A young family from Derbyshire is selling their three-bedroom home to move into a converted campervan, hoping to halve their monthly outgoings and escape the UK's 'miserable' weather.
Family's plan
Paulina Gammon, 21, and her husband Stanley, also 21, put their semi-detached home up for sale on July 21 and have already bought a campervan. They plan to travel with their sons Jakub, 16 months, and Albert, four months, as soon as the house sells.
The family currently spends £1,800 a month on bills, mortgage, and food. By living in the van, which runs on solar panels, they expect to cut costs significantly. They also plan to travel in Europe, staying in warmer countries, which will reduce their gas usage.
Reasons for the move
Stanley wants to quit his engineering job to spend more time with his family, escaping the 'rat race.' Paulina, a content creator, said the move will also allow them to enjoy more outdoor time with their children, away from the UK's weather.
Paulina, from Long Eaton, said: "Last week we bought it [the converted campervan]. We want to travel, but have the house and bills, so we put it on the market."
Living off-grid
The campervan is equipped with a double bed, a bunk bed for the boys, and a full kitchen and bathroom. The family plans to visit France, Spain, and Portugal, and will sell their belongings and two cars, packing their lives into three suitcases.
Paulina said: "We're going to live a minimalistic lifestyle. Between us all we're putting our lives into three large suitcases."
Mixed reactions
While many have reacted positively, some have questioned the decision. Paulina defended the move, noting that her children are too young for school, so they aren't missing education. She said they plan to travel for a couple of years before settling down for schooling.
She said: "People might think it [this move] is irresponsible due to education. With education, I can see how that could be seen as irresponsible, but I'm not taking my kids out of school to do this. I don't think it's irresponsible at all."
Financial considerations
The family will still have costs like insurance and fuel, and must return to the UK annually for the van's MOT. They plan to fund their travels with social media earnings, not touching the house sale proceeds.
Paulina admitted the decision is 'impulsive' and hasn't fully processed it yet, but is excited. A video announcing the move has garnered over 31,000 views, with comments ranging from supportive to critical.
