A VAN lifer has revealed why she left her dream job for life in a tiny bus she converted into a “cottage on wheels”.
Self-professed DIY newbie Josie Rose snapped up the little motorhome for just £4,000 and transformed it herself.
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Speaking on her YouTube channel, Bus Off With Josie, she explained that she took the plunge into van life after realising she wasn’t going to be able to afford a house of her own.
Rather than scrimping and saving for an unachievable dream or blowing money on rent, she decided to create her perfect home on wheels where she could express her love of “cottage core” on an equally miniature budget.
She said: “Reality hit when I was starting to think about moving out of my mum’s place.
“If you know anything about the housing market in England, you’ll know that it’s a bit of a disaster.
“Especially from someone like me – a self-employed, single dancer.
“It became clear I was never going to be able to get a mortgage.”
Josie even made the heartbreaking decision to give up her dream job as a professional dancer on stage and screen.
Having appeared in blockbuster films like Mamma Mia 2 and enjoyed a long run in the West End as part of Magic Mike Live (including meeting Channing Tatum) she hit the road with nothing but her bus and her savings, ready for a new adventure.
Now she spends her days travelling the length and breadth of Britain, wild camping and exploring while keeping up with bills with income from her social media.
And despite struggling with dyslexia, she now makes enough to fund her travels while having enough flexibility to go wherever she fancies.
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With no rent or council tax to pay and her only costs being for petrol, food and her Labradoodle Winnie, Josie manages to keep costs at a minimum.
Giving viewers a tour of the van, she revealed that she had kitted it out with everything she could need.
The rear portion of the van is devoted to a spacious bed, piled high with cushions and thick blankets for chilly nights on the road.
There’s a small kitchen area, with a sink, worktop, a gas stove and a built-in log burner, which gives way to the driving cabin up front.
There’s even a loo and a shower cubicle running off a water pump in the kitchen.
As for what the future holds, Josie added: “YouTube isn’t exactly the most reliable source of income.
“It’s a bit of a gamble but I’m just going to ride the wave.
“And if this doesn’t work out, I’ll figure something else out – seasonal work maybe.
“Worst case, I can sell the van, but for now this is it.”
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