Latest news with #NicoleKeefe
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
'I'm the best version of myself now I live in a van with my dog - and I save a fortune'
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
I gave up my home and working 9-5 for life on the road... my bills are just £650 a month - and that's not the only reason I love it
A 27-year-old woman has shared her unconventional life on wheels, having opted to abandon her home and traditional 9-5 job in favour of so-called 'van life'. Nicole Keefe, who previously struggled to even get by monthly on her limited salary as a fashion photographer, now insists she can't ever imagine returning back to her former structured life. In 2023, after her car was written off, she purchased a £8,500 converted Ford Transit Van and decided to embrace an entirely new normal, abandoning her 'unfulfilled' and 'miserable' career for a life of travel with her dog, McCartney, a nod to renowned photographer Linda McCartney. Having previously gained a degree at Coventry University, she had been working full-time as a photographer in a fashion studio in Washington, Tyne and Wear. Far from the high cost-of-living expenses she had previously become accustomed to, she now spends just £650 a month on fuel, gas, wifi, a gym membership and van repayments. The best part, though, she insists, is that it has enabled her to 'become the best version of myself', embracing a confidence and freeness she never thought possible. Speaking to Manchester Evening News, she said: '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. 'I used to live month to month, I couldn't have a social life and I couldn't just buy myself anything.' Ms Keefe, who believes she would 'almost never' have been able to afford her own home had she remained in her previous job, now works as a freelance photographer, social media manager, alongside helping businesses with their content creation. All of this, she does, while travelling on the road with her beloved canine by her side. Explaining that she no longer feels 'trapped' by work and is far from lonely, Ms Keefe has visited Snowdonia, Warwickshire, alongside some of the most picturesque parts of Scotland. When visiting different locations, she simply parks her leopard-print esc mobile home, equipped with a kitchen, bed, air fryer, and even solar panels, in 24-hour car parks on the roadside. She maintains close contact with her friends, family and long-distance partner via FaceTime, and embraces a simple way of living alongside her dog who, she says, adores the 'routine' and can be easily left alone in the van with a steering wheel lock. Alongside positively enhancing her self-confidence, the unique lifestyle change has also aided her online presence, with her social media account, @thevanclub_ accumulating more than 4,500 TikTok followers, while she also has up to 1,800 followers on Instagram. When first making the unconventional move in 2023, Ms Keefe initially continued working her 9-5 job remotely, all while living in the van, before later picking up a campsite cleaning position that she discovered in a Facebook group designed for other nomads. Her social media account, @thevanclub_ accumulating more than 4,500 TikTok followers, while she also has up to 1,800 followers on Instagram A 2024 council report indicated that Bristol could be the UK city with the highest number of people living in vans, with an estimated 800 residents living inside between 600 and 650 vehicles across the city Basing herself in Dorset for three months, she then moved on to work as a barista in Winchester before eventually commiting to her freelance lifestyle. And, far from having any regrets, she insists that she has zero plans to abandon her life on the road, hoping to remain living in her 'discreet' van for the next four years before she eventually turns it into a working office. Reflecting on her unwavering love for her quirky home and life, she remarked: 'I'm more confident and feel so free but settled. I can't see myself ever really going back to a 9-5 job.' While unusual, Ms Keefe's decision to live on the road is not entirely common. In 2021, there were up to 104,000 households living in caravans or other temporary structures in England and Wales, amounting to up to 0.4 per cent of all UK households, according to the ONS. Meanwhile, a 2024 council report indicated that Bristol could be the UK city with the highest number of people living in vans, with an estimated 800 residents living inside between 600 and 650 vehicles across the city. Marvin Reeves, mayor of Bristol at the time, said he believed the rising numbers were not, necessarily, always due to a lifestyle change, but could be attributed to rising costs of living and poverty rates.
