A photographer who suffered a mental health crisis triggered by her 'miserable' 9-to-5 job has left the rental market to live in a converted Ford Transit van. Nicole Keefe now lives full-time on the road with her dog, McCartney, reducing her monthly living expenses to just £670.
From traditional path to van life
Having lived in 18 different homes during her childhood and early adulthood, the 28-year-old initially followed a conventional route. She earned a fashion degree from Coventry University and then took a full-time studio photography role. Despite working for three years, Keefe found herself stuck in a cycle of high rent with no prospect of homeownership. In September 2023, the stress led to a severe mental breakdown.
Less than 12 hours later, her car was written off in a rear-end collision – an accident she now credits as the catalyst for her lifestyle change. 'I have no idea what life would’ve been like if that crash hadn’t happened but I don’t even want to know,' Keefe told PA Real Life. 'It put me on the path for the best years of our lives.'
Purchasing the van and adjusting to life on the road
Using the momentum from the accident, Keefe bought a converted Ford Transit via Facebook Marketplace for around £8,500. For the first nine months, she lived in the vehicle – parking near her studio during the week and exploring the UK on weekends – before permanently leaving her corporate job in June 2024.
While critics online have falsely labeled her a 'benefit scrounger', Keefe insists her lifestyle is entirely self-funded through freelance photography, social media management, and content creation. Her monthly outgoings include £250 for van repayments, £150 for food, £60 for an unlimited data phone contract, £30 for vehicle tax, and £30 for a gym membership used mainly for showers.
Financial challenges and benefits
Although her core bills are low, Keefe notes that inflation has hit her fuel budget hard, with a full tank of petrol rising from £100 to nearly £150 over the past year. The lifestyle also carries unique financial risks – in March, she faced a sudden £2,000 repair bill and temporary hotel costs after a broken oil seal nearly destroyed her engine. Despite the lack of central heating and reliance on public facilities, her mental health has improved dramatically.
Under the handle @TheVanClub_, Keefe has gained over 12,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram by documenting her slow-travel lifestyle across Scotland, Wales, and the English south coast. Responding to critics, she said: 'People question how I can afford this way of life. I always think: I’m sleeping on the side of the road, showering in public showers, using a compostable toilet and you want to know how I can afford this when you have a house, car – it’s quite funny really!'
She added: 'People online have called me a benefit scrounger and lazy even though I’ve never claimed benefits a day in my life… I certainly haven’t used them to fund my lifestyle. I just think misconceptions are all over the place, it’s just a different way of living.'
