'I'm the best version of myself now I live in a van with my dog - and I save a fortune'

Daily Mirror

05-05-2025

Stuck in the cycle of renting, 27-year-old photographer Nicole Keefe found a way out. She swapped her rented home for vanlife, living more freely with her dog for a bargain price
In a world where buying is out of reach for many and renting will drain your savings with no long-term benefits, 27-year-old photographer Nicole Keefe from Newcastle discovered a third way to escape the housing cycle.
Fed up with the constant struggle to afford rent while living in her 18th rented home, she took a leap of faith swapping her traditional living space for a converted van. With her dog, McCartney, by her side, Nicole now enjoys a life of freedom on the road, all for just £650 a month.
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Nicole's childhood was marked by constant moves, and that trend continued into adulthood. By the time 2023 came around, she had lived in 18 different homes and was feeling trapped in the rental market. As a fashion photographer, the dream of owning a home seemed further out of reach than ever.
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The change came when Nicole's car was written off. Instead of replacing it with another vehicle, Nicole chose to take a different route, one that would change her life entirely. She invested £8,500 in a Ford Transit van, and with that, her new chapter in life began.
"I spend about £650 a month, that's less than I ever spent on rent," Nicole says. "Now I have more choice on what I spend my money on. I used to live month to month, I couldn't afford a social life, and couldn't just buy myself anything. McCartney is so happy living in the van with me, he loves it, and I've become the best version of myself.'
Her van, though minimalist, was everything she needed to live on her own terms. She said: 'It was all very minimalist …. I kept the base the same. There's a kitchen area, sink, bed, solar panels and I added in a fridge, gas camping hob and air fryer and got a new mattress. I made it a bit more by adding in some leopard print and just decorating it over time.'
Nicole's decision wasn't made overnight. Her childhood had already made her accustomed to a life on the move. Van life had always intrigued her, thanks to social media influencers showing how freeing it could be. But after earning her degree at Coventry University and working full-time as a photographer, she followed a more traditional path until it all felt unfulfilling.
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For the first nine months, she continued working her full-time job while living in the van, parking in a nearby car park and traveling the UK on weekends. Her family was concerned but supportive.
In June 2024, she found a job at a Dorset campsite, through a Facebook group for nomads. Within hours of a virtual interview, she was offered the role. She quit her job and, just two weeks later, found herself moving to Dorset to take on the cleaning position.
'It was just really lovely,' she says of her new life. 'I went from feeling like I couldn't escape and I felt really trapped.' It wasn't all easy-going Nicole said she struggled being by herself, she said: 'I hated being on my own.' But over time, she became comfortable with her own company.
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Nicole stays connected with friends and family through FaceTime calls and social media, where she shares her journey with a growing audience. Her online presence has exploded since her shift to van life, with more than 4,500 followers on TikTok and nearly 1,800 on Instagram under her handle @thevanclub_. Her story has resonated with many who are also seeking alternatives to the traditional housing market.
And her dog, McCartney, is just as happy with the change. 'When I was moving house all the time, it would take McCartney to get settled,' Nicole says. 'But he got used to it in two days and I think he loves his routine.'
Previously reported by the Mirror Online, housing charity Crisis reckons more than 18,000 people in England alone kip in vehicles or tents. With no official figures, experts say numbers could be even higher.
The UK's van dwelling capital is Bristol – which has the most expensive private rents outside London. On average, residents pay £1,734 a month – compared to £762 in North Yorkshire and £536 in north-east Lincolnshire. A city council report found up to 150 people used vans and caravans as homes pre-pandemic – and 800 now. Contrary to the trendy #vanlife of 'influencers' and digital nomads, these people are doing it out of necessity, not choice.