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
I escaped the miserable UK rental market to spend just £650-a-month living in a converted Ford Transit van with my dog
FED up with sky-high rents and an endless game of house hopscotch, a young Brit has embraced van life, living off just £650 a month with her dog. Fashion photographer Nicole Keefe, 27, had lived in 18 homes by 2023, leaving her feeling 'trapped' and 'miserable', and losing hope that she would ever get on the property ladder. Advertisement 7 The fashion photographer perched a top of her signature leopard print blanket Credit: Collect/PA Real Life 7 Nicole and her pooch, Linda McCartney, are both happier loving van life Credit: Collect/PA Real Life Having been frequently moved as a child, this trend continued into her adulthood due to 'things not going right' with partners. But she has now Having joined a Newcastle-born Nicole now lives off less than £650 a month- less than she has ever spent on rent, and can even afford a gym membership, having before felt she couldn't even 'afford a social life.' Advertisement Read More According to Following the writing off of her old car and following others on social media who had embraced the nomadic van life, she She She told PA Real Life: '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. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Review 'I made it a bit more me, adding in some leopard print and just decorating it over time.' For the first nine months, she continued her 9-5 7 One of the beautiful views from Nicole's van Credit: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 7 Wandering through a picturesque British town Credit: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Advertisement 7 Nicole used the cleaning job to explore the South Coast Credit: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 7 Perched in her mobile home Credit: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 7 Nicole perched atop her signature leopard print decor Credit: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved The turning point came when she landed a cleaning gig at a Dorset campsite via a nomad Facebook Group, and from there, she built her freelance social media career, snapping pics and managing social media for businesses, gaining thousands of followers. She was offered the cleaning gig, an hour after a virtual interview and immediately quit her 9-5 job and sped off to Dorset. Advertisement Nicole spent three months working there with her pooch, exploring the South Coast on her days off. While she found the freedom 'really lovely', at first she struggled with limited human interaction, as she 'hated her own company.' But gradually she got used to going to coffee shops on her own, and 'enjoying being alone.' The companionship of her furry friend, Linda, is key, and she makes a point of FaceTiming her family, friends and long-distance partner. She said: 'When I was moving home, I used to all the time, and it would always take McCartney a month or two to get settled. Advertisement 'He would cry and bark if he were left alone in the house, but he got used to the van in two days, and I think he loves his routine.' Having swapped the cleaning job for a barista job in Winchester, she has now managed to become a full-time content creator for businesses. Her social media presence is ballooning with her This has allowed her complete nomadic freedom and so far, she has travelled up and down the country, ping ponging from Snowdonia to Cornwall, popping by Warwickshire, exploring Scotland and travelling throughout the North East. Advertisement She said: 'Since then I've gone wherever I want to go – it's quite a weird thing to adjust to because I don't have anywhere I need to be unless I've got a photography job.'Long-term, she plans to continue her motoring adventure for four years, and even if she eventually buys a house, will continue to whizz around the country on the weekends.
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I escaped the miserable UK rental market to spend just £650-a-month living in a converted Ford Transit van with my dog
FED up with sky-high rents and an endless game of house hopscotch, a young Brit has embraced van life, living off just £650 a month with her dog. Fashion photographer Nicole Keefe, 27, had lived in 18 homes by 2023, leaving her feeling 'trapped' and 'miserable', and losing hope that she would ever get on the property ladder. 7 7 Having been frequently moved as a child, this trend continued into her adulthood due to 'things not going right' with partners. But she has now hit the road with her beagle-petit griffon Vendeen Mix, Linda McCartney, named in honour of her idol the designer, in a converted Ford Transit. Having joined a growing number of young people embracing van life, she feels she has become her "favourite version of herself." Newcastle-born Nicole now lives off less than £650 a month- less than she has ever spent on rent, and can even afford a gym membership, having before felt she couldn't even 'afford a social life.' According to Right Move, the majority of properties sold in Washington, Durham, last year were terraced properties going for an average of £126,930- far out of her price range. Following the writing off of her old car and following others on social media who had embraced the nomadic van life, she moved into the vehicle in September 2023. She snapped up the van for just £8.5k on Facebook Marketplace, she has kitted it out with her signature leopard print flair and even added an air fryer to the bed, kitchen, sink and solar panels. She told PA Real Life: '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 me, adding in some leopard print and just decorating it over time.' For the first nine months, she continued her 9-5 fashion photography job, parking near the office in a car park and whizzing off around the country on the weekends with her pooch at her side. 7 7 7 7 7 The turning point came when she landed a cleaning gig at a Dorset campsite via a nomad Facebook Group, and from there, she built her freelance social media career, snapping pics and managing social media for businesses, gaining thousands of followers. She was offered the cleaning gig, an hour after a virtual interview and immediately quit her 9-5 job and sped off to Dorset. Nicole spent three months working there with her pooch, exploring the South Coast on her days off. While she found the freedom 'really lovely', at first she struggled with limited human interaction, as she 'hated her own company.' But gradually she got used to going to coffee shops on her own, and 'enjoying being alone.' The companionship of her furry friend, Linda, is key, and she makes a point of FaceTiming her family, friends and long-distance partner. She said: 'When I was moving home, I used to all the time, and it would always take McCartney a month or two to get settled. 'He would cry and bark if he were left alone in the house, but he got used to the van in two days, and I think he loves his routine.' Having swapped the cleaning job for a barista job in Winchester, she has now managed to become a full-time content creator for businesses. Her social media presence is ballooning with her TikTok account @thevanclub hitting 4.5k and her Instagram followers reaching 1.8k. This has allowed her complete nomadic freedom and so far, she has travelled up and down the country, ping ponging from Snowdonia to Cornwall, popping by Warwickshire, exploring Scotland and travelling throughout the North East. She said: 'Since then I've gone wherever I want to go – it's quite a weird thing to adjust to because I don't have anywhere I need to be unless I've got a photography job.'Long-term, she plans to continue her motoring adventure for four years, and even if she eventually buys a house, will continue to whizz around the country on the weekends.
