I didn’t want to spend 30 years in debt so bought a van – what I save on bills means I have so much freedom
A SAVVY woman who ditched living in a house for a home on wheels has opened up on what it’s actually like.
Court and Nate have lived in a van for four years and though they’re open to the idea of buying a house, they’re grateful for being able to save as much money as they do.
But they often get asked questions about their journey and in one video, Court decided to address one which read: “Is it inconvenient?”
Dressed in a yellow T-shirt with a blue cap on her head, she explained: “I think a lot of people would probably say yes to this.
“You have to be responsible for getting your own water, finding places to park, responsibly, emptying your own waste…
“So many challenges come with living in a small space like this, no doubt about it.”
Court went on to explain that she’d just gone through the process of trying to buy a house with Nate, but it fell through.
After saving for four years they were “almost” getting a house, but they learned a few valuable lessons from the process.
TikTok user @courtandnate explained: “What is way more inconvenient than living in this van is to go into so much debt just to have a roof over our heads.”
Over this section of the video, she wrote: “We still hope to be home owners one day, but only when it won’t put us in so much debt”.
She continued: “The amount of money we would have had to pay just to get into a house – the 30 year loan we would have had to take out is so scary.
“I don’t know how much we’re going to be making in the next 10 years.
“So the freedom that you lose when you have those kind of bills and expenses is so much greater than the inconvenience of living in a van in my opinion and experience.”
In the caption, she added: “the interest rates, all the hidden costs, the insurance, the maintenance. It’s all so overwhelming.
“The housing crisis is so real and we feel fortunate that we’ve found a way to keep our heads above water without taking on a mountain of debt.”
People were quick to comment as one person wrote: “honestly I wish I had discovered van life sooner….I have a house with a mortgage which is Great but somehow this alternate way is calling me”.
Another said: “I think it’s amazing!!!! I live in a house that I can’t even afford. stress. overwhelmed. I’ve been looking in campers/trailer homes”.
While a third added: “I’m really thinking of doing it, I’ve always been obsessed with van life as a teen.”