A photographer who lived in 18 different houses and thought she would never escape the UK rental market now spends just £650 (BD327) a month living in a van with her dog.
Nicole Keefe, 27, from Newcastle, constantly moved around as a child ‘due to situations out of (her) control’ and later because of ‘things not going right’ with partners.
By 2023, she felt ‘trapped’, ‘miserable’ and convinced she would never be able to afford a home while working her 9-5 job as a fashion photographer.
So when her car was written off in September that year, she bought an £8,500 (BD4,275) converted Ford Transit van and moved in with her dog, McCartney, a beagle-petit griffon Vendeen cross named after photographer and activist Linda McCartney.
Nicole parked near her work and travelled the UK on weekends until landing a job as a cleaner at a Dorset campsite, which kick-started her full-time van life.
Since then, she has gone freelance as a photographer, content creator for businesses and social media manager, exploring the country with McCartney by her side, from Scotland to North Wales.
“I spend about £650 a month – that’s less than I ever spent on rent and now I have more choice on what I spend my money on,” she said.
“McCartney is happy living in the van, he loves it and I’ve become the best version of myself.”
Over the years, Nicole lived in 18 different houses.
As a result, she is used to being on the move, and van life has ‘always been on (her) radar’ – thanks to social media.
However, she ended up ‘following a typical path’ – earning a degree at Coventry University from 2016 to 2020 and later working full-time as a photographer in a fashion studio in Washington, Tyne and Wear.
She stays in touch with friends and family, regularly FaceTiming her long-distance partner, and is especially grateful for her dog’s companionship.
Nicole plans to continue living in her van for the next four years and even if she eventually buys a house, she intends to keep the van for weekend trips.
Once it is no longer driveable, she hopes to turn it into a home office.
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