We were priced out of the housing market so decided to live in a tent – we have zero regrets & saved £26.9K in 18 months
A WOMAN has revealed how she and her husband made the decision to swap their house for a canvas tent.
Aimee Hawkins, 48, and her man live in the wilderness camping in their tent and have managed to save around £1,600 a month.
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The pair were forced to take extreme measures and leave the rental market after being priced out and have now spent 18 months off-grid, their total savings roughly equal $36,000 (£26,900).
Aimee claims that the simpler way of living has not only saved her and her husband a tonne of money but has increased their quality of life.
She said: "My husband and I made the radical decision to leave our traditional life behind to live in a canvas tent.
"We did this because we deserve some kind of quality of life.
"This country needs major change and reform. But until that happens, people like us will keep finding ways to survive.'
The couple, from Arizona, USA, who now live entirely off-grid, claim they are saving up to $2,000 every month, money that once vanished on rent, bills, and basic groceries.
Far from being an impulsive escape into the wild, their choice reflects a growing movement of people rejecting the traditional living standard to save as much money as possible.
While the couple admits their choice may seem extreme to some, they insist it was necessary, not just for their finances, but for their mental and emotional wellbeing.
Life in a tent, however, isn't all hardship. Aimee described several unexpected benefits to their off-grid existence including greater privacy, reconnecting with nature, and a sense of purpose.
Yet it's not without its challenges. Aimee said the toughest part isn't the elements or even the lack of modern luxuries, it's the judgement from others, claiming many have not accepted her way of living.
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My husband sleeps in a tent in our garden
Despite criticism, Aimee told how the change is permanent, and whilst she will eventually move out of the tent, she will never go back to traditional living.
Aimee said: "Between wage stagnation, inflation, and the rising cost of rent, Americans are taking extreme measures to survive.
"Some of us are choosing vans or tiny homes. We chose a canvas tent.
'It doesn't seem fair that we are hardworking but still can't afford the basic necessities.
Three camping tips from an expert
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly.
When visiting any campsite this summer it's important to make sure you're not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday.
Check your tent
David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you're due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: 'You'd be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents."
Test the ground
Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider.
One of those should be the condition of the ground you're putting your tent on top of, according to David.
He said: 'Once you've found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough."
Don't nap in your tent
It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it's done at the wrong time of the day.
David explained: "If the sun's shining and it's hot inside your tent - don't do it!
"One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke."
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated.
'We can't afford groceries or utilities or anything else. And don't even think about treating yourself or taking a vacation.
'We save approx. $2,000 a month living this way.
'We've lived in the tent for 18 months. The positives? Saving money, privacy, getting back in touch with nature, being energy-dependent, and feeling like we are living a more authentic, purposeful life.
'Honestly, the only negative feelings I have about living this way is the stigma behind it.
"We will never go back to a traditional lifestyle. A tent is obviously not going to work as a long-term solution, but we are saving to convert a shed into a tiny.
"We will always live off the grid in some form of alternative housing. Once you gain this kind of independence, you can never go back.'
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