was left with plenty of spare time

His wife Sandy had a similar story as she lost her dad 13 years ago and had moved to Melbourne just after her own divorce.

The pair got married last year and instantly had big plans using the boat.

Scott told The Sun: “Life is too short to say no, so when I asked Sandy after only 5 months of marriage, she said yes to moving full time onto a boat.”

The boat is a spacious Loch Crowther Eureka 32, coming in at 32ft long.

The happy couple named the boat Tenacity after their outlook on life and spent nearly £40,000 getting it ready before moving in.

On March 7 this year, they officially started living on board.

Their main motivation behind ditching the safety of their home was the sky-high cost-of-living crisis.

A hefty rent increase at their St Kilda apartment in Melbourne was the final straw for the couple.

And life on the boat has been life-changing.

The pair now spend a lot less each month – giving them more money to “live a lavish lifestyle”.

“We allow $4,000 AUD (£2,060), per month and that usually is way more than enough,” they said.

“It pays for marina fees, food, clothing, entertainment, gifts, restaurants as well as small repairs.

“It’s more than enough to live a lavish lifestyle.”

Now they’re not paying rent or a mortgage, they’ve been able to set cash side to invest or pay for holidays.

In February, the couple are taking Scott’s two sons to Japan in to go snowboarding – and they are about to book a holiday with Sandy’s son Adam.

The sea-change couple still both work for Financial Fanatics, where Scott is the CEO and Sandy’s the general manager.

They work full time on Monday and Tuesday – but do extra hours whenever they aren’t sailing.

The company was left baffled when they sold their apartment and moved onto Tenacity.

“They thought we were kidding, then they waved us goodbye,” Scott said.

“We walk the talk and whilst people don’t understand our lifestyle choice many do admire what we’re doing and see the joy it brings both of us.”

Despite the pair feeling happy with the decision to move out to sea, Scott admitted it wasn’t all plain sailing at first.

He said: “I nearly broke down at our first stop only 30 miles from home.

“It was overwhelming and we would’ve turned back if not for Sandy’s belief in me and our future.

“After that it got easier and within a month we were very happy living on the boat and had no desire to return to our old lives on land.

“But every day is a big challenge.”

One of those challenges came when an engine bay filled with water, causing the boat to start sinking.

It wasn’t until they got urgent help the next day that the boat was fixed and ready to take off again. 

Before deciding to tackle boat life full time. Scott and Sandy took a couple of trips around Australia to Port Phillip and along the Bass Strait.

They now plan to stay afloat for at least five more years until they consider their next move.

By then Scott will be in his early 60s and Sandy mid 50s – but the pair said are committed to travelling the world.

In a similar tale Shannon Lane, 28, ditched her drab London flat and moved onto a boat after her landlord wanted to up her monthly rent to over £1,000.

And TikTok couple Carly and Mike shared their life on the water after trading in a house for a sailboat and paying just £465 in rent.

An inventive couple also turned an old London double-decker bus into a liveable home for just $32,000 earlier this year.

Hope and Manny Hernandez have also converted an old Amazon delivery van into a slick tiny home before and show their fans the drastic before and after’s on social media.