I couldn't afford to buy my own home so I decided to live in a van - I have never felt more stable in my life

A young woman, who was struggling to save for her first home, has opted to live full-time in a van in a bid to gain independence.

Nicole, 28, from the North East was eager to settle with her furry friend McCartney, but with rising interest rates and a looming cost-of-living crisis she found saving for a home of her own an impossible task.

Having had the desire to buy a Volkswagen, she had always felt drawn to living in a van but had never taken the risk, 

However following a crash that left her car written off, the 28-year-old finally took the plunge into the nomad lifestyle - and has never looked back since.

'I had moved back in with my mam to try and save for a mortgage, because doing so while renting was near to impossible,' Nicole said.

'But I have never looked back since I have moved into my van.' 

'I've moved around a lot, and I haven't really stayed in the same place for very long. My mam's house was my eighth. 

'I wanted to settle and I would have bought if I could but I was starting to find it quite overwhelming.'

By this time Nicole had graduated with a university degree and had been working full time for three years - she felt she had played 'the game for very little return'.

'I was still so far from being in the financial position to afford anything on my own,' she said.

'When I would have eventually bought a home, I knew my quality of life was going to be really impacted'

Having been inspired by TikTokers who already led the van lifestyle, the 26-year-old knew van life was calling and continued to save.

But when her car was written off in a collision, Nicole was faced with a life-changing decision - be on the backfoot with her savings and get a new car or take the plunge and finally set off on a nomad lifestyle.

'I was at a point where I needed a vehicle, so I thought: 'I may as well just commit to this.'

'I just thought, 'Why not just do it now,' I was desperate to get my independence back.'

She added: 'After having to move back home after years of renting  I really wanted to do it while he's [her dog] still young.

Although Nicole may always be technically on the move, she revealed that van life has given her a 'sense of stability'. 

She said: '[My quality of life] has massively improved which will probably sound a little bit crazy.

'I've always had to live with other people and depend on them to an extent whether that even if something as small as housework. 

'It's so nice just having my independence. Yes I have had to compromise to have it, but it doesn't bother me because it's mine,' she continued.

'Nobody can take this away from me. It's all mine. I can do like what I want. I can go where I want. It's just lovely about being able to finally live on my own with my dog.'

Not only has her Ford Transit van given her a new found sense of dependence - but it's significantly cheaper than living in an ordinary home too. 

Nicole opted to buy a van which had already been converted, with solar panels to boot, dishing out £9,000 for the vehicle.

However, she used her house savings and a loan to cover the price of the newly-renovated van, so now she repays £200 for the borrowed money. 

Her electricity is entirely free thanks to the solar panel on her roof, and during the chilly winter months she pays £20 a month for a canister of diesel to keep warm. 

According to Nicole, she pays barely anything for water because she showers at work or the gym - thanks to her £25-a-month membership. 

She also decided to pay both her insurance and tax entirely upfront for the whole year, and use her phone's hotspot to connect to the internet.

'It definitely a whole lot cheaper, especially in this economy at the moment,' she said.

'You very much forget that I'm in a Ford Transit van on the side of the road when you're in there,' she said.

'It's so cosy, and I've I feel I've really tried to make an effort to make it feel like home. 

'So I think when people come and see it or the pictures they then do start to get it.'

Another advantage to Nicole's life on the road is that she has the freedom to park up wherever she likes.

She often misses the usual 9am to 6pm parking ticket window when she is in work, meaning it's often free. 

Sometimes she will venture to different cities and treat herself to a £20 or £30 caravan park stay for the night. 

Also quipping that she has cut an eye-watering 20 miles off her commute to work, she added: 'It [living in a van] means I don't have to pack for holiday. 

'Paying for car parking spaces is considerably cheaper than a hotel and the benefit of my gym pass means I can like go shower in their branches in different cities.'

She added: 'We can just wing it really. The inconveniences I may get are made up for by everything I love about this lifestyle.' 

Although her nomad lifestyle boasts plenty of advantages, there are some downsides to living in a van.

From getting rid of her clothes and furniture to factoring showers at the gym, she also has to remember to fill up her water tank.

But - according to Nicole - these have become ingrained habits in her every day life. 

The chilly winter months can be also arduous - last year she struggled to keep her solar panels charged. 

'In the winter I was trying to make sure my solar panels were charged all the time and to keep on top of that quite a bit,' she said.

Although there are some slight disadvantages to their van lifestyle, her beagle cross, McCartney, six, loves van life.

He stays in a day care centre whilst Nicole is at work, but always he 'loves' coming home to the van.

'I very much appreciate that not every dog would be suited to like this lifestyle. I am in a really fortunate position as  McCartney just goes with the flow,' she said. 

'He's very content all the time and loves the van even though it's got a big dog. I think he likes the cosy space I think he likes. It feels like he's like little home.'

Adding that she always has a fan to hand to make sure her best friend is cool, she said: ' He always comes first. Everything that I do is with him in mind.'

Reflecting on whether she will ever move back into home made up of molten and brick, she revealed: 'I don't know if it will be forever. I have absolutely no idea, because I'm I'm not in any rush. 

'I'm very much looking forward to summer and my solo and just kind of getting to enjoy that. I'm just taking every day as it comes.'