A YOUNG woman has revealed that she didn’t want to waste money on renting, so decided to get a van instead.
Leah Goodrich, 20, explained that she couldn’t afford a mortgage, so purchased a cheap camper van from Facebook Marketplace, and now lives in it full time.
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As a result of her life on the road, Leah, who is from the US, is able to save money and live debt free.
Thrilled with her unique lifestyle, Leah took to social media to share a look inside her van with her followers.
In a clip that was posted with the caption ‘This is your sign to do it!’, the blonde beauty opened up on her unique lifestyle, as she revealed although there might not be much space, it is an extremely affordable way to live.
The content creator said: “Six months ago I bought a camper off of Facebook Marketplace and now I’m living in it full time as a 20-year-old and while I was very hesitant to live in a camper, it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made.”
Leah explained that when she decided to move back home to Texas after living with her sister in Virginia, she knew she didn’t want to rent an apartment and as most 20-year-olds, she couldn’t afford a house.
Not only this, but she shared that she didn’t want to “waste” money renting a property, and as a result, living in a van seemed much more appealing.
She added: “And spending almost $2,000 [£1,500] a month on an apartment seems like such a waste of money seeing I’ll never get any of that back.”
Leah claimed that her lifestyle is super affordable, as she pays just a small parking fee each month.
Whilst cleaning her small home, which has a sofa and a double bed, the influencer continued: “So that’s what led me to my decision of living in a camper – I pay a small bill every month to park it at my RV park and when the time comes, when I’m ready to move out of my camper, I can sell it and get money back.”
Leah revealed that people always ask her what it’s like to live full-time in a camper van, and she explained that whilst she “loves” her camper life, there are some “cons” too.
Despite this, Leah shared that the positives “outweigh” the cons, as she continued: “I’m living on my own, saving money and living debt free, and with my camper being renovated, it is so so cute and cosy in here, making it not even feel like an RV.
“And sure, not having a whole lot of space might be a con, but personally, I like it because it forces me to be clutter free and organised.”
Is it legal to live in a van?
IF you are looking to live in a van to save money or travel, you’ll be pleased to know that there are no UK laws stopping you.
However, you must ensure your vehicle has passed its MOT and is fully road legal.
There could also be restrictions on where you can park up to sleep in your van.
For example, local authorities place restrictions on certain streets or lay-bys, and you could be fined if you spend the night there.
It could also be unsafe to stop in certain locations, particularly at night-time.
Check the The Highway Code guide for guidance.
SOCIAL MEDIA USERS REACT
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @leah.goodrich, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and has since amassed 2.2 million views.
Social media users were left open-mouthed at Leah’s lifestyle and many took to the comments to express this.
This is sooo cute and such goals
TikTok user
One person said: “You’re a smart girl.”
Another added: “It is a great idea.”
A third commented: “Yesss camper is way better than an apartment!”
Meanwhile, someone else wrote: “This is sooo cute and such goals.”